UK Online Gambling Study Flawed But Still Being Cited
A UK study that determined online gambling was ten times more likely than land-based gambling to cause problem gambling incidents has been found to be flawed, according to an article in EGRmagazine. Dr. Jonathan Parke of the Center for the Study of Gambling at Salford Business School, a UK college, says the interpretations drawn from the British Prevalence Gambling Study are incorrect.Dr. Mark Griffiths had used the accumulated data to conclude that the nature of the Internet might spur problem gambling more than land casinos would, and indicated that greater precautions should be required for online gambling than other media.
But Parke told EGR that the statistical controls were not properly maintained, as researchers did not distinguish between frequency of reported gambling or whether patrons of online casinos were also using other gambling methods.
"To compare this to drug use, if someone were to do all sorts of drugs and happens to include marijuana in that mix, it wouldn’t then follow that marijuana causes use of more drugs, just that marijuana is easier to get access to than other drugs,” Parke said.
OCA had called attention to the survey's results, which contradict virtually every other study over the last decade, and questioned whether the results would hold up under peer review. OCA also noted the bias of Griffith's partner, Professor Jim Orford, who has headed an organization determined to stop the expansion of gambling for two years.
Meanwhile, European governments are using the flawed study as a basis to support gaming monopolies and ignore EU open market laws, and the UK government has promised action as well.
“Key decisions are being made commercially, politically and clinically regarding Internet gambling research, and it’s important that we are basing those decisions on accurate information,” said Parke.
