Prof. Mark Griffiths - References
Bio see http://ess.ntu.ac.uk/griffiths/
Publications see http://ess.ntu.ac.uk/griffiths/publications.htm
Talk about prolific!
Britain - Internet Gambling
http://www.online-casinos.com/news/news3293.asp
Alarming Claims In New Study
UK opposition politics come into play as study commissioned
by the government is published
The Remote Gaming Summit provided a relevant backdrop for
the release of a study on Internet gambling commissioned by the UK
government and carried out by the company RSe Consulting. Mainstream
media and the UK political opposition party were quick to comment on the
contents.
The Daily Mail reported that the hard hitting summary
spelled out research showing that three out of four people who bet on
the Internet are either problem or pathological gamblers - compared with
just one in five who gamble, but not on the Internet.
"It found that more children and women are being encouraged
to gamble online and that the ease with which people can lose vast
sums of money very quickly has exacerbated the problems of existing
gambling addicts," the report continues, adding that the study
claims that criminal gangs are exploiting lax security on casino
websites to launder millions.
The Times said that the report for the Department for
Culture, Media and Sport highlighted the similarity between gambling sites
and video games, which, it said, made them particularly dangerous for
the under aged. "Free" games that allow adolescents to learn how to
play without actually betting money "distorted their perception of
reality".
The Telegraph followed a similar theme, covering the threat
of money laundering and underage gaming in an unregulated
environment and quoting an example where a 16-year-old was able to place
bets online on 30 of the 37 sites tested.
The newspaper reported on one American study that found
that three-quarters of gamblers who use internet sites were
either problem or pathological gamblers. The comparable figure for
gamblers who did not use the internet was only 22 per cent.
"Concern about the impact on young people was reinforced
last night by Prof Mark Griffiths of Nottingham Trent University, a
leading expert on gambling," the Telegraph article continued. "He
published a survey in the summer which showed that nine per cent of 11 to
15-year-olds had gambled on the internet."
On the positive side, the Telegraph published the argument
of the Culture Secretary, who said: "We will welcome them
[Internet gambling companies] here because we believe that by allowing those
who want to gamble to do so over the counter, not under the counter, is
the best way to protect children and vulnerable people and keep out
crime," she explained, and insisted that Labour’s Gambling Act, which
comes into force next September, would ensure online sites were
properly policed and regulated.
"If companies do come to the UK it will be because
‘regulated in the Great Britain’ will mean a website is subject to the most
stringent controls and social-responsibility requirements anywhere in
the world," she argued.
Opposition politicians in the UK were quick to pounce on
the study. Hugo Swire, the Shadow Culture Secretary, said: "It is hard
to see how the key aim of the legislation of ‘preventing gambling from
being a source of crime and disorder’ fits in with the admission in
this government-funded report that online gambling is being used
to fund criminal activity.
"Ministers must take steps to deal with it at once, not
just hand out kite marks for good behaviour. Government assurances that
they would tackle crime and addiction increasingly seem very hollow.
Given that we have seen an explosion in gambling under this
government, today’s half hearted attempts do seem to be too little too late,"
Swires claimed.
A spokesman for the department responded, saying that the
exploitation of internet gaming by criminals was one reason why
internationalregulations were needed.
According to UK government figures, Europe’s regular online
gamblers stake nearly 3.5 billion pounds a year, an average of GBP 1
000 each. The worldwide Internet gambling market is put at more than
$30 billion.
Canadian organizations that consider legalized gambling a public health threat
Listed below are a small cross-section of credible Canadian organizations which consider legalized gambling in Canada to be a serious public health threat, a legal activity that is resulting in enormous social costs, and/or are demanding a REFORMATION OF CANADIAN GAMBLING LAW, POLICIES & PRACTICES INTO THOSE THAT ARE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
Please note only excerpts have been taken from documents, many of which are available on the internet, and in some cases contact information is provided.
1. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WELFARE: GAMBLING IN CANADA: published ten years ago in 1996.
http://www.ncwcnbes.net/htmdocument/reportgambling/Gambling_e.htm
“The National Council of Welfare decided to look into gambling because of general concerns about its adverse effects on Canadians and because of particular concerns about the impact on low-income Canadians. We wondered whether there was more than a little truth in the notion of gambling as a kind of hidden tax on the poor.
We started this report fully aware of the popularity of gambling, but we were frankly startled by some of the findings. The amounts wagered by Canadians are huge. A small portion of the population gambles rarely if at all, but others are regular gamblers who risk thousands of dollars a year.
We were also surprised by the extent of problem gambling among adults. The studies suggest the number of current problem and pathological gamblers may be as high as 1.2 million Canadians.
Perhaps most disturbing was research that showed the popularity of gambling among young people, even among elementary school students. Unless attitudes change, we fear that the next generation of problem gamblers could be much larger.”
“Critics call VLTs the "crack cocaine of gambling." No skill or knowledge is required to play. A single "hit" costs very little, but playing tends to be addictive. What makes VLTs especially controversial is the fact that they are much more accessible than slot machines in casinos. People don’t have to go to a traditional gambling venue to come face to face with a VLT.
VLTs are not unlike the slot machines that have long been a mainstay of casinos, and we believe casinos are an appropriate place for VLTs. However, we believe they have no place in bingo halls or race tracks, and they certainly have no place in restaurants and bars or any place accessible to young people.”
2. CANADA SAFETY COUNCIL
http://www.safety-council.org/info/community/gambling.html
“The Most Dangerous Game
Video lottery terminals (VLTs) have been called the crack-cocaine of gambling. Indeed, electronic gaming machines (EGMs) may be the most addictive form of gambling ever invented. Their colours, lights and sounds can drive normal gamblers to bet faster and faster until they become obsessed. It takes only a year to get hooked on VLTs, while it takes almost four years to become addicted to other forms of gambling such as horses, sports betting and blackjack.
VLTs and video slots have become the single largest source of government gambling revenues — and 60 percent of all VLT revenues are known to come from problem gamblers. The slots are a popular attraction in casinos and race tracks, as well as bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, billiard halls and other youth-oriented venues.”
3. UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA, The Gambling Economy, A policy of the General Council, April 1998
http://www.united-church.ca/economicjustice/gambling/
Policy recommendations
Only 2 of several listed below:
“That the Executive of General Council urge the federal government to:
1. Create a federal inquiry to conduct a public and independent review of the social, economic, and legal impact of legal and illegal gambling and charitable gaming in Canada, and to make recommendations regarding public policy, with particular attention to electronic gambling and to effective oversight of the gambling industry within the requirements of the Criminal Code;
B. That the Executive of General Council urge all provincial, territorial, and First Nations governments to
2. Ban the use of VLTs and slot machines and establish plans with timelines for removing those VLTs and slot machines that have already been licensed.”
4. Dialogue judéo-chrétien de Montréal : Profonde inquiétude concernant le jeu MONTREAL, le 23 fév. 2006/CNW Telbec/
Le Dialogue judéo-chrétien de Montréal demande donc aux gouvernements :
1) d’établir des normes nationales pour l’évaluation du jeu, et de
l’utilisation du jeu pour des fins charitables, y compris les aspects
économiques, légaux et sociaux;
2) suivant de telles normes, d’entreprendre un examen public et
indépendant des impacts sociaux, légaux et économiques des jeux légaux
et illégaux, et du jeu utilisé pour des fins charitables; et de faire
des recommandations pour une bonne politique publique, en portant une
attention particulière au jeu électronique et au contrôle efficace de
l’industrie du jeu;
3) d’établir une formule unique pour la fourniture de renseignements sur
le jeu, et sur les revenus générés par le jeu, et de publier ces
renseignements de façon transparente au moins une fois par année;
4) d’établir une revue indépendante des commissions provinciales et
territoriales qui gèrent l’industrie du jeu, avec une attention
particulière à la transparence, à l’imputabilité des processus
décisionnels, à la qualité de la gouvernance et à la distribution des
revenus générés par le jeu, le rapport devant être rendu public;
5) de mettre un cran d’arrêt à toute expansion de ce secteur, y compris
la relocalisation du Casino de Montréal, jusqu’à ce qu’une revue
transparente et indépendante aura été satisfaisamment complétée et
rendue publique;
6) au Québec, bannir les terminaux vidéo de loterie et les machines à
sous à l’extérieur des casinos; et établir un calendrier ferme pour
l’enlèvement des terminaux vidéo de loterie et des machines à sous
déjà autorisés;
7) tenir de vraies audiences publiques sur tout projet de création,
d’expansion ou de relocalisation d’un établissement de jeux.
Renseignements: le Dr Victor C. Goldbloom, (514) 949-5043
5. QUEBEC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION:
“We believe it is appropriate to consolidate our efforts with those of the MSSS, says Dr Robert Ouellet, President of the QMA, in order to contribute to the fight against what is, professionally speaking, a true public health problem. Pathological gambling is unfortunately a general problem and it leads to intense distress. It is a threat to the physical and psychological health of gamblers as well as their relatives and friends.”
Source : Chantal Mantha Communications Advisor
Quebec Medical Association (514) 866-0660 1-800-363-3932
chantal.mantha@amq.ca
6. CANADA WEST FOUNDATION: Gambling in Canada Project 1998-2001
http://www.cwf.ca/abcalcwf/doc.nsf/doc/news_course_of_action.cm?Open
The Gambling in Canada Project concluded with a number of policy recommendations. These recommendations remain highly relevant and important today
ÒFINAL RECOMMENDATIONS — HIGHLIGHTS:
Adopt a public health approach to the treatment of gambling policy. The report observes that while few Canadians have problems controlling their levels of gambling, the consequences of addictive behavior are often substantial. The recommended public health approach to gambling stresses the development of policies that maximize the benefits associated with healthy gambling while minimizing the harm of unhealthy gambling behaviour. Current gambling policies need to be re-examined in light of to these underlying principles. Specific recommendations include the development of advertising guidelines for gambling and lottery-type products, and the creation of a national youth problem gambling strategy.
Discontinue the expansion of gambling in Canada until further research on its social impact is available. The past eight years have seen the aggressive and unprecedented expansion of gambling in Canada. Given the potential for real harm associated with gambling and problem gambling, and the tendency of Canadians to embrace forms of gambling simply because they are legal and available, it is imprudent to continue gambling expansion without further due diligence. Gambling expansion should only occur when future research on the public health impacts of gambling are better understood. At that time, gambling expansion should be predicated on demonstrated public desire for more gambling.
Provinces must be accountable to the citizens that are funding the gambling revenue stream. Full disclosure of accountability measures for the provinces on the impact of gambling must be established. Development of mechanisms to incorporate the public voice into gambling policy is essential.
Establish a long term funding strategy for the charitable sector that reflects the changing nature of gambling policy. Many charities have become dependent on gambling revenue, and the expansion of government-run gambling is viewed as an ongoing threat to these revenues. Current levels of gambling funding to the charitable sector must be maintained and protected. Under the current system, charities that do not use gambling revenues for moral/ethical reasons do not have access to the same funding availability. Funding sources need to be made available to ethical objectors to counterbalance the advantage of using gambling funds. Research should be initiated to examine "good works" that gambling revenues help fund by tracking and reporting on the use of gambling profits.
Establish a national review of gambling in Canada. The federal government, under Justice Canada, should conduct a national review of gambling. Funding for this review could draw from the $50 million the federal government receives annually from the provinces to not hold national lotteries, to conduct. This national review would monitor gambling activity on gambling in the provinces and provide a publicly available resource for information on gambling policy in Canada.Ó
7. Religious Groups in Nova Scotia join drive to ban VLTS. CBC.CA News, June 22, 2005.
http://www.cbc.ca/ns/story/print/ns-vlt-religion20050622
A number of groups signed an anti-VLT declaration, including the Interfaith Council of Halifax, the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Hindus, Buddhists and Muslim leaders.
8. LAW COMMISSION OF CANADA
http://www.lcc.gc.ca/research_project/gr/crime/rp/campbell_gambling_main-en.asp
9. YOUTH GAMBLING INTERNATIONAL:
http://www.education.mcgill.ca/gambling/en/pre_public.htm
“ Problem gambling as a social and public health issue
Gambling among youth is a growing public health concern. While gambling is predominantly seen as a harmless adult pass-time, many youth exposed to the availability and accessibility of various forms of gambling are tempted by the pressures to participate.
Current research shows that problem gambling among adolescents is associated with adverse outcomes including delinquency, crime, depression and suicide that have an impact on broader society.
The burden of problem gambling among youth is socially invisible and masked by popular misconceptions. Public perception and knowledge is misguided largely as a result of the promotion of gambling as a harmless form of entertainment and an enjoyable activity. Furthermore, gambling problems in children and adolescents often go unnoticed as they are difficult to measure and observe.
The gambling industry actively perpetuates a vision of gambling as entertaining, glamorous and as a means of achieving financial freedom. As the gambling industry continues to grow, governments throughout the world are sanctioning and encouraging participation in spite of the rising negative social costs. While most gambling is illegal for minors, there is clear evidence that underage youth continue to actively participate in these activities.
Despite its negative social impact, problem gambling in children and adolescents has only recently emerged as a public health issue. To date, little effort has been made to assess, counter, or prevent problem gambling in youth.”
10. VANIER INSTITUTE OF THE FAMILY:
Gambling with our (Kids’) Futures:
Gambling as a family policy issue, Arlene Moscovitch, June 2006
http://www.vifamily.ca/library/publications/gamblingd.html
“Modern commercial gambling has been sanitized and legitimated because of the involvement of governments and publicly traded corporations….Governments attempt to ‘cool out the marks’ first by saying that the money goes to good causes (even when the lion’s share goes into general revenue) and by saying that gambling is only entertainment, only a harmless amusement.”
“……, it’s clear that by legitimizing and promoting another potentially “dangerous activity”, governments have, at the very least, created difficult issues for families to deal with.”
11. GOVERNMENT OF NOVA SCOTIA. Dept. of Health Promotion and Protection:
A new message from the Government of Nova Scotia Dept. of Health Promotion and Protection.
“Here’s one sure thing you can bet on: gambling problems can happen to anyone.”
http://www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/repPub/AreYouAPlayer.pdf
The older information can still be found at:
http://www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/gambling/vlts/index.html
12. A selection of CITIZEN ADVOCACY GROUPS IN CANADA:
GAMBLING WATCH NETWORK - CANADA
EMJEU - Quebec
http://www.jeu-compulsif.info/emjeu/index.htm
VIVA CONSULTING
http://www.vivaconsulting.com/main.html
GAME OVER VLTS - Nova Scotia
CITIZEN VOICE
Bibliography compiled by:
P. Vineberg
September 12, 2006
Norway Update
About our 16000 slot machines, in Norway.
Since prohibition on note acceptors,1. july 2006, there has been a 46 % shortfall in turnover. August and September 2006, compared to August and September 2005.
Our National Helpline has received 40% fewer phonecalls in August and September, compared to August and September 2005.
So, the effect is very good.
Quote of the day:
“Unfortunately, pensioners also leave their last kopecks and pensions there.
Specialists say that this gambling addiction is even stronger
than addiction to alcohol.
This is a serious problem, and it has to be dealt with
like the spread of alcohol in the country.”
(President Vladimir Putin, president of Russia)
