Research finds no link between slot features and gaming harm
Research by AI data company Future Anthem and Gamesys found that slot features had no impact on the amount of slot play.
UK.- Research conducted by the London-based gaming software developer Gamesys and AI data company Future Anthem has suggested that there is no link between features such as volatility and hit rate on gambling harm.
The study used Future Anthem’s Safer Player machine learning platform to analyse 36 million gaming sessions from 800,000 players on Gamesys products. Player harm markers such as intensity, frequency and variability were compared against gameplay features such as volatility, hit rate and return to player.
The results identified no correlation between the games features and markers of harmful play. The games associated with the highest amount of potential harm were medium-high in volatility, which Future Anthem said was not high enough to suggest a direct correlation.
The impact of time of day on excess play
Hit rate and return to player were also found to have no direct impact on play. However, the study did find a correlation between time of day and the risk of excessive play. It found that gambling sessions between the hours of 12am and 6am were 36 per cent riskier than at other times.
Chris Conroy, chief data officer at Future Anthem, said: “Identifying potential markets of harm within player game sessions is a core area of focus for Future Anthem. We are delighted to have undertaken this research with Gamesys to begin to explore the potential for linkages with the games themselves.
“We look forward to undertaking future research on games and game design to help build a body of data-led evidence in this key area.”
Earlier this week, Anna van der Gaag (CBE), chair of the British Gambling Commission’s Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG), said more research on safer gambling was urgently needed. She said problem gambling research was being hindered by a lack of evidence due to polarised frames of reference.
Last month, the Gambling Commission’s quarterly participation and problem gambling survey found that problem gambling levels fell to 0.3 per cent in September. It’s the joint lowest figure on record since the survey began in 2016.
