PwC Commissioned by RGT To Research Online Gambling Behaviour

PwC has been commissioned by the Responsible Gambling Trust (RGT) to research online gambling behaviour. They will work with Canada's Responsible Gambling Council and remote operators.

It has just been announced that PwC are to conduct a two-phase research program that will see them explore the potential behavioural analytics and industry-held data to see what the potential for gambling related harm is. This new project is set to build on the research into customer behaviour that was already published by RGT in December of 2014, which focused on gaming machines in licensed betting offices. This new research will delve deeper into analytics and data and focus on remote online gambling operators.

The first phase of the research project will see PwC working alongside Canada's Responsible Gambling Council so that they can engage with remote operators that are participating in the research. The aim of this is so that they can understand the existing processes remote operators have in place to control and minimize harm. Phase two of the program will see PwC analyse the industry data and control systems so that they can recommend practical applications that will help to minimize harm for the remote gambling operators that are serving Canadian customers.

The tender process for this research program was started by RGT in March of 2015 and they invited proposals from all organizations that had the relevant experience and expertise. PwC won the tender process and were commissioned to compete the research programme which is expected to take approximately eighteen months to complete.

Marc Etches, Chief Executive of the Responsible Gambling Trust, said: "RGT is committed to commissioning research that will help them to understand player behaviour and improve the processes that are available in the industry to mitigate gambling-related harm." He went on to say that they have completed an extensive tender process to select the research partners with the highest calibre. Both PwC and the Responsible Gambling Council have an extensive understanding of the gambling industry and the issues of social impact. RTG are confident that this new research program will work and make a valuable contribution to the efforts that are being put in place to minimize gambling related harm in the remote sector.

David Trunkfield, PwC Partner and Betting & Gaming Leader, said: "We are delighted to be working with the RTG on this important online gambling research program because doing the right things for society is central to PwC's purpose." He went on to say that by combining their leading data analytics practice and betting & games teams, they will be able to use a data led approach in coming up with practical recommendations to improve the identification and mitigation of gaming-related harm. PwC are looking forward to working closely with the RGT and remote gaming industry over the next 18 months.