Research into online gambling and the effects it has on mental health has received a major boost after software company Playtech confirmed they are joining forces with the United States’ first virtual mental health clinic Kindbridge.
The partnership aims to look into the potentially harmful impact some forms of gambling can have on people’s mental health.
In a world where we’re all attached to our phones and tech companies are creating ever-more fascinating products to keep our attention on our screens, the relationship we have with the online world is being assessed across many areas of society.
Shopping habits, social media, communication, and entertainment have all been subject to vast research in recent years. And now studies of the online gambling world are catching up.
Playtech is a gambling software producer that owns a wide number of online gaming sites and specific games. Based in the UK, it has been at the forefront of the online gaming world for more than two decades.
Kindbridge, meanwhile, is a mental health provider that has tracked the rise in issues related to problem gambling in recent years. The project alongside Playtech will aim to create an evidence-based model for the treatment of problem gambling and be conducted through the newly-created Kindbridge Research Institute.
Gambling and Mental Health
Mental health in the 21st century is one of the core health-related issues facing the US. The free flow of information via our smartphones and computers is certainly useful in a digitized world but there are nevertheless pressures that come with it.
Lockdown from the coronavirus pandemic has further exacerbated issues. In the UK researchers found depression, stress and anxiety have increased in those who are non-gamblers, non-problem gamblers, and potential problem gamblers.
While winning big and playing online casino games with friends can be fun, there is a push in the US to improve support services for those who are taken too far.
What is the Partnership Intended to do?
The main focus of the research is to look into the mental health of those suffering from digital dependencies. This is where a mix of not only problem gambling but also digital device addiction could be looked at.
The project intends to:
- Create an evidence-based model for the treatment of problem gambling within a telehealth setting
- Be based at the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University, NJ
- Evaluate the effectiveness of digital gambling harm treatments and support
- Analyze the player data Kindbridge gathers from across its clinical network
It is hoped the research project will be completed within 24 months and that recommendations can then be implemented.
