Gambling Data and Modalities of Interaction for Responsible Online Gambling: A Qualitative Study.

Abstract

Online gambling, as opposed to land-based gambling and other mediums of problematic and addictive behaviours such as alcohol and tobacco, offers unprecedented opportunities for monitoring and understanding users’ behaviour in real-time, along with the ability to adapt persuasive messages and interactions that would fit the gamblers usage and personal context. This opens a new avenue for research on the monitoring and interactive utilisation of gambling behavioural data. To this end, in this paper we explore the range of data and modalities of interaction which can facilitate richer interactive persuasive interventions and offer additional support to limit setting, with the ultimate aim of aiding gamblers, who gamble at low to moderate levels, to stay in control of their gambling experience. The exploration is based on our previous research on online addiction and interviews with experts (ne = 13) from different relevant multidisciplinary backgrounds and different points of view. We also interviewed gamblers (ng = 6) about their perception of the utilisation of their data for aiding more conscious gambling. Directed at multiple stakeholders including the gambling software providers, compliance and responsible gambling personnel as well as policymakers, this paper aims to provide a basis and a reference point for empowering future responsible gambling socio-technical tools through the capture and utilisation of relevant online gambling behavioural data.