Slots and Casino Industry Backs Harvard

As fun as online slots and casinos can be, it is very easy to get caught up in the thrill of trying one’s luck. Unhealthy gambling habits can affect a large part of the population, especially when it’s not addressed and dealt with. That’s the reason that most casinos openly display signs with a help hotline for people who think they might need help. Gambling dependency or obsessions are a slippery slope, and they are cited as one of the reasons for governments to implement programs such as Sweden’s Svenska Spel, that monitor and track players’ online slot and casino habits.

Harvard University is a leading force in the quest for help for gambling addiction. The top school is now at the top of the list when it comes to funding. They have a unique medical research program that tracks the effects of compulsive gambling, and negative habits that stem from such behaviors. Almost ten million dollars have been supplied to the prestigious university by companies in the gambling industry, who are committed to supporting the fight against gambling addiction.

 However, the financial backing from gambling companies has drawn criticism and created a stir in the academic community from those who say that the slots companies are only backing the research because the reports exonerate them from any blame for addictive gambling. The report alleges that a person’s addictive tendency is not directly related to their exposure to the behavior (or substance), but rather has more to do with predetermined factors, such as chemical makeup, or neurological conditions. However, the fact that the slots and casino industry is backing the report on gambling addictions raises the question of academic and business integrity. It would be very easy to release a biased report in order to keep the funding. However, Harvard maintains that the report would be the same, regardless of where the money is coming from.

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