London-based gambling technology company Playtech Wednesday announced an agreement to create the world’s first virtual mental health clinic for gamblers. Playtech is partnering with the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University to launch the Kindbridge Research Institute, an evidence-based model for gambling treatment in a telehealth setting.
“The research partnership with Kindbridge and Rutgers University will play a critical role in helping the sector design and deliver high-quality digital well-being and mental health support for those at-risk and affected by gambling-related harm,” said Playtech CEO Mor Weizer in a statement.
Kindbridge will use advanced technology to research treatment regimens for gambling and digital dependency. 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
Lisa Nower, the lead researcher for the study and professor and director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers, said in a statement the goal is to build a standardized and effective treatment framework for problem gambling and video gaming.
“Kindbridge is the first treatment agency in the U.S. that is exclusively focused in these areas, and delivering treatment we can test for effectiveness fills an unmet need in this time of rapid expansion,” Nower said.
Kindbridge will work with casino operators in the U.S., insurance companies, and social impact organizations to create access to care through telehealth, eliminating barriers for gamblers and gamers to resources to manage their mental health. The institute will be able to analyze player data with data Kindbridge gathers from its clinical network to better understand the origins of potentially harmful gambling and gaming behavior.
“Combining data from players and Kindbridge’s clinical network will result in meaningful insight that has never before been achieved,” said Kindbridge CEO Daniel Umfleet in a statement. “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. 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.”
