28 June 2007

First extensive medical research about online gambling

For the very first time researchers from the Harvard Medical School faculty from the Division on Addictions have been able to analyse the behaviour of online gamblers during their gambling activities.

The study has followed a sample of more than 40.000 individual online gamblers over a period of 8 months. It is the first time ever that such a large investigation is based on the actual online gaming behaviour rather than on self-reports. This has been made possible due to the collaboration with the private online operator and EGBA member bwin that has opened its data centre to the researchers of Harvard Medical School. The first publication of this ongoing research study can be found under http://www.divisiononaddictions.org/html/library.htm.

Preliminary results of this ongoing study have been presented by Drs. Howard Shaffer and Richard LaBrie of Havard Medical School at a workshop hosted by EGBA in which leading experts in the field of gaming, addiction and social responsibility took part. "Addiction has on many occasions been raised as one of the concerns associated with gambling related activites. Our intensive research reveals that many different elements contribute to the fact that only a very small proportion of people experience gambling addiction, whether online or with traditional forms of gambling. Moreover, the most striking result of this research shows that the assumption of a typical gambler being somebody out of control is fundamentally wrong. This data shows that a typical online gambler risks 148€ and has a loss of about 33€ during a period of 8 months" according to professor Howard J. Shaffer, head of this research project.

"We are very pleased that one of our members, bwin, has been willing to contribute to such an important scientific project. This study and its first results bring some important insight to the behavioural aspects and helps us all better understand what possible problems may arise and how to minimise them. EGBA has always stressed that any policy decision should be based upon scientifically proven facts and figures. We therefore call upon national governments and the scientific community in Europe to take these methodologies into account and conduct further studies when regulating online gambling." says Sigrid Ligné, secretary general of the EGBA, the European association of private online gaming and betting operators. “In order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of online gambling, extensive research needs to be conducted.

This study has the merit that it shows for the first time the very limited impact on addiction among online gamblers. But at the same time education remains necessary and governments have a responsibility to take up this aspect", according to Geoffrey Godbold, CEO of GamCare in London. EGBA reminds regulators that this peer-reviewed study proves its awareness of and commitment to responsible gaming. Moreover, all EGBA members are bound to comply with the EGBA Code of Conduct. This self-regulation system was set up by investigating industry best practice, leading jurisdictions and state monopoly standards and will be independently monitored.

press release EGBA

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