WorldGaming’s Ewa Bakun to highlight the influence and imperative of evidence-led gambling research at iGB L!VE presentation
The central importance of providing robust scientific gambling research that focuses on testing, measuring and improving solutions that can be implemented in the real world, will be the theme of a presentation being made by WorldGaming’s Director Industry Relations Ewa Bakun at the Sustainable Gambling Zone at iGB L!VE (12.20pm, 2 July).
Characterising the challenge facing the industry as not being a lack of research but a paucity of research designed to answer practical questions surrounding player protection, she stated: “Too much research focuses on describing problems, while too little sets out to address issues and recommend solutions. This comes at a time when the gambling industry is facing growing scrutiny on the effectiveness of gambling harm prevention measures. As regulation increasingly focuses on effectiveness rather than intent, evidence-based initiatives have become a business, regulatory and reputational imperative.”
Turning her attention to the work of the ICE Research Institute, an initiative launched and jointly funded by World Gaming and Fira Barcelona to mark the relocation of ICE to the Catalan city, she explained: “The ICE Research Institute was established to fund independent, applied research that delivers actionable evidence for operators, policymakers and other stakeholders, with a particular focus on prevention, behaviour, sustainability and measurable outcomes.
“ICE Research Institute-funded projects are addressing some of the industry’s most pressing questions and recommending actionable solutions. Projects include understanding the impact of public stigma and narratives around gambling, evaluating the effectiveness of safer gambling messaging, exploring why some consumer protection tools are underused, developing ethical frameworks for AI, and testing prevention-led approaches for younger demographics.
“By focusing on what actually works, the international gambling industry has an opportunity to move beyond reactive responses to regulation and courtesy of a proactive evidence-led strategy build credibility, build trust and in the process achieve better outcomes. Quite simply, the future of this industry will not be defined by what we say but by what we can prove.”