Why I Study Gambling Behaviour
My name is Dr. Yatan Pal Singh Balhara, and my work focuses on understanding behavioural addictions, including gambling and gaming behaviours. I am a psychiatrist and researcher associated with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, where my research examines how digital environments influence human decision-making, risk behaviour, and psychological wellbeing.
My academic work has focused primarily on behavioural addictions, which include gambling disorder, internet gaming disorder, and related digital behavioural patterns. These areas are particularly important in the modern digital environment because online platforms make participation easier, faster, and more accessible than ever before. While this accessibility can provide entertainment and social interaction, it also creates the need for better awareness, education, and research into how individuals interact with these systems.
A central goal of my research is to understand how individuals engage with gambling-like environments and how certain patterns of use may develop into problematic behaviours. My work does not treat gambling purely as a moral or legal issue. Instead, I approach it from a public health and behavioural science perspective, examining how psychological, social, and technological factors interact.
In India, research on gambling behaviour is still developing. Compared to countries such as the United Kingdom or Australia, there are fewer long-term studies examining gambling participation and its psychological impact. Because of this, a significant portion of my research focuses on building foundational knowledge about gambling behaviour in the Indian context.
Understanding these patterns helps policymakers, platform operators, and healthcare professionals develop more balanced approaches to digital gaming environments. Research can help identify risk factors, improve prevention strategies, and create systems that support responsible participation and informed decision-making.
In addition to academic research, I also contribute to discussions about how the language used around “gaming” and “gambling” affects regulation and public perception. In India, the distinction between skill-based games and gambling is often central to legal frameworks, and understanding this distinction is important for both regulators and digital platform operators.
My research therefore sits at the intersection of psychiatry, public health, behavioural science, and digital policy, helping create a clearer understanding of how people interact with online gaming environments.
My Research Approach and Academic Publications
My research is grounded in clinical psychiatry and behavioral science, disciplines that allow us to examine how human decision-making interacts with modern digital environments. Over the past decade, the rapid expansion of online gaming platforms, skill-based games, and digital entertainment ecosystems has created new behavioral patterns that researchers must understand more carefully. My work therefore focuses on studying how individuals interact with gaming systems, how engagement develops over time, and which factors may influence problematic or compulsive use.
A key element of my research approach is the use of clinical observation combined with population studies. Clinical work helps identify real behavioral patterns observed in patients seeking help for addictive behaviors. Population research, on the other hand, allows us to understand broader trends across communities and demographics. When these two research perspectives are combined, they provide a clearer picture of how digital gaming and gambling-like environments affect individuals differently depending on social, psychological, and economic factors.
Another important aspect of my work involves terminology and regulatory interpretation. In India, the distinction between games of skill and games of chance has significant legal implications. Many digital platforms operate within this legal framework, and understanding how terms like “gaming,” “gambling,” and “skill-based participation” are interpreted can influence both regulatory policy and public perception. My research has therefore also explored how legal language and behavioral science intersect when discussing online gaming systems.
Many of my publications explore the broader category of behavioral addictions, which includes gambling disorder, gaming disorder, and related digital engagement patterns. These studies help identify how reward systems, time investment, and emotional responses interact with digital platforms. The goal is not to restrict entertainment but to ensure that research contributes to healthier digital environments and better awareness of potential risks.
Academic research plays an important role in building evidence-based understanding. Through peer-reviewed publications and collaborative research projects, scholars can examine emerging behavioral trends and contribute to global discussions about responsible gaming and digital wellbeing. Below is an overview of some of the academic publications and research contributions associated with my work.
Selected Academic Research Publications
Understanding Gambling Behaviour in the Indian Context
In my research work, I often focus on how gambling and gaming behaviours evolve within specific cultural and technological environments. India presents a particularly interesting case for behavioural research because the digital gaming industry has expanded rapidly over the past decade. The growth of mobile internet access, digital payment systems, and smartphone usage has significantly increased participation in online games, including skill-based card games such as rummy.
One of the key challenges in studying gambling behaviour in India is the distinction between games of skill and games of chance. Indian law traditionally treats skill-based games differently from gambling activities that rely purely on chance. Because of this legal framework, games such as rummy are often discussed within the context of skill-based participation rather than traditional gambling structures. However, from a behavioural science perspective, researchers still study how engagement patterns develop, how frequently players participate, and which factors may influence excessive gaming habits.
Another important element of my research examines the psychological drivers behind repeated gameplay. Digital platforms often include fast session cycles, reward feedback mechanisms, and social interaction features that can influence how players engage with games. Understanding these mechanisms does not necessarily imply that the systems are harmful, but it does help researchers identify when certain features may increase the intensity or duration of player engagement.
In several of my studies, I analyze how individuals perceive risk and reward during gameplay sessions. Human decision-making often relies on emotional responses, cognitive biases, and previous experiences rather than purely rational evaluation. This means that players may sometimes overestimate their chances of success or continue playing longer than they originally intended. These behavioural patterns are important for researchers because they help explain why some individuals maintain healthy gaming habits while others may develop problematic engagement.
Academic research also contributes to broader policy discussions. Governments, regulators, and platform operators increasingly rely on behavioural science research to understand how digital environments influence user behavior. Evidence-based studies can help create more balanced regulatory approaches that allow entertainment platforms to operate while also promoting responsible participation and user protection.
The goal of this research is not to discourage participation in games, but to better understand how digital gaming ecosystems function and how players interact with them over time. With clearer research insights, it becomes possible to design gaming environments that support both enjoyment and responsible participation.
Growth of Behavioural Gaming Research in India
Academic Studies on Gaming Behaviour in India
Responsible Gaming, Collaboration and Academic Work
In addition to my research into behavioural addictions and digital gaming patterns, I believe that academic work must contribute to practical outcomes that improve the safety of digital environments. Online gaming platforms continue to grow rapidly in India, and with that growth comes the responsibility to better understand how players interact with these systems. Responsible gaming is therefore not only a topic for regulators or platform operators but also an important research area within public health and behavioural science.
One of the key goals of my work is to contribute to conversations about balanced digital ecosystems. Games such as rummy are widely considered skill-based in India, but from a behavioural science perspective it remains important to understand how repeated engagement, emotional responses, and reward expectations influence player behaviour over time. Research helps identify patterns that may indicate when gaming remains recreational and when it may begin to create challenges for certain individuals.
Academic research also plays an important role in improving the quality of public discussion around gaming and gambling. Without scientific data, debates about gaming often become dominated by assumptions or incomplete information. By conducting structured studies, collecting population data, and publishing peer-reviewed research, academics can help create a more informed perspective on digital gaming environments.
My work often involves collaboration with universities, research institutes, and academic journals that focus on psychiatry, behavioural science, and mental health. These institutions provide the framework through which research is reviewed, discussed, and shared with the broader academic community. Collaboration is essential because behavioural addictions are complex issues that involve psychology, sociology, digital technology, and public policy.
Through these collaborations, research findings can contribute to several important outcomes. They help healthcare professionals better understand behavioural addictions, assist policymakers when developing digital regulations, and provide educational insight for platform developers who want to build healthier digital environments. While gaming remains a form of entertainment for most participants, research ensures that awareness and support systems remain available for those who may need them.
Academic collaboration therefore plays a central role in expanding our understanding of digital gaming behaviour. By working with research institutions, peer-reviewed journals, and international mental health organizations, scholars can continue building a clearer and more evidence-based understanding of how modern gaming environments influence human behaviour.
