The University of Sydney has officially opened a center focused on combating problem gambling.

The University of Sydney embarked on a mission to enhance the study of gambling behavior and mitigate the adverse impacts linked with gambling habits. A generous $600,000 contribution from the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) facilitated the creation of the Centre of Excellence in Gambling Research (CoEGR).

According to the university, notable scholar Professor Sally Gainsbury, recognized for her contributions to gambling psychology, has been appointed to lead CoEGR as its director. This center will bring together a diverse group of academics from assorted disciplines, including:

• Psychology
• Economics
• Business
• Public Health

A significant role of CoEGR is partnering with key gambling operators across Australia to compile data and conduct real-time experiments. The University of Sydney states that this approach will allow the center to evaluate how effective various interventions are in driving positive changes in behavior. CoEGR is dedicated to transforming its research insights into practical, evidence-backed initiatives aimed at preventing and reducing gambling-induced harm.

Upon accepting her leadership role at the center, Professor Gainsbury remarked that collaboration with gambling companies would allow CoEGR to navigate past obstacles and forge opportunities for fresh and impactful gambling research results.

\"Operators will provide us with anonymous data on gambling patterns, enabling us to test new interventions, which presents a rare chance for us to assemble a comprehensive dataset,\" she noted. gamblers ,” she added.

Professor Gainsbury, the founder and executive chief of the Technology Addiction Team and head of the Gambling Treatment & Research Clinic, will be working alongside the following esteemed individuals at CoEGR:

• Professor Deborah Cobb-Clark – School of Economics
• Professor Agnieszka Tymula – School of Economics
• Associate Professor Daniel Gozman – Business School
• Dr. Louise Thornton – The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use

Professor Gainsbury emphasized that the central aim of the centre is to adopt a consumer-focused approach in addressing problem gambling. She confirmed that CoEGR will explore diverse strategies to tackle essential issues and will engage gamblers in designing viable real-world solutions.

Adding to her earlier comments, she explained: \"Currently, most gamblers only seek help when they're at a breaking point. We aim to improve proactive interventions and proactively promote positive behavioral shifts in the early stages of harm development, utilizing strategic communication and consumer-focused tools.\"

The University highlighted past research by Professor Gainsbury, which discovered that roughly 4% of adults in western countries encounter gambling-related issues, with approximately 1% involved in compulsive gambling, and a scant few, under 10%, opting for professional assistance.

\"We're excited about the possibilities that the Centre of Excellence in Gambling Research offers due to the long-term funding from the International Centre for Responsible Gaming,\" stated Gainsbury.

CoEGR will be seamlessly integrated into the existing support ecosystems within the University to ensure a comprehensive and holistic approach to tackling gambling-related problems. This includes:

• The Brain and Mind Centre
• The Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic
• The Technology Addiction Team

The capacity of CoEGR's research will receive further financial backing from the University of Sydney, broadening its capability to explore the nuances of gambling behavior and its societal impacts, with postdoctoral economists and psychologists leading more in-depth studies.