Deepen Your Knowledge with Our Latest Studies
The Harmfulness of Gambling Addiction 1.2 - Gambling Addiction vs. Drug Addiction
The Harmfulness of Gambling Addiction 1.1 - A Comparative Analysis with Substance and Behavioral Addictions
Rigid Vs. Flexible Self-Control: Why We Struggle to Adapt and Lose More Money in Online Gambling
As Featured In
Behavioral and Psychological Research
At RG, we explore the emotions, motivations and connections that make sports. Sports bring people together, create loyalty and lasting memories but also intersect with sports betting – a dynamic that adds layer upon layer to our research. We look at both sides: the good and the unifying aspects of sports and the impact of sports betting on fans and decision making. Our aim is to provide a balanced human view of how sports and sports betting affects wellbeing, behavior and community.
Key Areas
Choice and Decision Making in Sports and Betting
We examine the choices fans, athletes and sports bettors make – whether it’s choosing a favorite team, managing pressure on the field or education on how to be responsible each step of the way. By understanding these decision making processes we can provide insights into the mental strategies that drive sports engagement and responsible behavior.
Sports and Sports Betting and Mental Health and Wellbeing
From the highs of winning to the lows of a losing streak, sports and sports betting can have a huge impact on mental health. We look at how these activities affect emotional wellbeing and resilience, the joy and connection sports brings and for some, the financial risks.
Responsible Engagement in Sports Media
We aim to promote responsible and inclusive engagement in sports. Our research looks at ways to have positive experiences. By sharing these insights we hope to create a community where sports can be enjoyed responsibly and inclusively.
Our Promise
At RG we believe sports are more than just competition. Our research covers the whole picture – the excitement of sports and the reality of sports betting. By looking at the human side of both sports and gambling we hope to help fans, athletes and bettors make good choices that enhance their enjoyment and wellbeing.
Join us as we explore the stories, the passions, and the deeper understanding that make sports such powerful aspect of modern life.
Meet our Experts
Paruyr Shahbazyan
Paruyr Shahbazyan started his business career as an entrepreneur in 2000. Over 13 years, he learned business and leadership, which laid the foundation for his career.
In 2013, Paruyr entered the sports and betting industry as the founder and president of Bookmaker Rating, an online media platform he led until 2020. The platform focuses on in-depth analysis and insights in sports betting and has gained a reputation for quality content.
In 2022, Paruyr co-founded Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol. This shows his commitment to technology in the sports betting space. Through all these experiences, Paruyr has been shaping and influencing the betting industry, setting new trends and standards.
Innovation in sportsbetting comes from a deep understanding of both technology and the human element of sports.
Strategic Vision
Paruyr's vision is to revolutionize the sports entertainment industry by integrating technology. He sees the future of sports entertainment as a blend of traditional sports knowledge with innovative tech solutions, like decentralized protocols, to enhance user experience and fairness. He aims to create platforms that are not only user-friendly but also uphold the highest standards of ethical reporting, contributing to a more responsible and enjoyable sports culture.
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
With 20+ years of writing experience across sports, gambling, regulation, technology, and startups, Sol brings a broad understanding to his role as Editor-in-Chief at RG. His work provides clear, factual information to help readers make informed decisions about gambling. Sol’s approach is about transparency and research, so the content at RG is straightforward, evidence-based, and accessible.
At RG, Sol keeps the focus on the reader by maintaining a standard of reliability and integrity in the information shared. Under his editorial direction, RG aims to provide practical insights into sports and sports entertainment that support a balanced and informed approach. Sol’s approach has helped RG become a go-to source for readers looking to engage responsibly and thoughtfully in the industry.
Cristina Varela Galan
Cristina used to work as a Psychology Assistant in the Bizkaia Pathological and Risky Gamblers Association. She was also part of a research team in Deusto University, specializing in pathological gambling area. While working there, she managed to develop her own project
“Exploring the association between emotional regulation, alexithymia, stressful life events and gambling in adolescent and young adult women”.
Nick Ashbourne
Nick has been fascinated with sports since he was first taken to a Toronto Maple Leafs game back in 1998, and he's written about them professionally since 2014.
Nick has covered baseball and hockey for outlets like The Athletic, Sportsnet, and Yahoo Sports, and his sports betting expertise has grown since its legalization in Ontario in 2022.
Between 2022 and 2023 he worked for a betting startup called NorthStar Bets, and in 2024 he contributed to Oddspedia before joining the RG team.
Sergey Demidov
Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.
Anna Kravtcova
Ph.D. in organizational psychology, an internationally certified psychologist (EuroPsy 2022, Cognitive behavioural therapy of mindfulness 2020, International Society for Emotional Intelligence 2017, Russian Psychological society 2014, American Psychological Association(Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologist) 2011), speaker of many international conferences (USA, Brazil, Portugal, Czech Republic, Russia, etc.). TEDx speaker.
