Welcome to this special edition of the Journal of Gambling Business and Economics. This special issue has been published on an open access basis.The specific aims of the overall research programme published in this special issue are to describe and understand patterns of gaming machine play in various locations; to explain the impact on player behaviour of various factors; and to identify where there is robust evidence that consumers may be experiencing problems.As a part of this research programme, we commissioned a number of evidence reviews and contextual papers by eminent academics in gambling studies with the purpose of providing a concise and accessible understanding about some of the key questions and issues that arise in the public discourse around commercial gambling generally, and gaming machine behaviour particularly.As such, we hope that the five papers that follow will be helpful to all those who have an interest in promoting responsible gambling behaviour and minimising gambling-related harm in Great Britain.