If you are part of the casino re-opening process, now is a good time to incorporate responsible gambling programming into your operation. COVID-19 may be impacting individuals with gambling problems more severely than others due to increased individual health risks such as higher rates of depression, anxiety, and isolation, a switch to potentially more risky forms of gambling such as illegal offshore betting, and reductions in both access and funding for problem gambling help. Financial stresses may be occurring as people experience job changes due to the pandemic. People who gamble may be tempted to think that they can make money by gambling, using money they cannot afford to lose.
Here are some guidelines for re-opening from the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG):
- All operators must review, refresh, and expand upon existing responsible gambling policies and programs to ensure reopening is done in compliance with guidelines set forth. They must report back to the Commission on how the guidelines are being implemented.
- Incorporate additional COVID-19-specific responsible gambling message into all advertising, promotion, marketing, and any other public-facing collateral, addressing the known increased risk factors for gambling problems due to the crisis. Messages should highlight responsible gambling strategies such as taking breaks and setting and staying within limits.
- Designate an executive-level position to oversee responsible gambling efforts at each property/company to ensure that special attention is being paid to this issue.
- Assess (to the extent possible) COVID-related changes in potentially problematic gambling behavior by players.
- Provide educational materials in print and in electronic form and make them easily accessible for all players. Materials should talk about the risks and odds associated with games, highlighting that gambling is supposed to be a fun activity to be enjoyed with discretionary income and not as a way to seek an escape from struggles (mentally, emotionally, or financially). Provide options for individuals to get help if they need it.
- Operators should provide enhanced responsible gambling training, immediately, to all staff – emphasizing the importance of customer interactions. Enhanced training should focus on the warning signs of an individual who might be in distress and/or gambling in risky ways, and how to safely and appropriately engage with customers who express the need for help.
- Operators should highlight responsible gambling tools afforded to customers, such as tools that allow time and spending limits and encourage players taking breaks from play.