New NCRG Publication Highlights Latest Research On Self-exclusion Programs And Disordered Gambling

Oct 12, 2010

WASHINGTON—The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) today released the fifth volume ofIncreasing the Odds: A Series Dedicated to Understanding Gambling Disorders, which evaluates self-exclusion programs as an intervention for disordered gambling. The NCRG released this new publication in conjunction with the 2010 IAGA/IAGR International Conference in Washington, D.C., and distributed it to international gaming regulators who attended a session on the importance of using science to guide the development of effective gaming regulation around the world. The NCRG’s monograph series provides easy-to-understand summaries of seminal peer-reviewed research on gambling disorders, as well as implications for future research and prevention efforts.

Self-exclusion programs are a form of help-seeking behavior that provides gamblers an opportunity to voluntarily limit their access to gambling venues. The gamblers pledge to stay out of participating casinos for an agreed time period, often for the rest of their lives. The findings presented in this publication can be used by regulators, policymakers and gaming industry representatives to shape the development and implementation of new and existing programs, leading to more effective results that may help individuals who want to stop or reduce their gambling activities.

‘Despite the increase in these programs, self-exclusion is still a relatively new focus in the field of research on responsible gaming and disordered gambling,’ said Glenn Christenson, chairman of the NCRG. ‘However, the pool of research published in peer-reviewed journals is growing, and the NCRG is pleased to bring this research beyond the scientific arena and to the public. This new publication is evidence of our continued commitment to advancing the field and serving as a primary source for information on gambling disorders.’

The publication includes research summaries from Helen Suurvali, B.A., on what motivates gamblers to seek help and change their behavior; Richard A. LaBrie, Ed.D., on how self-exclusion programs can inform public health strategies; Sarah E. Nelson, Ph.D., on the role of the Missouri Voluntary Exclusion Program in changing participants’ gambling behavior; and Robert Ladouceur, Ph.D., on early benefits to gamblers through self-exclusion and testing improvements in a self-exclusion program. The publication also features commentary from Kevin Mullally, general counsel and director of government affairs at Gaming Laboratories International and the author of the first state self-exclusion program implemented in the United States, as well as an appendix outlining self-exclusion programs in the United States and in select international jurisdictions.

A downloadable copy of Increasing the Odds is available on the NCRG website. The first four volumes of the series, which address topics such as youth and gambling, the various aspects of gambling addition recovery and gambling and public health, are also available on the website. To request a hard copy of the fifth volume ofIncreasing the Odds, please contact Dan Doherty at 202-776-7388 orddoherty@ncrg.org.

The NCRG’s 2010 annual Conference on Gambling and Addiction, scheduled for Nov. 14-16, 2010, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and the Las Vegas Convention Center, will feature a session on self-exclusion programs.  The 2010 conference, themed ‘Redefining Diagnosis, Treatment Research and Responsible Gaming for the 21stCentury,’ will bring together the world’s leading addiction scientists, clinicians and academics with health care professionals, gaming industry representatives, government officials and regulators to discuss the most pressing issues in the field of gambling disorders and responsible gaming. To register for the 2010 conference, visitwww.ncrg.org.

*******************
The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) is the only national organization exclusively devoted to funding research that helps increase understanding of pathological and youth gambling and find effective methods of treatment for the disorder. Founded in 1996 as a 501(c)3 charitable organization, the NCRG is the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) affiliated charity. For more information, visitwww.ncrg.org. NCRG funds provide grants to researchers to increase understanding of pathological gambling and find effective methods of treatment for the disorder. The funds are distributed through the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders, an independent program of the NCRG. For more information, visitwww.gamblingdisorders.org.

/by

New Recommendations For College Gambling Policies Will Help Fill Tremendous Void

Recommendations of Task Force on College Gambling Policies Focus on Recovery, On-Campus Restrictions and Special Events

Sep 29, 2009

WASHINGTON—For the nearly 80 percent of colleges and universities in the U.S. without a written policy on gambling, the release today of official recommendations from the national Task Force on College Gambling Policies will provide a solid, science-based framework that higher education institutions can use to fill this void. The task force was created by the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and funded by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG).

“Research has shown that teenagers and college-aged young adults are more impulsive and at higher risk for developing gambling disorders than adults,” said Christine Reilly, executive director of the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders, which is coordinating the distribution of the recommendations report. “We hope that the recommendations in this report will stimulate dialogue on college and university campuses about ways to integrate efforts to reduce gambling problems into existing programs focused on addictive behaviors.”

The task force was created after findings from an NCRG-funded study on gambling and alcohol policies at U.S. colleges and universities showed that while all schools in the study had student alcohol policies, only 22 percent had written policies on gambling. The study was conducted by Howard Shaffer and colleagues at the Division on Addictions in collaboration with the Harvard School of Public Health.

The 10 policy recommendations announced today are science-based guidelines that can be tailored, adopted and implemented by colleges and universities nationwide. The recommendations (see end of document) focus on three primary areas: on-campus prohibitions and restrictions, recognition of the importance of recovery-based policies and how to facilitate them, and special events. The recommended policies and programs range from establishing a campus-wide committee to develop a comprehensive gambling policy, to making reasonable accommodations for students who may miss class as they focus on recovery, to strengthening the capacity of counseling services to identify and treat gambling disorders.

“We know from research that when higher education institutions adopt and enforce clear policies, they can be very effective in preventing students from experiencing negative consequences from their decisions around health issues and can help them learn healthy habits they can take with them after college” said Kristy Wanner, a member of the task force and the gambling prevention coordinator for Missouri Partners in Prevention, housed at the University of Missouri, Columbia. “The recommendations of the task force can help schools across the country create and establish policies on gambling that will support the entire campus community through education, training, prevention, treatment and recovery.”

The task force examined a number of factors to determine its policy recommendations, including: scientific literature about alcohol and gambling on college and university campuses; state, local and federal laws relating to alcohol and gambling; programs intended to reduce harm from alcohol and other drugs; and existing campus alcohol and gambling policies. The task force also reviewed policies on alcohol and gambling at on-campus events, such as charity and sports events, and addiction treatment and health services.

The NCRG and the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders are distributing the recommendations report to administrators, student health professionals, student life directors and other stakeholders through various professional organizations, meetings, listservs and social media avenues. The task force’s recommendations also will be featured at a breakfast on Oct. 16 hosted by the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver and in the NCRG’s free Oct. 22 webinar “Youth and College Gambling: New Direction, New Discoveries,” scheduled for 2-3 p.m. EDT. Participants may register for the webinar through the NCRG’s Web site.

The Task Force on College Gambling Policies represents a diverse range of institutions, including the University of Alabama; Bridgewater State College; the University of Denver; George Fox University; Harvard University; Lehigh University; Mississippi State University; the University of Missouri, Columbia; the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; the University of Nevada, Reno; Oregon State University; and Villanova University.

For more information on the task force, including a list of members and the detailed recommendations report, visitwww.ncrg.org.

Topline Recommendations of the Task Force on College Gambling Policies

  1. Establish a campus-wide committee to develop and monitor a comprehensive policy on gambling.
  2. Ensure that college policies are consistent with applicable local, state, and federal laws.
  3. Strive for consistency and universal application with prohibitions and restrictions on gambling and alcohol use at special events.
  4. Promote campus-community collaborations that focus on reducing problems with student drinking and gambling.
  5. Encourage adjustments in disciplinary actions applied to violators of gambling rules if the student seeks assistance from health or counseling services.
  6. Make reasonable accommodations for students focused on recovery from a problem with gambling or alcohol.
  7. Measure student attitudes, behaviors, and problems with gambling through campus surveys or by incorporating such measures into existing campus health-related surveys.
  8. Promote campus-wide awareness of (1) pathological gambling as a mental health disorder that has a high rate of comorbidity with alcohol use and other addictive disorders, and (2) responsible gaming principles.
  9. Employ evidence-based strategies to identify and help students with gambling and alcohol problems.
  10. Strengthen the capacity of counseling services to identify and treat gambling disorders.

*******************
The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) is the only national organization exclusively devoted to funding research that helps increase understanding of pathological and youth gambling and find effective methods of treatment for the disorder. Founded in 1996 as a 501(c)3 charitable organization, the NCRG is the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) affiliated charity. For more information, visitwww.ncrg.org. NCRG funds provide grants to researchers to increase understanding of pathological gambling and find effective methods of treatment for the disorder. The funds are distributed through the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders, an independent program of the NCRG. For more information, visitwww.gamblingdisorders.org.

/by

San Manuel Tribe Signs On To New Effort To Help Casinos Build Comprehensive Responsible Gaming Programs

Feb 12, 2009

WASHINGTON—The San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians in Highland, Calif., has joined the Partnership for Excellence in Education and Responsible Gaming (PEER), a newly-launched program that will equip gaming entities with the one-of-a-kind tools required to develop effective and exemplary responsible gaming programs. PEER is a dynamic program created by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG).

“As we continue to expand our casino operation, we want to maintain a leadership position in service to our casino guests, team members and the community. We believe that joining the PEER program will enhance the entertainment experience for everyone who visits or is a part of the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino,” said James Ramos, chairman of the San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians.

The PEER program is based on the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming – adopted by the AGA in 2003 – and accompanying resource guide, one of the world’s most respected and comprehensive responsible gaming programs. Through a unique partnership between the AGA and the NCRG, the PEER program adapts the content of the resource guide for a wider casino audience, providing PEER members with the tools required to develop and implement a world-class program in order to meet federal, state and tribal government requirements.

“We welcome the participation of the San Manuel Band in the PEER program,” said Glenn Christenson, chairman of the NCRG. “PEER was developed to help casinos develop responsible gaming programs that will truly have impact. Even more than meeting regulatory requirements, a sound approach to responsible gaming helps an organization demonstrate its commitment to its employees, patrons and community.”

San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino, an enterprise of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, has been a premier gaming establishment in Southern California since 1986. San Manuel draws approximately 2.2 million visitors each year.

As members of the PEER program, tribal gaming facilities immediately gain access to the resources needed to adhere to the PEER Code of Conduct. According to Christenson, the fact that many program materials are Web-based allows them to be updated regularly to reflect federal, state and tribal priorities and also allows the program to be tailored to fit the needs of gaming facilities, both large and small.

The cornerstone of the program is the PEER Resource Guide. The Guide includes tools such as:

  • Best practice resources, outlining elements of successful existing programs
  • Videos, worksheets and other learning tools for employees
  • Brochures and signage about responsible gaming, the odds of casino games, unattended minors and more
  • Materials and resources for setting up a self-exclusion program
  • Tools and practices to train employees on how to prevent underage gambling
  • Guidance and tools for designing and implementing a responsible alcohol service policy

Additionally, PEER members receive access for core gaming employees to be trained using EMERGE, the premier employee responsible gaming training program, as well as discounted program rates for additional employees. EMERGE, which stands for Executive, Management and Employee Responsible Gaming Education, is a Web-based training program developed by addiction specialists at Harvard Medical School. The program is customizable for gaming facilities of any size, and translates the most current scientific research on gambling disorders into a practical learning tool for gaming industry employees at all levels.

Because of its Web-based design, EMERGE is available to employees 24/7 and requires no special software or equipment. EMERGE content has been approved by an international, third-party credentialing agency and exceeds the requirements of current gaming regulations regarding training of employees. If more hands-on assistance is needed, PEER members have access to trained PEER program Ambassadors, who will work with them to tailor and implement a responsible gaming program. The Code of Conduct also requires an annual audit of adherence to its provisions. PEER members will have access to a gaming facility “Report Card” that demonstrates their annual commitment to responsible gaming and indicates participation in the PEER program to regulators, tribal governments and the community at large.

“The PEER program puts research-based educational tools directly into the hands of a much wider gaming audience,” Christenson said. “This will help members – whether you are a tribal organization, a casino company or a gaming equipment manufacturer—to better promote responsible gaming across the casino industry as a whole and raise the quality of programs offered by a considerable margin.”

For information on the PEER program and how to become a member, visit the NCRG Web site atwww.ncrg.orgorclick here.

/by