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

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

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.

Games of chance; the risks• Illusion of control

• Absence of effective regulation

• Lack of information

• Low access threshold

• Short odd <-> long odd games

• Vulnerable risk-groups

• Neuro-biological aspect

Terminology

1. Non problem gamblers

2. At-risk gamblers

3. Problem gamblers

4. Pathological gamblers

Instruments• DSM-4

• SOGS

• NODS

• Social indicators

• 25 % of net disposable income

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

Risk Factors for increase of PG

• Continuous games

• Accessibility

• Easy use

• Rapid event frequency

• Quickly reinvested winnings

• Easy accessible money

Risk Factors for increase of PG

• Lack of information

• Increased social accessibility

• Lack of education

• Low outlays and variable stakes

• Appeal of technology

What is Responsible Gaming?

Polices and practices

to prevent and reduce harm

of gambling

No risk

Low risk

Moderate risk

High RiskProblem Gamblers

Who should be targeted?

Four strategies to promote RG

• Environment of the product• Awareness through public

education• Staff education / training • Awareness through software

tools

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

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

Recent trends

• U.K.

• Sweden

• Germany

• The Netherlands

• Switzerland

Effectiveness of the problem gambling prevention policy of

Holland Casino

• CVO, University of Utrecht, 2001

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 %– >104 times a year 0,3 %

– Total number of visitors, visiting twice a week or more: 6000

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

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.

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.

Negative 18,5%

Positive 63%

Other 18,5%

Approaching the guest

• 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

Conclusions and recommendations

• Relation with addiction specialists– Protective measure is more effective when

combined with any form of professional support or treatment.

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

Conclusions and recommendations

PUBLIC* General* Gamblers

* All*At risk

GOVERNEMENT* Regulation* Tax Income* Elections

INDUSTRY* Public Image* Most economical strategy* Competitive edge

RESEARCH INSTITUTES* Scientific

exploration & development of a relatively new domain

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

Self-Help

Face to FaceHot Line

Self-Exclusion / limited visits

CASINO

Brochures, Posters, Mail Shots

Staff Training

Empirical Research

Outpatient CounselingEducation - Staff, Customers,

& Public

Or legislative framework in place?

In-Patient Treatment

Preventive and Curative measures