UK Gambling Commission release social gambling report

The UK Gambling Commission released the results of a report commissioned from The Gambling Lab to provide an overview of social gambling to assist in widening the discussion of potential implications for risk, harm and responsible play in relation to gaming and gambling behaviour.

Senior researchers included Dr. Jonathan Parke and Jane Rigbye from The Gambling Lab, Heather Wardle of the University of Glasgow and Dr. Adrian Parke from the University of Lincoln.

The completed report is intended to form the basis of continuing debates surrounding social gambling, identifying consumer risk and concerns regarding potential areas that may need to be considered in terms of precautionary regulation.

Conclusions derived from the study include:

– The need for stricter age verification measures across real-money and free-to-play gambling-related content.

– Limiting exposure of gambling related marketing material to children and adolescents.

– Close montoring and research into some games and features relating to increased accessibility through social media and removal of cost of entry.

– Special consideration of the social influence, particularly among children and adolescents should be undertaken.

The full report can be accessed here:
http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/pdf/Exploring%20social%20gambling%20-%20scoping,%20classification%20and%20evidence%20review%20-%20May%202013.pdf