Allwyn has announced the inaugural recipients of the Allwyn Player Protection Lab award, a global responsible gaming initiative aimed at supporting innovative research to advance player safety. The two winning research projects will receive up to €100,000 in funding.

Following a thorough selection process, Allwyn’s global Responsible Gaming Department identified two stand out applicants, renowned academic Dr. Michael Auer and internationally respected Newton University. Their projects will support Allwyn’s ongoing evolution of effective, evidence-based approaches to advance responsible gaming.

Safe play is a crucial pillar of the global gaming industry and Allwyn strives to be at the forefront of the latest in responsible gaming. The Player Protection Lab is one of the most significant commitments Allwyn has made to developing new, independent player safety research.

The Player Protection Lab launched in September 2025 as a global responsible gaming initiative designed to fund academics and experts pursuing new approaches to player safety. Applicants were invited to submit proposals across three key areas: digital innovation, using messaging to drive positive play, and developing effective safety tools.

Dr. Michael Auer’s project aims to improve player protection by testing personalised messages that encourage safer gambling behaviour. Dr. Auer is a psychologist and statistician specialising in data-driven player protection. His study will combine real-world player data with self-reported insights to test various messages at key moments and measure their impact on behaviours such as spending, limit setting, and taking breaks. Newton University, one of the leading education institutions in the Czech Republic, will develop a Safe Gambling Assessment Tool (SGAT) tailored to Generation Z’s digital behaviours to improve responsible gaming. The study focuses on understanding how younger players engage differently with online versus offline gambling, particularly in areas such as self-control, limit-setting, and attitudes toward risk.

Allwyn CEO Robert Chvátal said: “Player protection is core to what we do and are committed to making play better for all wherever we operate. We already meet Level 4 of the World Lottery Association’s responsible gaming framework, the highest level of accreditation available. To make sure we remain at the forefront of player safety we created the Allwyn Player Protection Lab to enable insight, technology and innovation to come together to deliver proactive initiatives. The award aims to fund research that identifies novel solutions and tools that enhance safe play. I am very pleased to recognise Dr. Auer and Newton University as the inaugural recipients of this award and look forward to the important direction their research will take Allwyn and the industry overall.”

Dr. Michael Auer said: “I am very happy that Allwyn is trusting me with such a prestigious research project. Over the last 15 years I have published dozens of academic papers and one crucial learning is that real-world data is crucial for the understanding of behaviour and the impact of Responsible Gaming measures. This research project will focus on the analysis of player interaction and the improvement of Responsible Gaming tools. Not only will Allwyn’s players benefit from the results but also the wider gaming industry through the accompanying peer-reviewed academic publication.”

Petr Zimčík, PhD, project lead at Newton University said: “We are delighted to receive the Allwyn Player Protection Lab award. The significant funding will enable Newton University to bring our higher education research expertise to a project that connects academia with real-world data and practical experience. Our aim is to develop a deeper understanding of young adults’ attitudes, perceptions and behaviours, exploring how Generation Z understands risk and responsible play. We hope the research will provide valuable insights and contribute to even more effective approaches in this important area.”