BetBlocker on Monday announced a donation to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in support of the university’s International Gaming Institute’s research program. The contribution will help advance academic research on gambling blocking software and its users.
“We are very happy to collaborate with UNLV IGI and Dr. (Kasra) Ghaharian’s research team on this project,” BetBlocker Chief of SG Partnerships Pedro Romero said in a statement. “This is our first research collaboration in the U.S., and we are delighted to support a study that provides genuine insights into the role of free and anonymous blocking software in harm prevention and minimization.
“Helping with this research is in line with our values of enhancing safer gambling tools and reducing gambling-related harm. In a sector where we often see reports commissioned to research consultancy companies at great expense to validate commercial products, we believe in supporting independent research: critical, objective, peer-reviewed and academically rigorous.”
Both organizations say the research will generate transformative insights that will help inform evidence-based policies, enhance player protection measures and contribute to the broader public good.
“Gaining a better understanding of individuals who use gambling blocking software is critical, as there is little to no published research on this population,” said UNLV Director of Research at IGI Ghaharian. ” We are truly grateful to BetBlocker for their support, which will help advance research in this area while also providing valuable opportunities for graduate students to develop their skills. I can’t wait for us to share the insights from this important work, which will be valuable to operators, policymakers and the public.”
BetBlocker Founder and Trustee Duncan Garvie applauded the donation.
“I’ve interacted with thousands of people using the tool and I know how much of a difference it has made to a huge number of lives,” Garvie said. “But that type of anecdotal validation isn’t enough in this day and age. Effectiveness has to be evidenced and we’re very supportive of academic efforts to gather evidence to examine how the availability of a free, anonymous blocking software improves outcomes for user.”
