Independence not left to chance as CQU launches new gambling research event
A new conference for gambling research is set to shift the conversation about its impacts, by not accepting sponsorship from the gambling industry.
The first Independent Gambling Research Conference will be held in Melbourne in February 2026, and will attract leading experts from around Australia.
The conference is being convened by CQUniversity’s Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory (EGRL), the nation’s largest team of gambling-focused researchers.
Australia is the world’s global capital for per-capita gambling losses, with $1,527 lost per adult in 2022-23 – the highest figure since 2001.
The conference comes as the Australian community grapples with a range of big issues from the gambling sector, including venue-based and online gambling, widespread underage gambling, gambling-like features in video games, and the pervasive reach of gambling ads.
According to CQUniversity research, around 15 to 20 per cent of all adult Australians experience harm from gambling, whether it’s their own gambling or gambling by someone else.
This harm can include financial distress, relationship breakdowns, and mental and physical health impacts.
Federal and state governments are currently considering a range of proposed anti-gambling measures, including a national gambling regulator, spend pre-commitment requirements for pokies, changes to gambling advertising and other measures.
The program was the brainchild of Professor Matthew Rockloff, head of the EGRL. Associate Professor Alex Russell is lead convenor.
“What independence means is that there’s no involvement in the planning of the conference from either government or industry,” Prof Rockloff explained.
“At similar events held previously, there have been concerns that gambling industry players had too strong a voice, because they were sponsoring the venue or the meals, and effectively underwriting the event.”
“Even though formal structures theoretically prevent industry actually influencing organisers’ decision-making, perceptions matter, and perceptions have been poor.”
Assoc Prof Russell outlined the aim of the conference: “Many gambling researchers in Australia have expressed concerns about other conferences where industry is involved.”
“Our independence ensures the focus is on empirical findings and reasoned argument… the Independent Gambling Research Conference will be a forum where an objective truth about gambling impacts, however difficult to discover, is the end goal.”
The new conference is modelled on Europe’s Current Advances in Gambling Research event.
As well as refusing industry sponsorship, both conferences are closed to anyone affiliated with the gambling industry.
“Most importantly, this conference provides an opportunity for Australian researchers, particularly students and early career researchers, to present their work to a local audience, that is actually living with the impacts of gambling and gambling harms,” Assoc Prof Russell said.
Abstract submissions are open until Monday 15 December, and registration closes Monday 19 January 2026.
The conference will be held at Cliftons Melbourne, at 440 Collins St, on 23-24 February 2026.
For more information or to register, visit the Independent Gambling Research Conference website, and stay tuned for program announcements in late 2025.
