Prevention of Problem Gambling

Question 1

What are 4 types of educational initiatives to prevent problem gambling?

Answer 1

1. Information/Awareness Campaigns
2. on-site information/counselling centres (RGICs)
3. School-Based Statistical Instruction
4. Comprehensive School-based Prevention Programs

Question 2

What are some examples of policy initiatives to prevent problem gambling by addressing gambling availability? (6 ways)

Answer 2

• restricting number of gambling venues
• restricting more harmful types of gambling
• restricting the number of gambling formats
• limiting gambling to gambling venues
• restricting the location of gambling venues
• limiting gambling venue hours

Question 3

What are some examples of policy initiatives to prevent problem gambling by addressing who can gamble? (4 ways)

Answer 3

• prohibition of youth gambling
• raising legal age for gambling
• restricting venue entry to non-residents
• restricting venue entry to higher socioeconomic groups

Question 4

What are some examples of policy initiatives to prevent problem gambling by restricting how gambling is provided?

Answer 4

• modifying EGM parameters
• player pre-commitment (restrictions on time/money spent)
• Elimination of player reward/loyalty programs
• operator imposes maximum loss limits
• employee PG awareness training
• automated intervention for ‘at-risk’ gamblers
• restricting access to money
• restrictions on concurrent use of alcohol & tobacco
• restricting advertising
• gambling venue design changes
• increasing cost of gambling
• government vs. private provision

Question 5

The most commonly implemented measures to reduce PG tend to be the least effective ones (awareness campaigns, employee training, EGM modifications). Why do we not ultimately implement prevention strategies that will work better than the ones we do?

Answer 5

• do not want to implement things that negatively affect non-problem gamblers or reduce revenues.

Question 6

What are the different ways to approach prevention of problem gambling? *general areas to address?

Answer 6

• Educational Initiatives

- Policy Initiatives

Question 7

What are the 3 main areas to target with policy initiatives to reduce problem gambling?

Answer 7

• Restrictions on:
• The availability of gambling
• Who can gamble
• How gambling is provided.

Question 8

There are 12 Best Practices to reduce Problem Gambling. What are they?

Answer 8

1. Recognize that effective prevention will likely require some invonvenienve to nonproblem gamblers and some loss of revenue.
2. Use a large array of Educational and Policy Initiatives.
3. Coordinate these multiple initiatives.
4. Decrease the general availability of gambling
5. Eliminate or Constrain High-Risk forms of Gambling.
6. Eliminate Reward Cards or Use Them to Foster Responsible Gambling
7. Restrict who is eligible to gamble
8. Restrict the use of tobacco and alcohol while gambling
9. Restrict Access to Money while Gambling
10. Impart knowledge, attitudes, and skills to inhibit the progression of problem gambling
11. Keep these initiatives in place for a long time because change in a population takes time.