BetBlocker donates to UNLV's International Gaming Institute

• BetBlocker donates to UNLV’s International Gaming Institute
• The donation is meant to advance independent research that helps define policies
• Anecdotal evidence would no longer do, argues BetBlocker’s Founder Duncan Garvie

BetBlocker, a global company that focuses on helping problem gamblers control their habits, has donated to the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), specifically to support the International Gaming Institute and its research program.

BetBlocker backs UNLV’s IGI and its independent research

The company has hailed this as a pioneering partnership between its own work and that of the internationally renowned academic institute, as BetBlocker described the partnership in a press release shared with Casino Guru News via email.

Both organizations have been laser-focused on advancing groundbreaking research pertaining to problem gambling and gambling-related harm which has driven transformative insights across the industry and served as the basis of evidence-based policies that help protect consumers on a regulatory level and contribute to uprooting bad practices in the industry.

Commenting on this fresh opportunity, BetBlocker Chie of SG Partnerships Pedro Romero had this to say, celebrating the new partnership with UNLV IGI:

"We are very happy to collaborate with UNLV IGI and Dr. Ghaharian’s research team on this project. This is our first research collaboration in the U.S., and we are delighted to support a study that provides genuine insights into the role of free and anonymous blocking software in harm prevention and minimization. Helping with this research is in line with our values of enhancing safer gambling tools and reducing gambling-related harm."

Romero similarly noted that the value of good research could not be overstated, especially at a time when reports are commissioned to validate commercial products. This is why it’s critical to support independent research, Romero further noted.

This opinion was shared by International Gaming Institute Director of Research Kasra Ghaharian, PhD, who welcomed the news on a similarly strong note.

Forget anecdotal evidence, argues Duncan Garvie

"Ghaharian, Director of Research at IGI. " We are truly grateful to BetBlocker for their support, which will help advance research in this area while also providing valuable opportunities for graduate students to develop their skills. I can't wait for us to share the insights from this important work, which will be valuable to operators, policymakers, and the public," Ghaharian said.

The news was similarly welcomed by Duncan Garvie, BetBlocker Founder and Trustee who was appreciative of the opportunity. He stressed the difference that BetBlocker has made for a huge number of lives. However, he spoke against the "anecdotal validation" that this represented and argued that it was not enough in the current context of the day.

"Effectiveness has to be evidenced and we’re very supportive of academic efforts to gather evidence to examine how the availability of a free, anonymous blocking software improves outcomes for users," Garvie concluded.

Image credit: BetBlocker