The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has appointed two new experts, Dr. Virve Marionneau and Dr. Spencer Murch, to its Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG). This move is aimed at enhancing the board’s expertise in gambling harm prevention, especially as the gambling industry continues to evolve with new technologies and international regulatory challenges.
The ABSG, originally known as the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board, has played a pivotal role in advising the Gambling Commission on its National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms, which ran from April 2019 to April 2022. The board has also been instrumental in offering guidance for the UKGC’s 2023 review of the Gambling Act.
Expanding International Research Expertise
Dr. Virve Marionneau, a sociologist and director of the Centre for Research on Addiction, Control, and Governance at the University of Helsinki in Finland, joins the ABSG with a wealth of knowledge in gambling regulation and industry practices. Her research delves into the effects of digital gambling environments and the qualitative investigation of gambling-related harms.
Marionneau emphasized the need for international collaboration in gambling regulation, stating: “I am honoured to join the ABSG, especially at a time when increasing international and cross-sector collaboration is needed to regulate and control gambling. I am thrilled to be a part of this impressive team of experts, and I look forward to advising particularly on regulatory practices and research from other jurisdictions.”
Focusing on AI and Digital Gambling Harms
Dr. Spencer Murch, a cognitive psychologist and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Calgary, Canada, also joins the ABSG. His work focuses on understanding the cognitive and behavioural profiles of addictive digital product use, with particular interest in using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to prevent gambling-related problems.
Murch highlighted the growing importance of AI in safeguarding players: “As AI technologies and digital gambling opportunities continue to evolve, it is more important than ever to understand clearly the threats posed to human health in the United Kingdom and around the world. The mandate of this group is important, timely, and represents an opportunity to transform research insights into working harm prevention policies.”
Strategic Appointments for Safer Gambling
The Chair of the ABSG, Anna van der Gaag, welcomed both Marionneau and Murch, emphasizing their strong academic backgrounds and expertise in gambling studies. “We are very fortunate to have Virve and Spencer as our newest members,” van der Gaag said. “They will expand the national and international research expertise we offer to the Commission. Gambling is a global business, and the regulatory challenges faced in different jurisdictions have much in common.”
These appointments come at a crucial time as gambling technologies, including AI and digital platforms, present both opportunities and challenges in managing gambling-related harms. The ABSG continues to play an integral role in shaping policy and advising the Gambling Commission on safer gambling initiatives.
In February 2024, the board also welcomed two additional members, Dr. David Zendle and Dr. Steve Sharman, further strengthening the board’s research expertise on gambling-related harm.
Source:
Two new members join the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling, gamblingcommission.gov.uk, 03.10.2024.