DraftKings-backed International Center for Responsible Gaming fund awards research grant
Three-year grant extended to Bowling Green State University for problem gaming study
The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) has named Bowling Green State University, Ohio as the recipient of a DraftKings-backed responsible gambling research grant. The three-year grant will allow researchers at the university to study the roots of problem gaming.
The goal of the study is to use peer-reviewed, scientifically-based research to learn more about the various risk factors that can lead to problem gambling, and help develop more comprehensive tools and processes to reduce its prevalence.
The ICRG’s announcement of Bowling Green as the grant recipient follows a competitive request for applications from researchers around the world who were interested in spearheading the work, with the grant backed by a financial contribution from DraftKings.
“A key pillar of our commitment to responsible gaming at DraftKings is our support for advancing research in this area,” said DraftKings director of responsible gaming Christine Thurmond. “We were honored to support the ICRG with launching the fund earlier this year to provide researchers at the top of their field an opportunity to compete for funding to advance responsible gaming knowledge.”
Through its research, the study aims to gain a better understanding of general sports betting behaviors among US adults while identifying the risk factors that can fuel the types of behaviors that lead to problem gambling.
“This research project seeks to study the rapidly changing face of sports betting in the United States, with a focus on understanding what factors might lead some people to develop problematic play, whereas other people are able to wager without problems,” said principal investigator Joshua Grubbs.
Researchers will also study how technology influences sports betting and how natural trajectories of sports betting behaviors manifest over time.
“Our hope is that this work can better inform efforts to promote responsible play and prevent the potential harms that problem gaming can cause,” said Grubbs.
DraftKings’ support of the ICRG is part of its greater DraftKings S.E.R.V.E.S. (Service, Equity, Responsible Gaming, Vitality, Entrepreneurship, Sports) corporate responsibility program. The program aims to provide support through technology, staff training, consumer resources, and partnerships with organizations such as the ICRG and National Council on Problem Gambling.