NSW, Australia - Australia’s Office of Responsible Gambling has declared that it has handed over a substantial part of its 2019 grant to five different universities. They will share almost AU$4,000 (US$2,751) to help promote responsible gambling in the “Land Down Under.”
Aussies have a well-earned reputation for their love of gambling, ranging from horse racing to online betting, but now a new think tank is keen on encouraging people to gamble responsibly.
The Office of Responsible Gambling is at the forefront of the development of responsible gambling strategy and public policy advice for the New South Wales government and backs and manages the Responsible Gambling Fund.
In January of this year, up to AU$2.5m (US$1.72m) from the Responsible Gambling Fund was made available for groundbreaking projects to prevent and lessen gambling harm in various parts of New South Wales.
Applicants were asked to consider projects that guaranteed that technology was used and that products would result in apps or online tools that helped consumers make better choices. The latest round concluded in February and some of the recipients have now been announced.
The recipients and their projects are as follows:
- Design Innovation Research Centre, University of Technology, Sydney: design an animation series that would educate young people on responsible gambling
- The Australian National University: address gambling harms experienced by females concerned about significant others
- Central Queensland University: carefully study loot boxes and whether they are grooming youth for gambling
- Deakin University: conduct a systematic review and content analysis of family member treatments across addictions
- University of Sydney Business School: do an intensive study whether “cash-out” products offered by bookmakers exploit behavioral biases.
Those universities will share almost AU$4,000 to bolster the quality of responsible gaming initiatives on offer, especially those targeting young people.
However, this isn’t the first time universities have taken advantage of the grant. Last year, Deakin University Development claimed AU$436,932 (US$300,521) to create an evaluation of a just-in-time intervention app to diminish gambling harm.
And the Australian National University also got AU$325,000 (US$223,500) to use technology through a health promotion randomized control trial to lessen gambling harm in New South Wales Aboriginal communities.
Of the five successful grants, four will hone in on youth and family with studies of issues including the effects problem gambling has on family members and how to best inform young people about the risks associated with gambling.
The office’s director, Natalie Wright, relayed that the 2019 Responsible Gambling grants back innovative projects with an emphasis on youth, families, and new technology.
“Technology and, in particular, online betting have made it easier than ever before for people to gamble. We need to better understand betting motivations and what approaches work best for people at risk of gambling harm,” Wright said.
