Responsible gambling is not only about government and gaming company measures to stop gamblers before they become addicts; there is growing concern over the levels of online gambling credit card debt. Gambling revenues reached £42.8 billion (US$77.5 billion) in 2004, an increase of over 500% in the last three years, and this did not include gambling on offshore online gaming operations. The involvement of celebrities in poker tournaments is cited as a reason that gambling is becoming glamorous.

Many gaming companies have long had programmes in place to discourage problem gambling, addicts are not good for business contrary to public opinion. Increasingly governments are coming up with regulations that insist on responsible practices such as staff training in recognition of possible client problems and freely available information for educating players. New Zealand is imposing strict measures to discourage excess play on its pokie machines, including pop-up messages that will halt play at least every half-hour, having a maximum of NZ$20 bill acceptors and banning ATM machines from the gaming floor. Other countries are also putting safeguards in place to battle gambling addiction.

Online gambling, however, is played on credit and can continue until the card is maxed out. A recent report has highlighted the fact that many in the UK have spent the money they earn before they actually receive it, and that individual debt burden is already playing a part in the economic health of the nation. This is for ordinary people, many of who do not gamble. The occurrence of disordered gambling is widely disputed around the world. From the prominence it receives it would seem that many are convinced that gambling activity leads to widespread problems for gamblers and their families.

In South Africa, with a long history in the gaming industry, independent research shows that less than 1% of adults could be considered as compulsive gamblers. Figures are similar in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The figure for vulnerable gamblers is higher, approaching 6%, but addiction to anything is basically a personality disorder that needs to be treated rather than using gambling as a whipping boy.

Responsible gambling programmes have been developed by operators, governments and industry associations online and off. The vast majority of people gamble for entertainment whether at home or out at a gaming venue, and gambling has become more of a mainstream activity over the past few years. Gambling education is the key to prevention of problems before treatment, a far less costly solution. For those with personality disorders it is not gambling that is the cause of the problem.

This week Glasgow City Council has decided to launch a bid for a multi-million dollar super casino, with a condition that the operator agrees to pay to rehabilitate any gambling addicts it ‘creates’. For a city with a huge alcohol problem, and the known connection between the two disorders, the cynical could assume that gambling is a great source of revenue to combat the social ills of the world. (E-09.16.05)

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