Under its headline theme ‘Let’s Talk About Safer Gambling,’ the IGRG hopes to unite the industry as one voice, and extend reach to ensure that the message of safer gambling connects with the widest possible audience.

The IGRG is striving to bring together every sector of the gambling industry through its member trade associations, the Association of British Bookmakers,British Amusement Machine Association, The Bingo Association, National Casino Forum, and Remote Gambling Association, all with the common objective of raising awareness of safer gambling behaviours and encouraging staff, customers and the wider public to discuss what it means to gamble responsibly.

John Hagan, chairman of the Industry Group for Responsible Gambling, explained: “Social responsibility is fundamental to the gambling industry’s approach, and we are all dedicated, year-round, to promoting safer gambling. But what makes Responsible Gambling Week special is that the whole industry is united and engaged, to highlight safer gambling to a broader audience.

“Responsible Gambling Week 2018 was widely supported across the industry, helping to set a new benchmark for the campaign. We are confident that with the continued support of operators, charities and information networks we can build on last year’s success, and reach a far greater audience.

“RG Week 2019 will take place from 7th to 13th November; in announcing these dates early in the year we are hoping that the increased planning time will encourage and allow for further support.

“For 2019 we will be seeking to broaden RG Week’s supporter base and make use of complementary communication networks, refining message themes for RG Week in line with consumer research and following input from specialist support groups.”

RG Week 2018 encompassed more than 12,000 gambling venues and online sites, 120,000 employees across Great Britain and created some 20 million impressions on social media, the IGRG is seeking to build on these excellent results and take the campaign further in 2019.

The IGRG also highlights that “operators promote responsible gambling 365 days of the year, but Responsible Gambling Week creates the opportunity for businesses to start a conversation about safer gambling not only with their customers, but also with their friends and families”.

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Through its latest manoeuvre the NCF, a non-profit trade association representing the UK’s land based operations, is striving to create greater awareness within the industry, in addition to helping operators combat unconscious bias in recruitment, retention and promotion.

DICE, compromising a seven member board, is to look at a variety of aspects of data from the UK casino sector, in order to asses the current employment landscape and issues such as whether operators are recruiting inclusively.

Further developments will see the development and implementation of diversity and inclusion programs, an enhancement of engagement with the sector and identifying preventative barriers, with the board also set to map progress made.

Tracey Stevenson, general manager of compliance and integrity at Crown London Aspinalls, is set to occupy the role of chairperson of DICE, and said of the unveiling: “The UK’s casinos are great places to work and offer fantastic career opportunities. We want them to become known as equal opportunities employers, where everyone has the chance to progress their career, regardless of gender or ethnicity.

“We want casinos to reflect the communities in which they operate, not just on the gaming floor but at boardroom level too.

“DICE can help advise operators on how to hire inclusively and to understand what training and awareness is needed for staff at all levels. We will promote a positive vision of the casino sector, which will enhance how we recruit, retain and inspire our employees”.

Joining Stevenson on the board are Mike Rothwell, managing director of Caesars Entertainment EMEA, Marieanne Carmody-Weir, head of regulatory compliance and audit at Aspers UK, David Livermore, compliance and security director at Les Ambassadeurs, Alison Sullivan, general manager at Park Tower – Grosvenor, David Smith, gaming director at The Hippodrome Casino and Tracy Damestani, CEO of the NCF.

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Playing Safe, the casino sector’s responsible gambling body, presented its annual report at a House of Commons reception last month, where it stressed that “the willingness of [casino] operators to collaborate and learn from each other is very encouraging”.

Such initiatives have become an intrinsic part of the industry, and even the most old-school of betting operators will concede that there presence is an ultimately positive one.

Dr Guy Bohane, an academic with a PhD in Business Ethics, heads up Playing Safe. CasinoBeats recently caught up with him to find out about some of the body’s recent projects:

“Concerns about the ‘normalisation’ of gambling for young people have been identified by the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board as a strategic priority for the industry and Playing Safe was commissioned by the National Casino Forum to conduct a pilot research project to assess young adults’ gambling behaviour and playing strategies in casinos.

“The objective was to consider ways of improving the support and guidance for younger players and to better inform casino staff about the issue,” said Bohane.

“Focus groups were held with younger gamblers and the insights into how to produce better, more targeted messaging for these customers will be shared amongst operators.

“Another project was developing a dedicated online learning package for casino managers when dealing with potentially vulnerable customers who might have a range of cognitive difficulties, such as autism and dementia, or a mental health condition.

“The programme has been developed to help managers develop their practical skills, making engagement and interaction with potentially vulnerable customers more effective.

“Playing Safe also carried an evaluation of casinos’ participation in the first ever industry-wide Responsible Gambling Week, visiting six casinos, interviewing staff and monitoring activity across all Genting casinos in the UK,” continued Bohane.

“We hope our recommendations will help inform the sector’s approach to this year’s Responsible Gambling Week, which is taking place in October.”

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Playing Safe, the casino sector’s responsible gambling body, presented its annual report at a House of Commons reception on Monday. Lord Ashton, parliamentary under secretary of state at the DCMS, and Gambling Commission chief executive Neil McArthur were both in attendance.

The Playing Safe report, co-written by Dr Guy Bohane and Professor Yvonne Guerrier, stated: “The willingness of operators to collaborate and learn from each other is very encouraging.

“The casino sector needs to challenge itself to keep pushing boundaries and become creative and sophisticated in its approach to responsible gambling. We can see evidence this is happening.”

Speaking at the Parliamentary reception, Dr Bohane outlined five major projects undertaken by

Playing Safe during the last twelve months:

• A comprehensive evaluation of SENSE, based on surveys of customers and managers and an analysis of the self-exclusion scheme data. It showed more than 10,000 customers have enrolled on the scheme since its launch and 44% who enrolled have not returned to casino gambling two years later.
• Support for a major research project led by the Canadian firm, Focal Research, and involving five casino operators, to integrate an alert system which identifies ‘Gamblers of Interest’ and potential risky play on slot machines.
• A research project into young people and casinos, based on interviews and focus groups of 18-30 year olds, to understand how to communicate responsible gambling messages more effectively. A guide will be produced for managers.
• The ACE accreditation process for operators, with more than 80% of operators now accredited. Criteria for assessment are being updated to include the management of AML, money lending and vulnerable customers and to ensure ethical principles are incorporated in operators’ corporate governance procedures.
• A workshop for casino managers from 10 companies to develop ‘best practice’ in interacting with customers, which will result in a concise guide being produced for all managers.

Tracy Damestani, chief executive of the National Casino Forum, added: “Playing Safe is a critical part of the casino industry’s commitment to promoting socially responsible gambling and defines the way casino operators and their staff conduct business.

“I am very proud that the casino sector is the only one in the gambling industry with a dedicated team evaluating, researching and promoting safe play”.

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Funded by all sectors of the gambling industry, GambleAware, who promote education, harm prevention and treatment services related to gambling addiction, was set a £10m target in 2016/17 by the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board, who in turn are responsible for advising both the Gambling Commission and UK government.

Marc Etches, GambleAware chief executive, said: “It is imperative that all businesses deriving a profit from commercial gambling in Britain support GambleAware in the delivery of the National Responsible Gambling Strategy.

“This initiative by NCF’s members will ensure transparency in relation to the casino sector’s funding of research, education and treatment, and sets an important bench-mark for others”.

The National Casino Forum (NCF) is to change the terms of its membership, making it clear to operators that they will be expected to make the required donation of their GGY.

It will also be highlighted that donations to other charities will be in addition to GambleAware, and documented separately.  

Tracy Damestani, chief executive of the NCF, added: “This is an historic commitment by casino operators. They are guaranteeing that the casino sector will donate 0.1% of Gross Gambling Yield to GambleAware, in addition to making other charitable donations. They are underpinning this pledge by introducing a transparent new payment system.

“The casino sector has always supported fundraising for research, education and treatment, and casino operators are determined to go beyond both the letter and the spirit of the Act in their support for responsible and safer gambling.

“They want to ensure that research, education, prevention and treatment programmes are fully funded across the gambling industry”.

The charity has recently announced a record number of donations totalling £8m, however, that figure still falls 20% short of its annual target.

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