Building an online data-collection platform for in-play sports betting
Overview
In the last decade, sports betting has shifted online. This shift poses a policy dilemma, because online gambling platforms offer a raft of new and under-regulated ‘in-play’ betting features. These in-play features give bettors the option of rapidly placing bets during live events, including ‘cashing out’ of their bets before events have ended. To regulate in play betting features effectively, policymakers need to understand exactly how bettors use these features and how these features contribute to gambling-related harm. However, bookmakers do not generally share their internal usage data with regulators and so the necessary data is not available to policymakers.
This project will use the tools of modern cognitive psychology to resolve this impasse. Specifically, we will develop an alternative method for gathering data on in-play betting by creating a simulated online gambling environment that replicates the relevant features of actual online gambling apps. This custom platform will then be used to collect empirical data on in-play betting in a naturalistic context (while also protecting participants from actual gambling-related harm). Two separate but complementary lines of research at Monash and Warwick have recently been working towards this goal. The proposed project will combine both lines of research in a new collaboration
Aims and objectives
The overarching aim for this collaboration is to reduce gambling-related harm by supporting well-informed regulatory policy for in-play betting in the UK and Australia. This project will help to understand and ameliorate the effects of technological changes in gambling-related products, with an end goal of shaping policy to reduce the burden of gambling-related harm in the community. This addresses the ‘Thriving Communities’ global challenge of the Impact 2030 strategic plan, by means of a research program that addresses the ‘Excellent’ and ‘International’ strategic goals. Within the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University, these research project addresses the ‘Living Well’ research priority, which emphasises the role played by psychological research in addressing problems faced by the broader community
Dr Bennett and Professor Ludwig hope to use the data generated from this project to prepare the way for future successful large-scale research funding for this research team and project (i.e., ARC project grants in Australia; ESRC research grants in the UK).
Principle applicants
 Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science |  Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine Sciences - University of Warwick |
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Co-applicants
Professor Antonio Verdejo-Garcia - Monash University
Assoc. Professor Lukasz Walasek - University of Warwick