Gambling and Gaming Research Group

Our work is anchored in investigating the complex psychological and behavioural dynamics at the intersection of gambling and video gaming, with a particular focus on behavioural addictions, responsible gambling, youth gambling, and the growing overlaps between gaming and gambling culture.

Led by experts with academic and applied real-world experience, the group draws upon cutting-edge research into structural characteristics of electronic gambling products (e.g. game speed, design, micro-transactions), the psychological drivers of risk-taking and impulsivity, and the ways emerging technologies (such as online platforms, virtual goods, and AI) shape user experiences and potential harms.

Our mission is three-fold: to advance scientific understanding of gambling and gaming behaviours; to develop and validate tools and interventions that support harm minimisation and promote responsible engagement; and to inform evidence-based policy, industry practices, and public awareness, especially concerning youth and vulnerable populations.

Whether through experimental studies, psychometric scale development, systematic reviews, or technology-focused investigations, our group aims to lead internationally recognised research that balances innovation with social responsibility.

Harris, A., Gibson, E., & Griffiths, M.D. (2025). A Rapid Evidence Review of Skins Gambling. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-rapid-evidence-review-of-skins-gambling/a-rapid-evidence-review-of-skins-gambling

KIRCABURUN, K., CALADO, F., HARRIS, A. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2024. Addictive symptoms of mukbang watching: a qualitative interview study using directed content analysis. Emerging Trends in Drugs, Addictions, and Health, 4: 100147. ISSN 2667-1182

GIBSON, E., GRIFFITHS, M.D., CALADO, F. and HARRIS, A., 2024. The role of videogame micro-transactions in the relationship between motivations, problem gaming, and problem gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies. ISSN 1050-5350

LIMPANOPPARAT, S., GIBSON, E. and HARRIS, A., 2024. User engagement, attitudes, and the effectiveness of chatbots as a mental health intervention: a systematic review. Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans, 2 (2): 100081. ISSN 2949-8821

KIRCABURUN, K., HARRIS, A., CALADO, F. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2024. Emotion regulation difficulties and problematic mukbang watching: the mediating role of psychological distress and impulsivity. Psychiatry Research Communications, 4 (1): 100152. ISSN 2772-5987

CALADO, F., VERNON, M., NUYENS, F., ALEXANDRE, J. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2024. How does religiosity influence gambling? A cross-cultural study between Portuguese and English youth. Journal of Gambling Studies, 40 (2), pp. 1005-1019. ISSN 1050-5350

BLASZCZYNSKI, A., PARKE, A., HARRIS, A., PARKES, J. and RIGBYE, J., 2024. Facilitating player control in gambling. The Journal of Gambling Business and Economics, 8 (3), pp. 36-51. ISSN 1751-7990

KIRCABURUN, K., HARRIS, A., CALADO, F. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2023. Development and validation of problematic mukbang watching scale and mukbang watching motives scale: a cross-sectional study with adult mukbang watchers. Psychiatry Research Communications, 3 (3): 100138. ISSN 2772-5987

GIBSON, E., GRIFFITHS, M.D., CALADO, F. and HARRIS, A., 2023. Videogame player experiences with micro-transactions: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Computers in Human Behavior, 145: 107766. ISSN 0747-5632

GOUS, G., AZOUI, M., KRAMER, R.S.S. and HARRIS, A., 2022. The effects of witness mental illness and use of special measures in court on individual mock juror decision-making. Psychology, Crime & Law. ISSN 1068-316X

GIBSON, E., GRIFFITHS, M.D., CALADO, F. and HARRIS, A., 2022. The relationship between videogame micro-transactions and problem gaming and gambling: a systematic review. Computers in Human Behavior, 131: 107219. ISSN 0747-5632

HARRIS, A., BUGLASS, S. and GOUS, G., 2021. The impact of lecture chunking format on university student vigilance: implications for classroom pedagogy. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 3 (2), 90 - 102.

KIRCABURUN, K., STAVROPOULOS, V., HARRIS, A., CALADO, F., EMIRTEKIN, E. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2021. Development and validation of the Mukbang Addiction Scale. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 19, pp. 1031-1044. ISSN 1557-1874

KIRCABURUN, K., HARRIS, A., CALADO, F. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2021. The psychology of mukbang watching: a scoping review of the academic and non-academic literature. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 19, pp. 1190-1213. ISSN 1557-1874

HARRIS, A., GOUS, G., DE WET, B. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2021. The relationship between gambling event frequency, motor response inhibition, arousal, and dissociative experience. Journal of Gambling Studies, 37, pp. 241-268. ISSN 1050-5350

KIRCABURAN, K., HARRIS, A., CALADO, F. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2020. The association of addictive mukbang watching with mukbang watching motives, emotion regulation, impulsivity, and psychiatric distress. Journal of Concurrent Disorders.

CALADO, F., ALEXANDRE, J. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2020. Gambling among adolescents and emerging adults: a cross-cultural study between Portuguese and English youth. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 18, pp. 737-753. ISSN 1557-1874

CALADO, F., ALEXANDRE, J., ROSENFELD, L., PEREIRA, R. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2020. The efficacy of a gambling prevention program among high-school students. Journal of Gambling Studies, 36, pp. 573-595. ISSN 1050-5350

HARRIS, A., KUSS, D. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2018. Gambling, motor cautiousness, and choice impulsivity: an experimental study. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 7 (4), pp. 1030-1043. ISSN 2062-5871

HARRIS, A. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2018. The impact of speed of play in gambling on psychological and behavioural factors: a critical review. Journal of Gambling Studies, 34 (2), pp. 393-412. ISSN 1573-3602

HARRIS, A., PARKE, A. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2018. The case for using personally relevant and emotionally stimulating gambling messages as a gambling harm-minimisation strategy. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 16 (2), pp. 266-275. ISSN 1557-1874

HARRIS, A. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2017. A critical review of the harm-minimisation tools available for electronic gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 33 (1), pp. 187-221. ISSN 1573-3602

CALADO, F., ALEXANDRE, J. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2017. How coping styles, cognitive distortions, and attachment predict problem gambling among adolescents and young adults. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6, pp. 648-657. ISSN 2062-5871

CALADO, F., ALEXANDRE, J. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2017. Prevalence of adolescent problem gambling: a systematic review of recent research. Journal of Gambling Studies, 33 (2), pp. 397-424. ISSN 1573-3602

CALADO, F. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2016. Problem gambling worldwide: an update and systematic review of empirical research (2000–2015). Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 5 (4), pp. 592-613. ISSN 2062-5871

CALADO, F., ALEXANDRE, J. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2016. Validation of the Portuguese DSM-IV-MR-J. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 14 (6), pp. 1096-1106. ISSN 1557-1874

HARRIS, A. and PARKE, A., 2016. The interaction of gambling outcome and gambling harm-minimisation strategies for electronic gambling: the efficacy of computer generated self-appraisal messaging. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 14 (4), pp. 597-617. ISSN 1557-1874

PARKE, A., HARRIS, A., PARKE, J. and GODDARD, P., 2016. Understanding within-session loss-chasing: an experimental investigation of the impact of stake size on cognitive control. Journal of Gambling Studies, 32 (2), pp. 721-735. ISSN 1050-5350

GRIFFITHS, M.D., HARRIS, A. and AUER, M., 2016. What do gamblers think of responsible gambling tools? Casino and Gaming International, 26, pp. 65-70.

PARKE, A., HARRIS, A., PARKE, J., RIGBYE, J. and BLASZCZYNSKI, A., 2014. Facilitating awareness and informed choice in gambling. The Journal of Gambling Business and Economics, 8 (3), pp. 6-20. ISSN 1751-7990

PARKE, A., HARRIS, A., PARKE, J., RIGBYE, J. and BLASZCZYNSKI, A., 2014. Responsible marketing and advertising in gambling: a critical review. The Journal of Gambling Business and Economics, 8 (3), pp. 21-35. ISSN 1751-7990

PARKE, J., PARKE, A., HARRIS, A., RIGBYE, J. and BLASZCZYNSKI, A., 2014. Restricting access: self-exclusion as a gambling harm minimisation measure in Great Britain. The Journal of Gambling Business and Economics, 8 (3), pp. 52-94. ISSN 1751-7990

CALADO, F., ALEXANDRE, J. and GRIFFITHS, M.D., 2014. Mom, Dad It’s Only a Game! Perceived Gambling and Gaming Behaviors among Adolescents and Young Adults: an Exploratory Study. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 12 (6), pp. 772-794. ISSN 1557-1874