NSW commits additional funding to gambling research

The New South Wales (NSW) Office of Responsible Gambling has set out details of a new funding opportunity for PhD scholarships, post-doctoral fellowships and study grants to build capability and capacity in gambling research.
 
Using money from the Australian state's Responsible Gambling Fund, the grants will be used to help improve the quality, diversity and impact of gambling research in communities across Australia.
 
The submission round for the PhD scholarships and post-doctoral fellowships opened yesterday (19 November) and will run to 31 January 2020.
 
Those wishing to apply for study grants in order to study in 2020 can also now register their interest, with applications to be accepted throughout the next year.
 
“We are committed to providing up-and-coming researchers with an opportunity to dedicate their careers to gambling studies and have a real impact in our community,” director of the Office of Responsible Gambling, Natalie Wright, said.
 
“Research is crucial because it provides the evidence base for responsible gambling policy, interventions and programs, and it is important to encourage our brightest minds to stay in or move into the gambling research field.
 
“We encourage collaborative partnerships, cross-disciplinary approaches and applications from a diverse range of disciplines, to build knowledge and develop innovative approaches to working towards zero gambling harm.”
 
The funding marks the latest effort by the NSW Office of Responsible Gambling to clamp down on problem gambling in the state and the wider Australian market.
 
In May, Office provided almost AU$400,000 (£211,092/€246,297/$272,494) in grants to fund research into reducing and preventing gambling-related harm. The sum was split between five universities across Australia, supporting projects that focus on helping young people and families, and employ new technology to tackle dangers that may arise from gambling.
 
The NSW government in July also set out new plans to conduct a study into the effectiveness of existing responsible gambling measures in the Australian state and consider ways to better protect consumers from gambling-related harm.
 
However, earlier this month, a report released by the state’s government showed that the percentage of adults in New South Wales who gamble has dropped by 12% since 2011.
 
The NSW Gambling Survey 2019, released by the NSW government after being commissioned by the Responsible Gambling Fund, found that 53% of the adult population gambled over the past 12 months – down from 65% in 2011.