BetBlocker has announced a collaboration with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), providing a donation in support of the International Gaming Institute’s (IGI) research program to help advance academic research on gambling software and its users.
Both organisations have stated that the goal of this project is to produce “transformative insights that will help inform evidence-based policies, enhance player protection measures, and contribute to the broader public good”.
A UK-registered charity, BetBlocker provides gambling support via its free-to-use app, which blocks a user’s device from accessing more than 88,000 gambling websites and 1,500 gambling apps. The service can also be used anonymously.
Founder and Trustee of BetBlocker, Duncan Garvie, stated: “For the first four years of the project, I delivered the user technical support for BetBlocker. I’ve interacted with thousands of people using the tool and I know how much of a difference it has made to a huge number of lives.
“But that type of anecdotal validation isn’t enough in this day and age. Effectiveness has to be evidenced and we’re very supportive of academic efforts to gather evidence to examine how the availability of a free, anonymous blocking software improves outcomes for the user.”
UNLV IGI has been providing the global gambling industry with research-based solutions, cutting-edge insights, and executive education for over 30 years.
Supplying more than 50 jurisdictions globally with research, the organisation has expertise in gambling and hospitality innovation, regulation and policy, esports, diversity and responsible gambling.
“Gaining a better understanding of individuals who use gambling blocking software is critical, as there is little to no published research on this population,” said Director of Research at the International Gaming Institute, Kasra Ghaharian, PhD.
“We are truly grateful to BetBlocker for their support, which will help advance research in this area while also providing valuable opportunities for graduate students to develop their skills. I can’t wait for us to share the insights from this important work, which will be valuable to operators, policymakers, and the public”.
Earlier this month, BetBlocker launched BetBlocker US Inc., a US division of its gambling-blocking software services to help US residents manage their gambling habits responsibly.
Pedro Romero, Chief of SG Partnerships at BetBlocker, added: “We are very happy to collaborate with UNLV IGI and Dr. Ghaharian’s research team on this project. This is our first research collaboration in the US, and we are delighted to support a study that provides genuine insights into the role of free and anonymous blocking software in harm prevention and minimisation.
“Helping with this research is in line with our values of enhancing safer gambling tools and reducing gambling-related harm. In a sector where we often see reports commissioned to research consultancy companies at great expense to validate commercial products, we believe in supporting independent research: critical, objective, peer-reviewed, and academically rigorous.”
