BetBlocker Finances a UNLV Study on Gambling Blocking Software

by Amelia Walker, April 04, 2025

On March 24, BetBlocker announced its collaboration with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). The company has donated funds to support the university’s research on gambling-blocking software and its effect on user profiles. UNLV’s International Gaming Institute (IGI), which studies more than 50 jurisdictions worldwide, will lead the initiative.

BetBlocker’s First Academic Partnership in the US

BetBlocker is a charity company based in Scotland, UK. It provides a free, anonymous gambling-blocking tool designed to help players manage their gambling habits. The service includes a mobile app blocking access to over 90,500 gaming websites and over 1,500 apps. After its success on a national level, BetBlocker has entered the US, hoping to make a positive impact in the responsible gaming sector.

With its donation, the company decided to support research led by Dr. Kasra Ghaharian, Director of Research at IGI. The study will examine gambling services like BetBlocker and offer vital insights to operators, policymakers, and the public.

Duncan Garvie, founder and trustee of BetBlocker, shared that he has personally assisted users during the company’s first years. Through their work, he and his team have gained insight into BetBlocker’s impact on players’ lives. However, he believes academic validation is crucial to completely understand the software’s benefits.

A Step Forward for Responsible Gambling

Pedro Romero, Chief of SG Partnerships at BetBlocker, noted that the study aligns with BetBlocker’s values of promoting safer gambling tools and reducing potential harm. He also shared that the company is glad to contribute to a wider regulatory and public health discussion.

“We are very happy to collaborate with UNLV IGI and Dr. (Kasra) Ghaharian’s research team on this project. This is our first research collaboration in the US, and we are delighted to support a study that provides genuine insights into the role of free and anonymous blocking software in harm prevention and minimization.”

Pedro Romero, BetBlocker Chief of SG Partnerships

In return, Dr. Kasra Ghaharian expressed his gratitude to BetBlocker for funding the research. He believes their collaboration is crucial to better understand players using gambling-blocking software, as there is little to no published research on the topic currently.