There are numerous groups and organizations that address problem gambling. But there’s no single entity that provides a library of resources for those dealing with the issue.
Paul Pellizzari, Hard Rock International Vice President, Global Social Responsibility
Paul Pellizzari, Hard Rock International Vice President, Global Social Responsibility, says the Better Gambling Forum is attempting to provide an inventory of resources for operators and jurisdictions.
“Most things have developed in isolation in particular jurisdictions by particular organizations or sectors,” Pellizzari tells CDC Gaming. “What’s missing is something that addresses all aspects of the field, from what operators need to do, what regulators need to do, to the mental health and addiction treatment services. We need a framework that can address what the practices and policies have been, how we understand them, to have better informed dialogues.”
The Better Gambling Forum emerged in response to signals from across global policy, brain health, mental health, and public health communities that recognized gambling is evolving and no longer confined to casinos or betting parlors. With the emergence of igaming and digital access to gaming sites, gambling issues challenge policymakers, stakeholders and communities.
The Better Gambling Forum addresses these issues, not only online, but for all forms of gambling from casinos to lotteries.
“We want to understand what we can do to prevent problems from happening, what we can do to mitigate (such problems),” Pellizzari says. “The important piece is having all sectors present and part of this dialog. It’s a very big vision and scope, but it really is something that’s needed.”
Pellizzari recognizes that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to problem gambling. For instance, voluntary self-exclusion programs vary depending on jurisdictions where they are applied.
If policymakers in Japan want to implement self-exclusion programs, the Better Gambling Forum will provide a menu of options.
“What we want to do with the Better Gambling Forum is create the resource and the information and the perspectives to say, this is how it’s been done in different places, and you can you can benefit from the wisdom and experience of others,” Pellizzari says.
There are organizations that address problem gambling, including the Responsible Online Gaming Association, Kindbridge Behavioral Health, and the International Center for Responsible Gaming. Ostensibly, that might seem like too many organizations working toward the same goal.
But Pellizzari emphasizes that varying perspectives are needed, even necessary.
“We’re not a standards body; we’re not trying to create a new standard,” Pellizzari says. “We are trying to have a place where one dialog is happening, or multiple dialogs are happening, within a common framework and a set of resources. That doesn’t (currently) exist.”
Pellizzari notes that he travels to various jurisdictions, many of them just starting to offer, or considering offering, gaming for the first time in a regulated manner. The Better Gambling Forum can provide resources that operators need “to bridge people to services.”
“Here’s the library on what is understood around that question, and it can help you with your decisions,” Pellizzari says “It’s not a matter of too many cooks in the kitchen. It’s maybe coordinating the dialog between all the cooks in the kitchen.”
