The Gambling Commission has assembled an international panel of experts on gaming machines as part of its ongoing research into high-stake high prize gaming machines. In March 2008 the Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe, asked the Commission to prioritise its existing work to identify what further research could be done to understand the impact of high-stake, high-prize gaming machines on problem gamblers.

High-stake, high prize gaming machines include category B2 machines (previously referred to as Fixed Odds Betting Terminals) in casinos and betting shops, category B3 machines in amusement arcades and betting shops and category B3A machines in non-commercial clubs. The panel will help the Commission develop a research programme focused on gaming machine regulation and minimising harm in the British context.

Experts from Australia, Europe, the United States and New Zealand are included and Dr Jonathan Parke, University of Salford, is helping the Commission to facilitate this work. The panel members are:

Professor Max Abbott - Professor & Dean, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology

Professor Alex Blaszczynski - Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Sydney

Professor Paul Delfabbro - Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Adelaide

Dr Charles Livingstone - Senior Lecturer, Health Science, Monash University

Professor Jan McMillen - Independent researcher and former Professor of School of Social Sciences, Australian National University

Ms Sharen Nisbet - Associate Lecturer in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Centre for Gambling Education & Research, Southern Cross University

Dr Tony Schellinck - CEO & Principal of Focal Research, Focal Research (Canada)

Arve Sjolstad - Communications Manager, Norsk Tipping

Dr Nigel Turner - Research Scientist, Centre for addiction and mental health, Ontario

Dr Rachel Volberg - President of Gemini Research, Gemini Research

Dr Richard Wood - Chartered Psychologist & Director of Gamres, Gamres

Matthew Hill, Director of Research, Strategy and Analysis at the Gambling Commission, said: “We are very pleased to have assembled this group of experts with such an extensive knowledge of the issues surrounding gambling and problem gambling. The panel will advise the Commission on further research focused on gaming machine regulation and the evaluation of potential harm minimisation measures. They will also help us to evaluate the findings of any other machines research.” (E-03.02.09)

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