CANADIAN LOTTERY DISCLOSES PROBLEM GAMBLING SURVEY

4 May 2007

Freedom of information request opposed but granted

The British Columbia provincial lottery in Canada has released details of a problem gambling survey it commissioned three years ago after initially opposing a Freedom of Information request for the documents.

The study revealed that B.C. land casino workers say they regularly see problem gambling up close, including people who wear diapers into casinos so they don't have to leave the machines to use the washroom, reports Canadian Press. Many of the employees who responded to the survey by the B.C. Lottery Corp three years ago admitted to being uncomfortable with what they saw.

The survey, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, noted the casino employees found the top three key indicators of people with a gambling problem are that they make repeated visits to automated banking machines, have agitated reactions after losses and attempt to borrow cash to keep gambling.

CP reports that the goal of the survey was to establish which behaviours casino staff associate with problem gambling, when staff believe the time is right to intervene on behalf of a suspected problem gambler, how often staff are confronted with problem gambling issues and what responsibility workers feel for helping problem gamblers.

The survey found that one quarter of casino staff reported being approached at least once a month by people with concerns about their gambling. Six percent of staff said it happens daily and nine percent said it's a weekly occurrence.

Most staff said they tell the problem gamblers about the corporation's program to help them take measures to stay away from casinos. Staff also provide problem gamblers with a help-line number, the survey said.

"Eighty-five percent of staff reported that people need to take responsibility for themselves when it comes to a gambling problem," the survey said. "Just over half of the respondents stated that BCLC has some responsibility for helping people with gambling problems, 43 percent believe the responsibility lies with the government and only 38 percent reported that site operators have any responsibility in this matter."

B.C. Solicitor General John Les said the government has an aggressive gambling addictions strategy and any person seeking help will receive counselling from the government free of charge. The government recently expanded the number of people who work in casinos looking for people who exhibit signs of gambling problems.

"These are trained people who work with people who have gaming addictions," said Les. "They are there to help people."

A spokesman with the government's Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch said the numbers of addictions counsellors are increasing and so are the budgets. The government is increasing the number of addictions counsellors this year to 37 from 31. The counselling budget is rising to $7 million next year from $4 million this year.

The budget will be $8 million in 2008-2009.

There are currently two people in the province who have the right to conduct direct interventions with problem gamblers at B.C. casinos, the spokesman said. The number is set to grow to seven in July.

The government's goal is the have one direct intervention counsellor in every casino in the near future, the spokesman said.

There are 17 casinos in British Columbia.

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