The battle against problem gambling isn’t one that’s going to end anytime soon, but a recent collaboration between Swedish operator LeoVegas and a major Swedish research institution could move everyone a few steps closer to a solution. LeoVegas announced earlier this week that it is providing raw data to the Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Clinical Neuroscience in Stockholm to be used in a four-year study of problem gambling.
LeoVegas’ data will be combed over by researchers for the next four years as they seek new and improved methods for identifying and, ultimately, helping problem gamblers.
In a statement reported on by SBC News, Gustaf Hagman, CEO of LeoVegas Group explained the significance of the research project saying, “Responsible gaming is an important priority for LeoVegas Group. We believe that our industry must take greater responsibility for contributing knowledge and facts about gambling-related problems and learning how to minimise these issues.”
“This collaboration gives us a unique opportunity to study data that hasn’t previously been available for research. We hope that the collaboration will lead to new ways of identifying and helping players at risk at the earliest possible stage,” Philip Lindner, Associate Professor and Research Group Leader at Karolinska Institutet added.
Minimizing issues surrounding problem gambling is a huge priority for LeoVegas and every other operator not just because they want to do good, but understanding these issues can help minimize their contact with gaming regulators. Earlier this year, the company was hit with a £1.2 million ($1.37 million USD) fine for social responsibility failings.