A framework for independent research using industry funding: the Massachusetts model

Session Title

Responsible Gambling: Evaluation Frameworks

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation

Start Date

26-5-2026 12:00 AM

Abstract

The Massachusetts Model represents an approach to funding gambling research that addresses concerns about industry influence while advancing evidence-based policy and harm reduction initiatives. Developed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, this model integrates mandatory industry fees, an open procurement process, and a robust commitment to open science principles. This model aligns research with public health priorities and ensures rigorous oversight through its Research Review Committee. This presentation explores the model’s development, its unique legislative provisions – including access to player-level data – and its impact on advancing gambling research and policy. Comparative analyses highlight the advantages and limitations of alternative funding approaches worldwide. We contend that this model offers a viable path forward for other jurisdictions seeking to engage in rigorous scientific inquiry using indirect industry funding, while maintaining independence and transparency. In doing so, it addresses broader challenges in securing sustainable funding for independent research in the field of gambling studies, providing a framework that prioritizes public health and ethical governance in the research process and its outcomes.

Author Bios

Bonnie Andrews, MPH, PhD, is the Deputy Director of Research and Responsible Gaming for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. She is a licensed psychologist with a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Boston. She also has an MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Tufts University School of Medicine and previously served as an epidemiologist at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

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May 26th, 12:00 AM

A framework for independent research using industry funding: the Massachusetts model

The Massachusetts Model represents an approach to funding gambling research that addresses concerns about industry influence while advancing evidence-based policy and harm reduction initiatives. Developed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, this model integrates mandatory industry fees, an open procurement process, and a robust commitment to open science principles. This model aligns research with public health priorities and ensures rigorous oversight through its Research Review Committee. This presentation explores the model’s development, its unique legislative provisions – including access to player-level data – and its impact on advancing gambling research and policy. Comparative analyses highlight the advantages and limitations of alternative funding approaches worldwide. We contend that this model offers a viable path forward for other jurisdictions seeking to engage in rigorous scientific inquiry using indirect industry funding, while maintaining independence and transparency. In doing so, it addresses broader challenges in securing sustainable funding for independent research in the field of gambling studies, providing a framework that prioritizes public health and ethical governance in the research process and its outcomes.