A real Dutch treat: problem gambling and responsible gaming

1
A real Dutch treatproblem gambling and
responsible gaming

• Pieter Remmers
• Lausanne, March 2005

2
(No Transcript)
3
What are we talking about ?

• Games of skill / chance
• Problem Gambling
• Recent Trends
• Responsible Gaming
• Company Policy

4
Why do we gamble?

• A chance to win
• 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

5
Games of skill versus Games of chance

• 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.

6
Games of chance the risks

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

7
Terminology

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

8
Instruments

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

9
Pathological gambling

• Preoccupation
• 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

10
Risk Factors for increase of PG

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

11
Risk Factors for increase of PG

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

12
What is Responsible Gaming?

• Polices and practices
• to prevent and reduce harm
• of gambling

13
Who should be targeted?
No risk
Low risk
Moderate risk
High Risk Problem Gamblers
14
Four strategies to promote RG

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

15
Context of policy

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

16
Context of policy

• 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

17
Recent trends

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

18
Effectiveness of the problem gambling prevention
policy of Holland Casino

• CVO, University of Utrecht, 2001

19
Casino visits in 1998

• Total visits 4.987.000
• Total visitors 1.800.000
• 1 - 3 times a year 88
• 4 - 103 times a year 11,7
• gt104 times a year 0,3
• Total number of visitors, visiting twice a week
  or more 6000

20
Problems ?

• 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

21
Is the RGP policy known?

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

22
Conclusions and recommendations

• 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.

23
Approaching the guest
24
Conclusions and recommendations

• 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

25
Conclusions and recommendations

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

26
Conclusions and recommendations

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

27
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
28
Responsible Gaming _at_ 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

29
Site Home page

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

30
Preventive and Curative measures
Self-Help
Brochures, Posters, Mail Shots
In-Patient Treatment
Self-Exclusion / limited visits
Staff Training
Face to Face
Hot Line
CASINO
Empirical Research
Education - Staff, Customers, Public
Outpatient Counseling
Or legislative framework in place?