We collaborate with communities, industry partners, government, community groups and treatment providers to apply our research in the real world, through policy and practice
Our world-leading research aims to use knowledge gained from research expertise to inform new, more effective prevention, harm minimisation, and treatment approaches. We share our research broadly to ensure it contributes to policy and practice, including how governments think about and regulate gambling, how industry implements sustainable harm minimisation practices, and how stakeholders develop strategies to reduce gambling-related harm. We prioritise research with strong dissemination and implementation-ready outcomes that can meaningfully influence policy and practice. Our research team actively engages with stakeholders throughout all stages of the research process, including community members, gambling consumers, and individuals with lived experience of gambling harms.
Our undergraduate and postgraduate research program provides unique opportunities for research students to gain real-world experience as they study. At the same time, our research and clinical insights are quickly transferred to graduates who can go on to practise in a wide variety of settings outside the University of Sydney.
Our team research priorities include:
We believe that it is critical to engage with all stakeholders to bring about changes which will meaningfully reduce gambling-related harms. Furthermore, it is not possible to evaluate interventions and practices for gambling in a simulated setting. As such, we work with consumers, treatment and community organisations, government-based regulators and policy advisors, and the gambling industry. This includes partnership, in-kind and direct research funding, and access to de-identified data. To reduce any perceived conflicts of interest, we follow strict protocols to protect the integrity of all research conducted. This includes:
Thank you for your interest in undertaking a research internship within the Gambling Research and Policy Unit (GRPU) within the School of Psychology and Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney.
The purpose of our internship program is to provide highly motivated and talented students the opportunity to gain advanced research experience and supervision to enhance their research skills and knowledge. It is intended that interns make a positive contribution during their time at the GRPU and ideally generate a research output.
We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic individuals who have some relevant research or related experience. These attributes ensure that interns are able to make meaningful contributions to research projects while working in a collaborative environment both under supervision and independently.
To assess your readiness to work on the relevant projects and your suitability for this role, we have developed a task that we would like you to complete after we receive your initial application. Following this task, we may invite you to participate in an interview via Zoom or in-person.
To submit an initial application, please send the following to Sally Gainsbury:
Please note that no support is available for VISA applications and no funding or financial support is provided for these positions.
Preventing the experience of severe gambling-related harms would be highly beneficial for individuals, their families, and the broader community. There has been minimal research to understand what tools and resources can help those who choose to gamble do so in a sustainable and lower risk way. Resources need to be developed for specific populations for example based on age and participation in different gambling activities (e.g., online sports betting vs. pokies). Digital resources are scalable, reaching a broad population, and can be accessed in private in a convenient and time-relevant manner.
A digital decision-aid to assist individuals in evaluating their own gambling including whether their spend is affordable and ensuring they understand how outcomes are determined to consider whether their current gambling is appropriate
Tailored feedback for individuals providing information about their gambling in relation to self-referential and social norms
Multimedia resources to provide psychoeducation and cognitive redirection to assist people in understanding gambling activities
Professor Sally Gainsbury, Dr. Dilushi Chandrakumar, Associate Professor Louise Thornton, Associate Professor Simone Rodda, Fergus Lyons
Consumer protection tools aim to increase the ability for customers to gamble in a sustainable way including setting limits on gambling deposits and spend, activity statements that summarise recent gambling activity, and time-outs which enable gamblers to temporarily block access to their gambling accounts. This project aims to evaluate current practices related to consumer protection tools online and in venues and investigate the uptake and effect of these. The research includes survey, trials of various interventions including customised real-time messages triggered by behavioural risk indicators, and analysis of customer data.
Researchers: Professor Sally Gainsbury, Professor Agnieszka Tymula, Professor Deborah Cobb-Clark, Dr. Robert Heirene, Dr. Louise Thornton, Dr. Dilushi Chandrakumar, Teejay Santos
Funding: Sportsbet, Entain, Brain and Mind Centre, Life Course Centre (ARC CRE), International Center for Responsible Gaming
Heirene, R. M., Gainsbury, S. M. (2021) Encouraging and evaluating limit-setting among on-line gamblers: a naturalistic randomized controlled trial. Addiction, 116: 2801–2813. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15471
Heirene, R. M., Vanichkina, D. P., & Gainsbury, S. M. (2021). Patterns and correlates of consumer protection tool use by Australian online gambling customers. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 35(8), 974–984. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000761
Heirene, R., Gainsbury, S. (2020). How can we improve consumer protection in online gambling? International Association of Gaming Regulators. [More Information]
Gainsbury, S.M., Angus, D.J., Procter, L. et al. Use of Consumer Protection Tools on Internet Gambling Sites: Customer Perceptions, Motivators, and Barriers to Use. J Gambl Stud 36, 259–276 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-019-09859-8
Procter, L., Angus, D.J., Blaszczynski, A., & Gainsbury, S.M (2019). Understanding use of consumer protection tools among Internet gambling customers: Utility of the Theory of Planned Behavior and Theory of Reasoned Action. Addictive Behaviors, 99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106050
Gambling regulators internationally are increasingly requiring gambling operators identify and intervene with individuals exhibiting signs of gambling problems. However, limited research is available to inform efforts to identify customers with gambling problems and particularly those experiencing lower levels of harm who would benefit from modifying their behaviour to reduce potentially problematic outcomes. This research aims to analyse customer account data provided from industry operators and identify account-based markers of gambling harms.
Access to large customer datasets will enable a broad range of research questions to be addressed focusing on understanding gambling behaviour to drive policies and practices to reduce gambling harm.
Researchers: Professor Sally Gainsbury, Professor Agnieszka Tymula, Professor Deborah Cobb-Clark, Dr Robert Heirene
Funding: Life Course Centre (ARC CRE), International Center for Responsible Gaming, West HQ.
Problem gambling is highly related to social and economic disadvantage and involves decision-making and highly biased thinking patterns leading to risky behaviours. This project aims to further our understanding of the role of self-control and the impact of gambling outcomes (i.e., wins and losses) in gambling decisions as well as the customer’s ability to make informed choices. We will also look at the interrelation with socioeconomic disadvantage by considering differences between individuals across regional settings.
Researchers: Professor Sally Gainsbury, Professor Agnieszka Tymula, Professor Deborah Cobb-Clark, Dr. Robert Heirene, Teejay Santos
Funding: Entain, Life Course Centre (ARC CRE), West HQ
Numerous studies have examined the relationship between gambling and different intrapersonal and socioeconomic factors, with some focusing on the association of specific mental health conditions with gambling disorder and the experience of gambling harm. These mental health issues, in combination with adverse life circumstances, may increase vulnerability to gambling problems, hinder treatment-seeking, and heighten relapse risk
The project aims to assess the relationship between co-occurring mental health conditions, socioeconomic stressors and gambling over time and track treatment seeking, treatment outcomes, and barriers to support services. The study will capture the episodic nature of gambling, systemic factors and mental-health issues by collecting comprehensive survey data, including a life course calendar charting someone’s history of stressful life events and mental health difficulties, identifying key predictors of treatment engagement and outcomes.
Researchers: Professor Sally Gainsbury, Dr Robert Heirene, Teejay Santos, Eunice Huynh
The state of New South Wales has introduced several policies designed to reduce the harm associated with casino gambling in recent years, including a requirement for all customers to register a card that tracks their play across activities and time, as well as enforced breaks in play that prevent excessive session lengths. This project aims to provide the first comprehensive evaluation of these and other policies, using large-scale, objective account data collected by casino venues. By tracking gambling behaviours before and after policy implementation and across jurisdictions (NSW and QLD), it will assess the effectiveness of the following policies: mandatory carded play, enforced breaks, voluntary gaming suspensions, and opt-out precommitment policies in reducing gambling harm.
Researchers: Dr. Robert Heirene, Professor Sally Gainsbury, Professor Agnieszka Tymula, Professor Deborah Cobb-Clark
Funding: This work is supported by a post-doctoral fellowship from the New South Wales Responsible Gambling Fund awarded to Dr Robert Heirene as part of the Gambling Research Capacity Grant program, administered by the Office of Responsible Gambling.
Potential gambling problems are prevalent in low-socioeconomic groups, often serving as a coping mechanism for challenges associated with their condition and are exacerbated by uninformed decision-making. This project aims to build the current literature by focusing on vulnerable, underrepresented groups with the goal of exploring decision-making practices at the intersection of economic disadvantage and gambling behaviour. Understanding these dynamics is vital for developing targeted interventions to mitigate gambling harms in these vulnerable populations.
Researchers: Professor Sally Gainsbury, Gary Fahey, Professor Deborah Cobb-Clark, Dr Juliette Tobia-Webb
This PhD project investigates manipulative design strategies in online gambling environments, commonly referred to as dark patterns, and examines how these designs may influence users’ cognitive processes and gambling behaviour. Moving beyond explanations focused solely on individual vulnerabilities, the project focuses on the role of product and interface design in shaping user decision-making. The research adopts a staged design. First, it will identify and classify gambling-related dark patterns across regulated and unregulated online gambling platforms using a structured audit framework. Subsequent studies will investigate how these design strategies influence users’ cognition and behaviour through experimental and behavioural research. The project aims to build an evidence base linking real-world interface practices to behavioural outcomes, with implications for gambling regulation, consumer protection, and the design of safer digital environments.
Researchers: Professor Sally Gainsbury, Avelyn Wenyu Zhou, Dr Robert Heirene
This PhD project examines the role of financial literacy in reducing harm among young Australians who gamble online. Financial literacy refers to the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviours that enable effective financial decision-making. Emerging evidence indicates a link between financial literacy and gambling behaviour. However, it remains unclear if financial literacy functions as a protective factor or, conversely, how lower financial literacy might increase the risk of harm among young online gambling consumers.
The project examines whether financial literacy is associated with gambling behaviour, shapes responses to harm-minimisation strategies, and how it may function as a protective factor against gambling-related harm. The project has several components. First, it aims to identify behavioural differences among young online gambling consumers and understand their preferences for harm minimisation communication. Second, it will evaluate whether financial literacy influences engagement with, and responses to, financially framed harm minimisation resources. This research will help to determine whether financial literacy can enhance harm minimisation strategies for young people who gamble online, which will have implications for harm reduction research, intervention development and policy approaches.
Funding: This research is supported by a grant from the International Centre for Responsible Gambling.
Researchers: Professor Sally Gainsbury, Fergus Lyons, Associate Professor Simone Rodda, Associate Professor Louise Thornton, Dr Dilushi Chandrakumar, Dr Robert Heirene
Gambling treatment is often not well integrated into health and social assistance settings. Professionals typically do not ask about gambling in generalist settings and clients are unlikely to raise this. Estimate suggest less than ten percent of people who experience severe gambling harms seek formal treatment, and this is often nine to ten years after problems developed, despite many seeing many professionals during this time. This project aims to enhance screening for gambling problems by health and welfare professionals. Studies include efforts to understand health care professionals’ knowledge and attitudes towards gambling screening, as well as social norms and perceived behavioural control in conducting gambling screening.
Researchers: Professor Sally Gainsbury, Dr. Robert Heirene, Teejay Santos
As digital payments increase in popularity this research seeks to understand how cashless gambling environments, including venues, impact customer spend. Account-based payments provide the ability to track and be notified of spend, set limits, and take breaks which may be impactful harm-minimisation tools. We are working with various stakeholders to explore the impact of cashless gambling on harms.
Funding: NSW Office of Responsible Gambling, West HQ, University of Sydney
Researchers: Professor Sally Gainsbury, Dr. Dilushi Chandrakumar, Teejay Santos
Our team works in a multidisciplinary manner in a highly applied setting which includes collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and stakeholders. Consequentially, we are diligent with our research methods as well as sharing these practices with the broader field.
We recently used a novel approach to examine the representativeness of survey samples in gambling research (Heirene et al., 2025). By partnering with an online wagering operator and a gambling venue in Australia, we invited thousands of customers to participate in a survey and obtained account data for all invited individuals, regardless of participation. This allowed us to compare respondents with non-respondents, finding that survey participants tended to be more involved gamblers.
In collaboration with scholars from Harvard University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, we also examined the uptake of open science practices in gambling research (Louderback et al., 2022). A scoping review assessed the use of practices such as pre-registration and data sharing, followed by an evaluation of the quality of gambling research pre-registrations. These studies highlight the importance of transparent research practices and the need for well-specified pre-registrations to reduce bias. In a recent working study (Cho et al., 2024), we evaluate adherence to reporting standards in randomized controlled trials of behavioural addiction interventions, identifying gaps and providing recommendations to improve treatment research reporting.
Researchers: Dr. Robert Heirene, Professor Sally Gainsbury, Dr. Brittany Keen, Professor Debi LaPlante, Dr. Eric Louderback
Funding: Division on Addictions, Cambridge Health Alliance
Professor Sally Gainsbury
Teejay Santos
Eunice Huynh
Fergus Lyons
Avelyn Wenyu Zhou
Gary Fahey
Teejay Santos
Fergus Lyons
Avelyn Wenyu Zhou
