As part of Kindred Group's ongoing commitment to safer gambling and evidence-based practices, we’re proud to highlight cutting-edge research that advances our understanding of player safety.
During European Safer Gambling Week, we spoke with Dr. Jonathan Parke, Professor Paul Delfabbro, and Dr. Maris Catania about their recent study, "Assessing the Risk of Online Gambling Products: A Replication and Validation of Behavioural Markers of Harm Using the Problem Gambling Severity Index."
This pivotal research explores the effectiveness of operator data in identifying risky gambling behaviours and provides actionable insights for operators to enhance harm minimisation strategies. In this exclusive Q&A, the researchers share their motivations, methodology, key findings, and the practical implications of their work for the gambling industry. Read on to learn how their study is shaping the future of responsible gambling.
Interview with Dr Jonathan Parke, Prof Paul Delfabbro and Dr Maris Catania
What motivated you to conduct this study on assessing the risk of online gambling products?
Our primary motivation was to investigate how operator data could serve as proxy indicators for riskier gambling behaviours. By aligning these data with self-reported measures like the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), we aimed to validate the use of behavioural markers in identifying and understanding what makes some gambling products riskier than others.
Could you elaborate on the methodology used in your research?
We analysed data from 21,464 individual customers of a single international operator who completed the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). We then mapped these self-reported scores to various behavioural markers of harm, such as declined deposits. This approach allowed us to assess the correlations between self-reported problem gambling, behavioural markers of harm and the potential risks associated with different types of gambling products.
What were the key findings of your study?
Our findings confirmed that individuals scoring 8 or higher on the PGSI exhibited higher levels of gambling involvement across various products, with more pronounced differences in casino activities (and slots in particular) compared to wagering. Importantly, this group also showed a higher incidence of behavioural markers of harm, supporting the validity of using operator data to identify risky gambling behaviours.
How do these findings contribute to the field of responsible gambling?
By demonstrating a concordance between self-reported problem gambling and objective behavioural markers, our study provides further support for operators to implement data-driven harm minimization strategies. This evidence-based approach can enhance early detection and intervention efforts, ultimately promoting safer gambling environments.
What are the practical implications for gambling operators based on your research?
Operators can leverage our findings to refine their responsible gambling tools by integrating validated behavioural markers into their monitoring systems. This integration enables more accurate identification of at-risk individuals and facilitates timely interventions, thereby reducing the potential for gambling-related harm. The research also improves our understanding of which products have the potential to pose elevated risks to players. This improved understanding can be used strengthen surrounding protections around those products where risks may be higher.
What future research directions do you envision stemming from this study?
Future research could explore the application of these behavioural markers across different gambling platforms and demographics to assess their generalizability. Additionally, investigating the effectiveness of specific interventions triggered by these markers would provide valuable insights into optimizing harm reduction strategies.
This study underscores the importance of utilizing objective behavioural data in conjunction with self-reported measures to enhance the detection and prevention of gambling harms. By validating these behavioural markers, the research offers a pathway for operators to implement more effective responsible gambling practices.