research SEED grantS

Research Seed Grants

Awards up to $40,000 for individual grants^*

Grant Administrative Partner:

International Center for Responsible Gaming

The Research Seed Grant program's objective is to build capacity and knowledge in the area of responsible gaming research and program development.

Requirements:

Research must clearly connect to the State of Indiana, the Hoosier Lottery, or the lottery industry. This may include, but is not limited to, including Indiana residents in sampling, using Hoosier Lottery data, tools, or publications, using statistics, data, or demographic studies specific to Indiana's population.
Research must relate to problem gambling, disordered gambling, or responsible gaming subjects.

Topics of Interest (not requirements):

Specifically, the Hoosier Lottery is especially interested in topics pertaining to the following areas. However, topics outside of this list are also welcome for submission:

Examining strategies to promote the responsible gaming principles of Positive Play harm minimization and treatment referral for lottery players.
Identifying the positive or negative factors influencing behaviors and beliefs among lottery players who may be at risk for problem gambling.
Determining innovative methods to reach and connect lottery players with educational resources or treatment providers.
Understanding the role technology plays in the promotion of Positive Play attributes or treatment of problem gambling among lottery players.
Examining the implementation of responsible gaming principles, especially those with the least amount of research specific to lotteries, specifically employee training, stakeholder engagement, and program evaluation.

Funded tasks include:

*Applicants may request up to $35,000 in direct costs and up to $5,000 in Facilities and Administration costs for projects that may include but are not limited to:

Stand-alone research projects or a pilot project;
Preliminary research in preparation for a large research project, such as a comprehensive literature review, or instrument development and testing; and
Research tasks subsequent to a full research project, such as follow-up testing.

Funded Research:

Title: Exploring a Lottery-Promoted Gambling Disorder Screening Day Intervention

2024 - Active
Small Grant - Award Amount: $40,000
Principal Investigator: Debi A. LaPlante (Cambridge Health Alliance)

This project examines the effectiveness of a screening intervention promoted by lotteries to identify individuals at risk for gambling disorders.

Title: Relationship between Childhood Trauma and Acute Stress Responses in Gambling Disorder

2023 - Active
Small Grant - Award Amount: $5,000
Principal Investigator: Sarah Brassard (McMaster University)

This project explores how childhood trauma influences acute stress responses in individuals with gambling disorders.

Title: Assessing Risk for Problem Gambling among Lottery Players: A Machine Learning Approach

2023 - Finished
Small Grant - Award Amount: $29,942.95
Principal Investigator: Paul Sacco (University of Maryland, Baltimore)

This study used machine learning techniques to evaluate risk factors for problem gambling among lottery players.

Jeong, J., & Sacco, P. (2024). Dimensionality and validity of the Gambling Motives Questionnaire–Financial among lottery loyalty program participants. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 20, 100570. View Report
Sacco, P., & Jeong, J. (2025). Assessing the risk of problem gambling among lottery loyalty program members: A machine learning approach. Addictive Behaviors, 108372. View Report

Title: Luck Has Nothing to Do with It: Establishing Evidence to Inform Positive Play, Harm Minimization and Treatment Referral for Lottery Players in Indiana

2021 - Finished
Small Grant - Award Amount: $30,000
Principal Investigator: Alex Price (Responsible Gambling Council)

This research aimed to develop evidence-based approaches to encourage positive lottery play, reduce harm, and enhance treatment referrals for lottery players in Indiana.

View Report

Title: Determining Evidence-Informed Options for Responsible Gambling and Harm Minimization in the Field of Online Lottery

2020 - Finished
Small Grant - Award Amount: $30,000
Principal Investigator: Alex Price (Responsible Gambling Council)

This study focused on identifying effective, evidence-based strategies to promote responsible gambling and minimize harm in the online lottery sector.