To mark Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM), Casino House Group News has consulted with numerous responsible gambling experts, advocates, and industry stakeholders to explore ways to make the industry safer for users. PGAM is an annual initiative by the National Council on Problem Gambling aimed at raising public awareness about problem gambling and promoting prevention, treatment, and recovery services. The campaign features media outreach, professional training sessions, and social media initiatives, with a particular emphasis on promoting the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER). In this context, Casino House Group News has gathered insights from some of the most influential advocates in the industry dedicated to ensuring safer gambling practices.
Simon Vincze, Casino Guru's Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling:
During Problem Gambling Awareness Month, it is crucial that we collaborate to shift the narrative surrounding responsible gambling (RG) to effectively reduce gambling-related harm. Players often view RG tools and measures negatively because they are portrayed as detracting from the enjoyment of gambling. This negative perception creates a stigma that players subconsciously absorb, making it difficult to implement harm-reduction strategies. Therefore, I believe it's time to move beyond simply discussing responsible gambling. Instead, we should focus on how savvy players can manage their gambling habits to ensure their experience remains enjoyable. We must actively engage with players about their well-being and provide role models that highlight the thrill of the game while understanding the risks and setting appropriate limits. Let's make responsible gambling appealing and exciting.
Duncan Garvie, Trustee and Founder BetBlocker:
During Problem Gambling Awareness Month, BetBlocker encourages all industry stakeholders to consider the role blocking software can play in promoting safer gambling practices. While it's not a definitive solution to gambling-related issues, blocking software is a valuable first step, providing a cooling-off period or an opportunity to seek deeper support to tackle underlying problems. When used creatively, blocking software transcends being just a crisis tool. For instance, BetBlocker's Scheduler feature enables players to pre-plan the times they might need support. Cultivating self-awareness is essential for safe gambling. It's important to shift the perception of gambling support tools, so every player naturally integrates safer gambling tools into their experience. Offering a free and anonymous service is central to BetBlocker’s mission, ensuring that anyone, anywhere, can access support to manage their gambling challenges without barriers. We hope all sector stakeholders will highlight our services this Problem Gambling Awareness Month, helping us reach every player who could benefit from our support.
Alex Kotsenko, Business Development Lead at WinSpirit Casino:
To promote a healthy gambling environment and minimize impulsive decisions, all casino operators should implement essential safety features such as deposit and loss limits, along with self-exclusion options. These tools are crucial for helping players manage their gambling behavior responsibly. At the early stages of WinSpirit, we clearly saw the importance of this approach. A player felt obliged to block their account due to the lack of these necessary limits. They patiently awaited the introduction of these safeguards, and after they were established, the player returned to our platform. Consequently, these tools have been very effective in encouraging healthier gambling habits and reducing potential risks. We have also enhanced our commitment to responsible gambling by simplifying the self-exclusion process. Rather than the traditional, often stressful method of contacting support, we implemented an automated self-service option directly on our website. This proactive measure empowers players to take immediate action, resulting in 72% of self-exclusion requests being submitted through our website.
Rob Mabbett, Engagement Director, Better Change:
Responsible Gambling: A Balanced Approach To effectively promote positive and responsible gambling, it is essential to empower players to make informed decisions. By implementing educational initiatives for both gambling industry professionals and players, we can enhance gambling literacy, enabling better decision-making for both colleagues and participants. Gambling becomes problematic when it causes harm. However, in my experience treating those affected, gambling often emerges as a symptom of underlying, frequently undiagnosed issues. While the instinct may be to impose blanket restrictions to prevent potential harm, this approach can inadvertently increase the stigma surrounding a subject that's already challenging to discuss. Our industry has much to offer, and we should embrace open and honest dialogues about gambling. As part of an entertainment sector that attracts a diverse audience, we are uniquely positioned to address the underlying causes of potentially harmful behavior, thus fostering trust with our players.
Ciaran Henry, Safer Gambling Consultant at Deal Me Out:
Tracy Parker, Vice President, Policy, Standards and Accreditation, Responsible Gambling Council:
Problem Gambling Awareness Month is an essential opportunity to increase public awareness of the harms associated with gambling. It encourages individuals to reflect on their gambling habits and highlights the resources and tools available for support. There is a pressing need for greater awareness of the warning signs of gambling-related harm, such as gambling disorder or addiction, across all forms of gambling. Beyond these, there are more subtle yet significant effects, like spending more than intended, experiencing emotional distress due to gambling, neglecting responsibilities, or having strained relationships with family and friends because of one's gambling activities. March also serves as an important time to promote the various tools and support services available, including self-exclusion programs, mental health resources, community-based initiatives, blocking apps, monitoring tools, and credit counseling. It is crucial that both players and a wide range of community organizations are informed about these associated harms and the valuable support options available.
Lisa Sophie Dallos, Funnz Operations Manager:
When discussing these issues, it's vital for operators to improve communication with players about actions that could cause harm, but which players might not be fully aware of. Research indicates that players often underestimate their losses and overestimate their wins. One effective strategy we used at one of our brands was to implement a pop-up notification tied to deposit activity. Specifically, when a player made their sixth deposit within a three-hour period, an on-site message appeared. This message served as a reality check, clearly detailing the frequency of their deposits, advising a reduction in deposit frequency, and highlighting the available responsible gambling tools. After introducing this notification, we noticed a significant reduction in risk for these accounts.
