The results of a study conducted by PointsBet, a sportsbook from Australia, in association with the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health (MACGH) and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) were released.
Taking Action in Gambling Problem Scenarios
PointsBet had a busy yet productive year thus far. PointsBet online casino finally went live in West Virginia after entering the state's online gaming industry in January 2022. In the same way as DraftKings Casino has been operating in West Virginia since August 2020, the casino joins the state under the Hollywood Casino license. But being rather new to the market didn't hinder PointsBet's research on the issue of problem gaming.
In July 2022, PointsBet, the NCPG, and MACGH launched an initiative aimed at helping online gambling operators make decisions about responsible gambling. The initiative's goal was to get a better grasp on how the industry, the legislators, and clinical stakeholders wouldreact to different scenarios that involve problem customers who displayed signs of gambling addiction.
The PointsBet-created anonymous and voluntary poll asked participants to act as operators and choose the appropriate course of action for three imaginary clients engaging in problematic gambling behavior.
The National Council on Problem Gambling's executive director, Keith Whyte, believes that all stakeholders should have full access to the resources operators offer for responsible gaming. He pointed out that more clarity would guarantee that the current safeguards are appropriate and provide sufficient client protection.
Chief Executive Officer of Pointsbet USA Johnny Aitken said that all stakeholders must be included in the development of an effective strategy to prevent and address damages associated with gambling. Aitken said he is glad of the work with the NCPG and MACGH in an effort to learn how to create solutions for people affected by problem gambling.
Aitken emphasized the significance of the new research endeavor and said that PointsBet and the NCPG are looking for better ways to assist those who were addicted to gambling.The additional knowledge would help operators develop player protection procedures.
In order to inform operator engagement tactics around responsible gambling, Keith Whyte, executive director of the NCPG, said that the survey's findings are going to inspire discussion among scientists, legislators, operators, treatment providers, and gambling addiction activists.
The 2022 National Conference on Gambling Addiction & Responsible Gambling, a four-day conference distributed the survey to registrants.
Bringing Together Industry Players
The event aimed to bring together government officials, representatives from the gaming business, academics, and healthcare professionals by including talks and studies on the effects of problem gambling on different social groups from national and international experts.
According to the study, the majority of people who willingly participated chose to offer information on services and assistance, state-wide self-exclusion alternatives, and operator tools for limit setting. Out of the 110 survey participants, nearly a third were treatment professionals, and almost a fifth said they had overcome gambling addiction.
Marlene Warner, a spokesperson for MAGCH and executive director of the Council, emphasized the value of practical cooperation while bringing about significant change that will benefit and safeguard the future of those who play and bet in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MAGCH is pleased to collaborate with PointsBet and the NCPG in search of new solutions to the issue of gambling addiction.
