Standards

Research governance framework 

The Gambling Commission's Research Governance Framework.

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Published
30 April 2026

Last updated
30 April 2026 - Changes

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Contents

• Research governance framework 

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• Introduction
• • Research at the Gambling Commission
  • The Research Governance Framework
  • Developing and updating the research governance framework
• Ethical gambling research
• • Introduction to ethical gambling research
  • Core research principles and guidelines for ethical gambling research
  • Research involving AI
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Research misconduct
• Ethical approval for gambling research with human participants
• • Which projects require ethical approval
  • General considerations for ethical approval in gambling research
  • The ethical approval process
• The peer review process
• Roles and responsibilities
• Other external research involvement
• Research data governance
• • General principles of research data governance and research data safeguarding
  • What documents are required?
  • Data sharing
• Dissemination of research
• Monitoring, review and data corrections
• Appendices
• • Appendix 1: Ethics Checklist for projects requiring full Ethical Approval
  • Appendix 2: Data management plan checklist checklist
  • Appendix 3: Peer review checklist
  • Appendix 4: Research misconduct

3.2.3 - Appropriate use of incentives or rewards

Researchers may consider whether incentives or rewards are required to mitigate against any expense of, encourage, or express thanks for, participation in a research study. Researchers must ensure that incentives are proportionate to the participant group, cost and benefit of the study, and include such proposals in the research project for ethical approval. We stipulate that incentives should not take the form of cash or bank transfers and could be in the form of gift vouchers or similar. Incentives should not be gambling related or provide an incentive to gamble. Reasonable travel and subsistence expenses for participants in research studies may also be covered. Any incentives would be handled by the relevant Research Manager or the external research provider and recorded in the respective project plan and/or workbook.

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Last updated: 30 April 2026

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