As Problem Gambling Awareness Month begins to wrap up, we at the MGC are shifting our focus from raising awareness to mobilizing it. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has the most comprehensive research program in the United States focused on the impacts of casino gambling — we’ve released over 60 research reports on everything from epidemiology of problem gambling and health, social and economic impacts across the state, to reducing harm through safer gambling strategies, practices and policies.

Our major research initiatives include:

• Funding for communities to design and conduct their own research into gambling-related issues that communities have identified as priorities;
• The first major longitudinal cohort study of gambling behavior in the United States;
• The Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts (SEIGMA) study, conducted by a team from UMass Amherst, analyzing the fiscal, economic, social and health effects of expanded gaming across the Commonwealth;
• Casino impacts on public safety, including crime, calls-for-service and collision data; and
• Evaluation of responsible gaming initiatives.

Major findings from our research include that:

• The prevalence of problem gambling is 2% of the adult population, with an additional 8% considered to be at-risk. Additionally, 27% have not gambled in the past year, and 63% indicate they engage in recreational gambling: gambling because they enjoy the activities.
• According to the Massachusetts Gaming Impact Cohort (MAGIC) study, it’s common for an individual’s pattern of gambling behavior — and thus level of risk — to shift back and forth over time. This finding underscores the importance of thinking broadly about risk and harm when planning a public health approach that considers prevention and intervention initiatives on a broad spectrum.

The MGC continues to promote the availability of our data to researchers around the world who share a  commitment to advancing knowledge about the social and economic effects of gaming. The Massachusetts Open Data Exchange (MODE) provides easy access to datasets for research purposes — our only request is that they agree to share findings with the MGC and as broadly as they can!

As the Commonwealth introduces online sports wagering, we’re broadening our research focus and associated policy, strategy, and practice supports. According to a 2022 study conducted by researchers at UMass Amherst, an estimated 13-20% of Massachusetts adults have engaged in sports betting ahead of the law that legalized sports wagering in the Commonwealth. As there is growing evidence of an increase in gambling harms that aligns with a national increase in sports betting participation, it’s more critical than ever to mobilize data in support of responsible gaming strategies, practices and policies, as well as prevention, treatment and recovery resources.

The MGC is committed to making our research open, transparent, accessible, useful and actionable for stakeholders and community members. To facilitate this process, the MGC has partnered with Gambling Research Exchange Ontario (GREO) and invested in the development of a Knowledge Translation and Exchange Strategy (KTE Strategy). The purpose of KTE is to support the use of research evidence in decision-making; for example, to inform new or adapted policies, programs, treatment, prevention and/or education initiatives. This strategy will maximize the impact of the knowledge generated by the MGC’s extensive research program.

Initial steps in implementing this strategy will involve:

• Consulting with stakeholders to ensure the MGC’s research agenda is informed by and representative of the communities it is intended to benefit; and
• Tailoring and Mobilizing the evidence to increase the awareness and application of MGC research and data.

We look forward to broadening our network of safer gambling stakeholders in the state of Massachusetts and engaging this network in our research priority-setting while we also continue to prioritize community representation in research funding. Strengthening our process of KTE will also strengthen our ability to create and translate knowledge to support evidence-informed decision-making about gambling policy and regulation.

We’re excited to connect with you as we launch this strategy!

For more information about our research or KTE strategy, please contact Bonnie Andrews, Research Manager, at bonnie.andrews@massgaming.gov or Mark Vander Linden, Director of Research and Responsible Gaming, at mark.vanderlinden@massgaming.gov.