A real Dutch treat : problem gambling and responsible gaming - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

A real Dutch treat:problem gambling and responsible gaming

Pieter Remmers

Lausanne, March 2005

What are we talking about ?

Games of skill / chance

Problem Gambling

Recent Trends

Responsible Gaming

Company Policy

respect/honour

Play

Entertainment

Availability

A chance to win money

A part of the culture

Provides action

Provides escape

A form of problem

solving

Attractive environments

The characteristics should always be

looked at in the way they are mixed and

interact. in this process, it may happen

that some characteristics of one and the

same game rather indicate towards a

game of chance, and others towards a

game of skill.

• Illusion of control
• Absence of effective regulation
• Lack of information
• Low access threshold
• Short odd <-> long odd games
• Vulnerable risk-groups
• Neuro-biological aspect

• Non problem gamblers
• At-risk gamblers
• Problem gamblers
• Pathological gamblers

• DSM-4
• SOGS
• NODS
• Social indicators
• 25 % of net disposable income

Increasing amounts of money

Unsuccessful efforts to control or stop

Escaping problems

Chasing losses

Lies

Illegal acts

Risk or lost relationship, job etc

Bail out

• Continuous games
• Accessibility
• Easy use
• Rapid event frequency
• Quickly reinvested winnings
• Easy accessible money

• Lack of information
• Increased social accessibility
• Lack of education
• Low outlays and variable stakes
• Appeal of technology

Polices and practices

to prevent and reduce harm

of gambling

No

risk

Low

risk

Moderate

risk

High Risk

Problem Gamblers

• Environment of the product
• Awareness through public education
• Staff education / training
• Awareness through software tools

• Licensing, technical operation
• Privacy
• Audit and inspections
• Credit gambling
• Money laundering
• Taxation
• Age verification
• Customer led time limits

• Reality checks within game play
• Customer led spend limits
• Player exclusions
• Third party complaints
• Training and support of staff
• Links to problem gambling information and warnings about the risks associated
• Advertising
• Player manipulation
• Improved customer information - time, odds and financial records

• U.K.
• Sweden
• Germany
• The Netherlands
• Switzerland

• CVO, University of Utrecht, 2001

• Total visits 4.987.000
• Total visitors 1.800.000
• 1 - 3 times a year 88 %
• 4 - 103 times a year 11,7 %
• >104 times a year 0,3 %
• Total number of visitors, visiting twice a week or more: 6000

• SOGS 5+ screening (based on DSM-III-R criteria on pathological gambling) 5%
• After weighing 2,2%
• Based on 1,8 million visitors in 1998: +/- 40.000 visitors (SOGS 5+)
• After renewed weighing (Bayes) according to DSM-III-R: +/- 24.000 visitors

• 47% knows about it
• After weighing: 36%
• More frequent visitors have a better knowledge of the existence of the RGP policy.

• Knowledge of policy & measures is reasonably good; gets better with higher frequency of visits.
• Signaling and approaching is essential part of the policy. Guests appreciate that.
• Frequency of visits as objective signal-indicator  2x a week:
• Guests with a lower frequency are having problems too.
• Also include change(s) in frequency pattern.

• Span RGP policy: 60% not captured
• Increase profile of RGP policy
• Improve signaling and approaching
• Clear protocol of RGP practice
• Effect protective measures (LV and EB)
• Effect most temporarily
• Motivation of guest is crucial
• More attention for motivational techniques in RGP training sessions

• Relation with addiction specialists
• Protective measure is more effective when combined with any form of professional support or treatment.

• Prevention
• Protective measures
• Age limit (18)
• Mission Statement
• RGP training sessions
• Brochure ‘Risks of the game’
• Low stake games
• Visitor registration system

PUBLIC * General * Gamblers * All *At risk

RESEARCH INSTITUTES * Scientific exploration & development of a relatively new domain

GOVERNEMENT * Regulation * Tax Income * Elections

INDUSTRY * Public Image * Most economical strategy * Competitive edge

PREVENTION & TREATMENT PROFESSIONALS * Quality improvement services * Development of methodology and skills * Lower threshold to services

Responsible Gaming @ PokerRoom.com

• First online gaming site to be G4 accredited!
• Accredited on the 5th of April 2004 and already a significant positive response
• from customers and media.
• Why G4 accreditation?
• International accreditation will enhance the perception of the entire gambling industry including casinos, gaming machine venues, lotteries, betting and wagering, e-gaming, interactive gaming and mobile phone gaming.
• The international standards will promote the concept of rewarding responsible venues or sites.
• It will distinguish the accredited companies from unethical ones in the industry.
• Accreditation will send a clear message to both communities and governments of the importance of responsible gambling.
• The G4 standards exceed any current jurisdictional or regulatory standards in individual countries.
• We care…

Site – Home page

• We care...
• PokerRoom.com supports Responsible Gaming
• Strong over 18 only policy
• Link to Responsible Gaming information and resources

Preventive and Curative measures

Self-Help

Brochures, Posters, Mail Shots

In-Patient Treatment

Self-Exclusion / limited visits

Staff Training

Empirical Research

CASINO

Hot Line

Face to Face

Education - Staff, Customers, & Public

Outpatient Counseling

Or legislative framework in place?