Public health experts have warned that inadequate policies on conflicts of interest in government commissioned research into gambling “will only lead to more harm” for members of the public.
Last year the government announced that gambling operators would have to pay up to 1.1% of their profits as part of a new levy, to generate £100mn for the “research, prevention, and treatment of gambling harms.”1
A fifth of the cash has been set aside for research, led by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its arts and humanities arm, the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The move came after decades in which gambling researchers had to apply to industry funded charities for funding.
UKRI opened its call for researchers to work on its “gambling harms research coordination centre” in June.2
But a group of researchers have told The BMJ that the call threatens the “opportunity for a fresh start” offered by the levy funds and have warned that current governance “will not protect the research process” from industry actors.
Conflict of interest concerns
UKRI’s call states that individuals from the industry “are eligible and encouraged” to apply for co-leadership roles as part of the funding opportunity.
“Partnerships with non-higher education institution organisations,” including the industry, are also “essential,” state the call’s eligibility requirements.
UKRI has edited the call several times since June, including a note emphasising that “any engagement with industry partners, especially those from the gambling sector, must be demonstrably …
