The London-listed gaming and software technology provider, Playtech, has committed to a new responsible gambling research project in the US.

It was announced in a that Playtech has partnered with the virtual health clinic, , with the intention to commission the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey for their project.

The research center will establish an evidence and statistical-based telehealth model to examine the effectiveness of gambling treatment and support to players who have developed or have the potential to develop a gambling addiction.  The focus will be on online gambling platforms, and collected data is expected to be published within 24 months.

As per the press release:

“The purpose of this partnership is to use advancements in technology to improve the understanding and treatment of gambling and digital dependency-related harms, with an aim to enhance treatment efficacy in a virtual setting. The research will focus on the mental health of gamblers, gamers and those suffering from digital dependency and identify areas to help and support them.”

How will the research be used?

• Data gathered will be used for peer-reviewed research and will be on a size and scale never before achieved when analyzing the problem gambling population.
• Playtech and Kindbridge Institute will work with various stakeholders in the US gambling market, such as casino operators, social impact organizations, and insurance companies. The main intention is to “create care pathways” that will eliminate barriers to resources that will help gamblers manage their mental health.
• The research will analyze player data to get a better understanding of potentially harmful gambling behavior.
• The data gathered will define a personalized approach to treatment that could make the most significant impact on players seeking help.

What is Kindbridge?

Founded in 2020 during the height of COVID-19 in the US, Kindbridge Research Institute was created in response to an increased demand for mental health services for gamblers, when in-person access to resources was no longer an option. 

The registered non-profit, based in the State of Delaware, believes that telehealth is the future of treatment for problem gamblers and their families.

In its own words, its agenda is “to advance evidence-based mental health solutions for gambling and gaming solutions.”

The CEO of Kindbridge, Daniel Umfleet, said that combining data from players and the group’s clinical network will result in a meaningful insight that has never before been achieved.

“The scale of the data sets means we can gain in-depth understanding into those who are currently suffering from harmful gambling behaviors, as well as members of their support network who may also be affected,” he said. “This research will allow data scientists, academics, and researchers to gain more insight on effective support and treatment in a digital environment than ever before.”

Playtech and Responsible Gambling

Playtech has a robust in place across all its platforms.  Its software provides tools to enable players to bet responsibly and enables licensees to implement responsible gambling controls such as age and identity verification, financial and time limits, self-exclusion and time-controls, and reality checks.

The CEO of Playtech, Mor Weizer, noted how pleased the company is to partner with Kindbridge.

“The research partnership with Kindbridge and Rutgers University will play a critical role in helping the sector design and deliver high-quality digital wellbeing and mental health support for those at-risk and affected by gambling-related harm,” he said. “We are delighted to partner with Kindbridge Research Institute and Kindbridge clinical network as they pioneer the next generation of gambling treatment, services and support in the US.”

Playtech will also provide Kindbridge with digital learning expertise and support from its Playtech Academy team. Together, the two entities will build the Kindbridge Internal Learning Management System, which therapists and internal staff will use.  Playtech will also help Kindbridge set up digitized content.

Recently, Playtech launched its first live casino studio in the US, marking the start of a growth strategy for the company in the country. The Michigan-based studio is believed to be a starting point on which Playtech can build its online gaming business in the US.