Over the last twenty years the quantity and quality of data collected from the general public, commercial operators, and government agencies has grown exponentially. Data collection about personal behaviours is now ubiquitous in our society with large amounts of information being accumulated and aggregated at multiple points. As these sources of data have grown, companies, governments, and individuals have come to realize the role that the information derived from this data may have. Significant advances in the availability, use, and storage of different types of data coupled with technical advances in the ability to analyse diverse datasets have also helped to drive the increased interest in how data can be effectively used. Despite these advances, the integration of big data methodology and approaches into various sectors remains, often times, in its early stages. The purpose of this project is to provide the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) through the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre (OPGRC) with a review of the evidence and identification of the best practices in the use of data to ensure gambling industry compliance with regulatory standards.
