Working on gambling research, player protection, and safer gambling for over 30 years
Focal Research is a Canadian data analytics company that uses data science and information technology for social policy, corporate social responsibility, and consumer protection purposes.
For three decades, Focal has worked with stakeholders worldwide, setting responsible gambling standards for player protection with international recognition in developing algorithms to help operators identify and assist at-risk gamblers.
Vision
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Celebrating Over 30 Years of Research
1988 - 1999
Monthly Gambling Tracking Study (Longitudinal)1992
Machine Gambling Research (VLTs, EGM's, Pokies)1999
First Gambling Behaviour Models2000
Regular VLT Player Follow-Up Study (Longitudinal)2001
Healthy Bottom Line launched in Europe2004
Healthy Bottom Line launched in Canada2005 - 2015
Outcome Monitoring System (OMS) for Addiction Services (Alcohol, Drugs, Nicotine, and Gambling) - Adults and Adolescents2008
Self-Exclusion Program Evaluation2010
Release of Focal ALeRT™ Gambling Screen (FLAGS)2013
First Models for Remote Gambling (Sports Betting, Racing, and Online Casinos)2015 - 2018
Development of the Focal ALeRT™ BETTOR Protection System2018 - 2020
UK Trial of ALeRT™2020
Adapting Gambling Risk Detection Models for COVID-192021
Development of Affordability Models2022
Identifying The Invisible Problem Gambler1988
Gambling Research (Industry, Gov't Health)1990
Data Informatics Initiative, Dalhousie University (Financial, Insurance, and Retail Databases)1998
Nova Scotia Regular VLT Study1999
Identification of High-Risk Gambling Patterns on the Floor2001
Healthy Bottom Line RG Player Program2001 - 2009
Evaluation of Responsible Gaming Features and Automated Messaging2005
First Commercial Casino Risk Models (Saskatchewan, Canada)2007
First Private and Wide Area EGM Models2009 - 2016
Alcohol Risk and Harm (National/International)2011
Release of Focal Youth Gambling Risk Screen (FYGRS)2014
International Collaborative Study to Develop Practical Risk Detection Tool Using Player Data (ALeRT™)2017 - 2018
Launch of ALeRT™ BETTOR Customer Care Program2020
Launch of ALeRT™ System (150+ sites)2020
Interim Report Impact Evaluation of Staff Interactions for Player Outcomes2021
Final Report for Impact Evaluation of Staff Interactions for Player Outcomes2022
The International Collaborative Research to Identify In-Session Risk (During Play)

Words from our clients
The team at Focal Research has been fortunate to work with thought leaders in player protection and sustainable gambling from around the world including industry, regulators, public health, and trade bodies.


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