16 February 2023

Regulatory approaches to mitigate harm from sports betting

IAGR partner, Greo, provides IAGR members with a snapshot of regulatory approaches to online gambling worldwide.

Greo is an independent knowledge translation and exchange organisation with two decades of international experience helping organisations improve their programs, policies and practices by harnessing the power of evidence and stakeholder insight.

This month, Greo have shared a selection of research around sports betting.

Sports betting continues to expand to new markets at the same time as gambling technology is rapidly evolving. Research suggests that regulatory approaches that allow for the commercialization of sports betting with few regulatory restrictions may lead to increased exposure and population-level harms. Evidence from jurisdictions with highly commercialized sports betting markets has shown increased levels of gambling harms related to sports betting.

While research is still emerging, there are several measures regulators can introduce that may limit harms such as:

Restricting advertising timing and content
Requiring that operators participate in self-exclusion schemes and have deposit limits
Developing prevention and education strategies
Prohibiting features most associated with harms like in-play betting
Requiring use of player behaviour data to help inform harm reduction measures

How can regulators improve existing harm reduction tools, and use technology to inform the development of new tools, to prevent and reduce gambling-related harms?

Recently published gambling research

Below is a selection of plain-language research summaries that explore sports betting, regulations, and related harms:

Evidence-informed action

Below are examples of harm prevention measures stakeholders have taken in different jurisdictions. Gambling regulators might consider some of these actions as they create or revise regulatory frameworks in relation to sports betting.

United States

An MGC commissioned study by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (2022) found evidence that the introduction of sports wagering and participation in sports wagering led to an increase in gambling harms. Prior to the launch of sports betting being introduced in the jurisdiction on January 31, 2023, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) launched a voluntary self-exclusion program specifically for people who bet on sports.

Australia

Australian legislation prohibits online betting on in-play (i.e., live) aspects of a sporting event. However, in-play betting can be completed by phone. In addition, online sports betting operators must send monthly activity statements by email to people with active betting accounts. Operators are also required to use uniform messaging about the risks and potential harm of gambling in their advertising, direct marketing, websites, and other direct communications.

The Netherlands

New rules for gambling advertising proposed in July 2022 will prohibit untargeted advertising online. Operators will only be able to advertise online if their ads do not reach vulnerable groups, including those under the age of 24, as people in this age group may find it difficult to assess the level of risk involved with gambling.