Intense Disapproval of 2023 Gambling Survey: Sector and Academia Dismiss Study Techniques
The Institute for Interdisciplinary Addiction and Drug Research (ISD) and the Research Unit on Gambling of Bremen University have recently presented the results of the Gambling Survey 2023. However, the survey has been met with criticism regarding its methodology.
The controversy began with statistician Katharina Schรผller, who pointed out that the Gambling Survey 2021 and 2023 use a method of cross-sectional studies, which are not suitable for comparisons over time. Despite this criticism, the researchers or the BMG have not yet responded to the concerns.
Mathias Dahms, president of the German Sports Betting Association (DSVW), has also expressed criticism. He notes that the authors of the Gambling Survey 2023 have not changed their methodology despite the criticism and have provided insufficient information about the limitations of their study.
Simone Borchardt, a member of Parliament and addiction expert, has questioned the neutrality of researchers, drawing parallels to a study from the COVID-19 era. The DSVW has not expressed support for the methodology used in the Gambling Survey 2023.
More transparency and pluralism are demanded, including the publication of raw data and adjustments to the research design. Georg Stecker, spokesperson for the German Automated Vending Association (DAW), criticized the methodology of the Gambling Survey 2023, stating that it maintains errors that do not allow for extrapolation to the total population.
Despite the controversy, the Gambling Survey 2023 found that 2.4% of the German population aged 18 to 70 suffer from a gambling disorder, a slight increase from the 2.3% found in the previous study. The general gaming behavior in Germany has not changed significantly, although there have been slight shifts between preferred games.
The publication of raw data could be a potential approach to better assess the validity of the results, as demanded by the industry. More than ten German institutes are currently researching gambling, providing a broad basis for publishing further study results and comparing them with the Gambling Survey 2023.
The Joint Gaming Authority of the States (GGL) emphasizes the importance of scientific engagement with data on gambling in Germany, but emphasizes the need for the validity of these data to be ensured. Borchardt suggested that there may have been agreements between the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) and researchers, making the awarding of the contract questionable.
As the controversy continues, it remains to be seen whether the researchers will address the concerns raised and make any necessary adjustments to the methodology of the Gambling Survey 2023.
online casinos in Germany have become a subject of debate due to criticism over the methodology used in the Gambling Survey 2023. Disagreements about the study's cross-sectional approach, lack of raw data publication, and potential biases have led to calls for more transparency and adjustments to the research design.
