Researchers at Penn State University are using a state grant from the proceeds of the state’s soaring online gaming business for a comprehensive study on the effects of iGaming on problem gambling and responsible gaming efforts.
Glenn Sterner, the Penn State University Abington assistant professor of criminal justice who is heading the study, told the Penn Bets news site that 2,500 to 3,000 phone surveys will be conducted between November and June to assess the level of new online gambling by Pennsylvanians and to determine whether iGaming is causing any problem gambling problems.
“We want to have a good understanding of all of the interactive gaming activity in Pennsylvania,” Sterner told Penn Bets. “We want to understand trends over time, and if activities in one area affect activities in another area. … It gives us a lot of opportunity to help develop meaningful policy and results we can track from year to year.”
Pennsylvania logged more than $400 million in revenue from online and mobile casino games, and on sports bets made through the sportsbook apps. Online gaming was approved as part of the state’s 2017 gaming expansion law. That law also mandated the study on iGaming’s impact with respect to responsible gaming.
“This is the first time Pennsylvania has had a probability study focused solely on problem gambling,” Rachel Kostelac, a spokeswoman for Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, told the news site. “This report could show the need for changes to the prevention or treatment systems already in place, expansions of treatment and prevention, and potentially even a need for more funding related to prevention or treatment.”
The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs receives nearly $5 million annually from gaming revenue to oversee programs related to problem gambling education, prevention, and treatment
additional risks.
“Our survey will build on previous work asking questions in ways that would help to signal” if someone has a gambling problem, Sterner said. “We are hoping to understand if there are behaviors that might signal those problems to the people developing policies and procedures (to combat gambling addiction).”
