Preprint policy and "Scoop protection"

A preprint is defined as the version of the manuscript that is an early draft, or the version submitted to the journal, either in its entirety or in part. An accepted author manuscript (AAM) is the author’s manuscript version of the accepted paper.

 

The journal leaves it entirely to the author to decide on their preferred preprint and AAM deposit strategy, bearing in mind that they retain ownership and copyright in the work.

 

Depositing a preprint or AAM on a personal or institutional website or a recognised server or repository does not constitute prior publication and will not impact the peer review process or publication in our journals.

 

The journals asks that preprint posting should be disclosed upon submission (in part this helps with tracking of comments outside the journals system etc. and the availability of de-anonymisation). On publication of the definitive version on the journal, we recommend full publication details and a link should be added to the preprint.

 

As with other outlets we offer "scoop protection" meaning that, if other researchers publish similar findings after submissio, this will not be considered a reason for rejection. This applies from the day a manuscript is posted on a recognized preprint server, if it is submitted to Gambling Harms: Research, Policy and Practice in a equivalent form within three months of posting (and extension to this can be considered on a per-case basis)

 

Authors are permitted to cite other preprints, provided they are clearly identified as such.