Working on gambling research, player protection, and safer gambling for over 30 years
We are an award-winning Canadian data analytics company that uses data science and information technology for social policy, corporate social responsibility, and consumer protection purposes.
Our multichannel solutions encompass a wide range of products and services developed over 30 years to protect customers, communities and businesses from gambling risk and harm.
Our Values
Make a positive public health impact on a global scale
Mobilize research to help prevent gambling risk and harm
Disrupt common misconceptions to promote safer gambling
Strengthen corporate social responsibility
Improve user experience in land-based and online venues
Embrace diversity and inclusivity








Celebrating Over 30 Years of Research
Start
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.
"We worked in combination with other casino operators and Focal Research to develop further sophisticated algorithms that will allow assessment and detection of at-risk customers on our electronic roulette products. Data from the algorithms is delivered via an insightful dashboard, which has been rolled-out to all our Grosvenor venues."
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Rank Group
Review
We have been using the ALeRT BETTOR Protection System at the Hippodrome Casino in London since 2018 as part of our suite of safer gambling services to identify and assist at-risk customers. Importantly it allows us to evaluate the results of the interventions. This has created a strong impact on our safer gambling program by allowing us to focus on interacting with those customers that are in need with proven results.
“


The Hippodrome Casino London
Review
Since 2014, SkyCity has operated a predictive algorithm risk model created by Focal Research at SkyCity’s largest and busiest casino in Auckland, which analyses loyalty data as a tool to identify players who may be at risk from gambling harm. The algorithm was upgraded in May 2019 and again in June 2020 with the addition of Focal Research’s ‘ALeRT BETTOR Protection System’ software to enhance and improve SkyCity’s ability to identify potential at-risk gamblers.
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Sky City
Review
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