I would like to contribute to the ongoing conversation in the Times Colonist about problem gambling in an effort to inform readers about the B.C. Lottery Corp. and our programs.
At BCLC, we don’t shy away from the reality that gambling addiction is a very real and significant issue for a small percentage of British Columbians.
I appreciate and accept the challenge that BCLC can do better to further its responsible-gambling and harm-reduction strategy; there is always room for improvement and we are actively investing in that.
However, the comments in Les Leyne’s column (“Problem gamblers shamefully ignored,” July 16) do a disservice to the players who have benefited from this program, the 10,000 gaming workers in B.C. who have embraced the commitment to promoting responsible gambling, and the five jurisdictions (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Massachusetts and Connecticut) that are licensing the program because of the value it brings to players.
BCLC’s mandate is to conduct and manage gambling in a socially responsible manner. In other words, our primary obligation is not simply to turn a profit, but to oversee and operate gambling in a way that benefits British Columbia as a whole. Part of this includes the important role we play in educating players about the myths and risks of gambling and directing them to problem-gambling support should they need it.
As with any addiction, it is imperative that a person recognize their problem behaviour on their own terms in order to be receptive to help. I recognize that this is where some would prefer we intervene; that someone should be monitoring individual behaviour and make a judgment call about how much might be too much for that person.
However, this type of judgment is not reflective of the individual rights established in Canadian society today, rights that are continually reinforced by the public and the courts.
This is where BCLC’s GameSense Program comes in. It presents information to players in a non-judgmental manner to promote responsible play, remove the stigma around problem gambling and connect those who recognize they have a problem to the resources they need. When someone is ready to get help, GameSense serves as a potential first step or resource for a problem gambler.
GameSense advisers speak to 4,500 people every month and also assist when someone decides they want to sign up for the voluntary self-exclusion program. The province’s Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch provides several essential resources, including free confidential counselling and a 24-hour problem gambling helpline (1-888-795-6111).
While 77 per cent of players are aware of GameSense, not everyone is receptive to its message, particularly those who might be struggling with a gambling disorder. That is why, over the past two years, we have shifted our focus from awareness to harm-reduction.
In August, BCLC will pilot PlayPlanner, a new tool that allows players to set time and budget reminders when playing slot machines. The goal is to roll it out across the province. We are also consulting with local public-health officers in the regions where new gambling opportunities are being considered to better inform the proposal and the debate in the community through a public-health assessment.
And BCLC is working with independent researchers at the Centres for Gambling Research at the University of British Columbia, the University of Nevada Las Vegas and the University of California Los Angeles to better understand player behaviour and the impacts of our programs in reducing harm.
All forms of consumption can have significant and tragic downsides when desire or disorder trumps responsible use. Real people, such as Elfriede Lippa and her family, are affected by gambling addiction in real and painful ways. We are intent on making the right investments to reduce the harm our products can cause and do our part to help prevent this type of tragedy from happening.
That’s our commitment.
Susan Dolinski is vice-president of social responsibility and communications at the B.C. Lottery Corp.
