Raffaello Rossi: A Leading Voice in Gambling Marketing Research
Raffaello Rossi is an academic specialising in marketing and consumer behaviour, whose research shapes how the UK understands gambling advertising and its effects on consumers. As Senior Lecturer in Marketing at the University of Bristol Business School and Impact Lead at the Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research, his work provides an evidence-based foundation for discussions around gambling promotion and regulation.
His research specialty lies in how gambling products are marketed across social media, sport and digital platforms, and how this marketing influences consumer perception and behaviour — particularly among younger audiences. Rossi’s approach combines academic rigour with real-world policy engagement, including contributions to UK and Canadian parliamentary debates.
General Profile
| Parameter | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Raffaello Rossi |
| Academic degree | PhD |
| Position | Senior Lecturer in Marketing |
| Institution | University of Bristol Business School |
| Research group | Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research (Impact Lead) |
| Main specialisation | Gambling marketing, social media advertising, consumer protection |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Based in | Bristol, England |
| Media coverage | The New York Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Der Spiegel, CBC News |
| Policy contribution | UK parliamentary evidence session (June 2026); Canadian parliamentary debates |
Academic Role and Affiliations
Rossi’s position at the University of Bristol places his work within an established academic environment covering marketing, consumer research and public policy. He is also affiliated with the Bristol Poverty Institute alongside his role at the Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research.
| Area | Detail |
|---|---|
| University of Bristol Business School | Senior Lecturer in Marketing |
| Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research | Impact Lead |
| Bristol Poverty Institute | Affiliated researcher |
| External collaborators | YouGov, Ipsos, the Behavioural Insights Team, Demos |
Research on Gambling Marketing and Young People
A major part of Rossi’s work concerns how gambling advertising reaches and appeals to younger audiences through social media. His research with Professor Agnes Nairn examined gambling advertising on Twitter/X and compared how children aged 11–17, young people aged 18–24 and adults aged 25–78 responded to this material.
Their 2024 article in Addiction, “Navigating the digital age: The need for online-specific gambling marketing regulations,” argued that digital advertising environments require regulation tailored to their unique characteristics — since gambling content can now blend into entertainment, sport and everyday social media use rather than appearing as clearly labelled advertising.
Key Research Areas
Rossi’s work is essential for understanding the modern gambling marketing environment:
| Research Theme | Focus |
|---|---|
| Gambling Marketing | How gambling products are promoted and how advertising affects consumers |
| Social Media | How gambling marketing operates through digital platforms |
| Young People | Appeal and effects of gambling advertising on children and young adults |
| Sports Marketing | Gambling’s presence within football and other sporting environments |
| Consumer Protection | How consumers can be better protected in commercial and digital spaces |
| Public Policy | Contribution to discussions on gambling advertising rules and regulation |
Gambling and Sport: The Premier League Studies
Rossi has contributed to research investigating the volume and visibility of gambling marketing during the English Premier League. A University of Bristol report found that football fans were exposed to more than 11,000 gambling marketing messages during the opening weekend of the 2023 season — a figure that rose to approximately 29,000 in 2024. His 2026 research portfolio extends this work using AI-based methods to measure gambling advertising exposure across sports broadcasts.
Policy Impact and Recognition
- Gave oral evidence to a UK parliamentary committee examining gambling advertising (June 2026);
- Contributed to gambling marketing policy discussions in the UK and Canada;
- Named as an author on a 2026 UK cohort study examining links between adverse childhood experiences and problem gambling in young adulthood;
- Featured commentator in national and international media on gambling advertising issues.
Relevance to the iGaming Industry
Raffaello Rossi’s profile is vital for any resource focusing on responsible, evidence-based gambling content because:
- His work explains the marketing mechanics behind how casino promotions and bonuses are presented;
- He provides evidence-based context for evaluating advertising, wagering terms and promotional claims;
- His research bridges the gap between academic study and gambling advertising regulation in the UK.
