Gamblor’s World

If you are unable to read Newscan, an online version is available at www.responsiblegambling.org/newscan.

Volume 9 Issue 39 September 28th, 2007

In this Issue:
Recent News
Featured Research
Call for Papers, etc.
Upcoming Events

Recent News
University of Iowa report details impact of problem gambling on families
September 21, 2007. Radio Iowa.
Experts: Marketing, life issues lure women into problem gambling
September 23, 2007. Lahontan Valley News and Fallon Eagle Standard.
Brain atrophy in elderly leads to problem gambling
September 24, 2007. Casino City Times.
Mobile gambling market to reach $12bn within 3 years
September 27, 2007. Gaming Intelligence Group.
Gambling addicts to get text help
September 24, 2007. News.com.au.
China uses film to warn against gambling
September 24, 2007. Forbes.com.
More news…
Featured Research
Women problem gamblers want more
Piquette-Tomei, N., Corbin Dwyer, S., Norman, E., McCaslin, E., & Burnet, J. (2007).
The goal of this research was to explore the perceived effectiveness and benefits of a women-only counselling group for problem gambling, the first of its kind in Saskatchewan. The 14 participants in this study were drawn from those attending a weekly treatment group offered through the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region. The age of the women who volunteered to participate ranged from 26 years to “70-80 years,” with the average age being 46.5 years. These volunteers were interviewed and asked questions about what they perceived as useful about the group process and why they continued to attend. In examining the value of this counselling group, issues regarding the sociocultural context in which these women are gambling were also explored by identifying the needs of this population.

Call for Papers, Grant Proposals, RFPs, and Nominations
Request for Proposal (RFP): Social Impact Study of the Introduction of Salons de Jeux in Quebec City & Trois-Rivières
The new gaming centres, salons de jeux, were proposed in response to restructuring the video lottery (VLTs) network to reduce their exposure and to curb access to the terminals in Québec. Since 2004, Loto-Québec has been pursuing its goal of reducing the number of establishments operating video lottery terminals by at least 31%. The approval given by the Cabinet was to create four gaming centres in the Province of Québec, three of which are to be adjacent to racetracks and one at the Mont-Tremblant Ski Resort.

Of particular interest will be the impact of the salons de jeux upon the following outcomes: Changing gambling behaviors of individuals (e.g., time, frequency, distances traveled, money wagered, lost, etc.), considering a series of potential moderating variables both at the personal (e.g., sex, SES, age, cultural background, etc.) and the community level (e.g., availability of gaming venues, especially VLTs, and prevention resources); Attitudes and perceptions of the salons de jeux over time; Personal and individual health and welfare variables; Financial and economic consequences at the individual and family level; Household/family related issues; Community issues, broadly defined (e.g., crime); Workplace related issues.

Deadline for submissions has been extended to October 15th, 2007.

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Grants for Public Health Research on Gambling
The Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders is pleased to announce the availability of grants of up to $150,000 to support research that will lead to improved preventions and interventions for disordered gambling. Priority areas include (1) interventions for disordered gambling; (2) prevention and responsible gaming practices; (3) gambling among vulnerable and special needs populations; and (4) the proximal determinants that can influence the transition from recreational to disordered gambling.

Deadline for Letter of Intent submissions is October 19th, 2007.

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Call for Presentations: Gambling Research Centre AUT and Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand: 2008 International Gambling Conference
Gambling remains a major growth industry globally - expanding into new markets, changing and evolving in diverse ways. The costs and benefits of this growth are multiple, complex and difficult to assess. They operate at different levels and are subject to intense political, community and academic debate. The conference in Auckland, New Zealand will be held from February 21st to 23rd, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It will examine new and emerging gambling technologies - along with their various impacts and consequences. It will consider measures to prevent and reduce harm associated with gambling. Such measures include government policy and regulation, industry practice, public education, community engagement and advocacy, prevention, early and brief interventions, treatment and rehabilitation. We particularly welcome presentations that focus on innovative practice in any of these areas and research relevant to the enhancement of gambling policy and professional practice.

Deadline for submissions is November 30th, 2007.

Upcoming Events
2007 Responsible Gambling Conference
October 1 - 2, 2007 - Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
International Responsible Gaming Organisation (IRGO) Conference
October 18-19, 2007 - Stockholm, Sweden
8th Annual NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction
November 11 – 13, 2007 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
National Association for Gambling Studies Conference 2007
November 14 - 16, 2007 - Cairns, Queensland, Australia
4th International Conference on Gaming Industry and Public Welfare
December 1 - 3, 2007 - Shanghai and Macao, China
2008 International Gambling Conference
February 21 - 23, 2008 - Auckland, New Zealand
Tenth Annual Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling Statewide Conference
March 13 - 14, 2008 - Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
Responsible Gambling Council Discovery 2008 Conference
April 13 - 16, 2008 - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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Hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of Newscan. We’ll see you again next week.

Nadine Kauffman
Manager, Information Services
Responsible Gambling Council
www.responsiblegambling.org

http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=31ab9521-fc57-44b5-9bd3-6f421d08cd5a

Glenda Luymes, The Province, Thursday, September 27, 2007

A few days before a contentious vote by city council, a telephone poll has found about half of Abbotsford’s residents against adding slot machines to the local bingo hall.

The debate has split the largely conservative Fraser Valley community, just as it split councillors, who originally voted 5-3 to approve first reading of the motion.

Two weeks ago, 500 people packed a public hearing on the issue, as many charities spoke in favour of the slots and the revenue they’d receive from them.

In response, a small group calling itself Abbotsford Families United commissioned the poll by Winnipeg-based NRG Group. It surveyed 300 Abbotsford voters between Sept. 21 and 24.

When asked, “Do you think city council should accept the proposal to install up to 125 slot machines in the bingo hall, or reject it?” 49 per cent of respondents said council should reject it and 40 per cent said council should accept it. Ten per cent were undecided.

“I think city council needs to hold a referendum or vote no to the proposal,” said Tricia Kolsto with Abbotsford Families United.

Kolsto pointed to studies that show gambling can increase a community’s crime rate and lead to more addiction and bankruptcy.

Continued ….

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=fc0b8443-3720-4ad0-977d-4d800da53d6a

Lori Coolican, Saskatchewan News Network; CanWest News Service, Thursday, September 27, 2007, Regina Leader Post

SASKATOON — A Queen’s Bench justice has dismissed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit brought against the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and the provincial government by the Battlefords Tribal Council over control of gaming profits from the Gold Eagle Casino.

The lawsuit relied on the provisions of the Non-Profit Corporations Act, which governs registered charitable organizations including the BTC and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians, Inc. (FSI, Inc.) — a non-profit corporation established in 1966, long before the advent of the FSIN in the 1980s.

The FSIN’s Chiefs-in-Assembly voted this spring to replace the BTC with a new entity, the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs, Inc. (BATC), as the host tribal council for the casino amid allegations that the BTC lacked transparency in its financial decisions.

That vote was not on the legislative assembly’s agenda for the meeting, and the BTC chiefs were not notified it was coming, according to an affidavit sworn by Wayne Semaganis, director of economic development and gaming for the BTC, in connection with the lawsuit.

“The matter arose out of nowhere during the legislative assembly on the afternoon of May 30, 2007,” Semaganis alleged.

The BTC’s membership is comprised of four First Nations: Little Pine, Lucky Man, Poundmaker Cree and Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man. The BATC was formed by the Sweetgrass, Red Pheasant and Moosomin First Nations after they withdrew their membership from the BTC earlier this year.

© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007

The full case is at

http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/cth/federal_ct/2007/1503.html?query=^Behrouz%20Foroughi

Whether Mr Foroughi is a pathological gambler

105 Mr Foroughi called evidence from Mr Ross Colquhoun, a clinical psychologist, to support his case. Mr Colquhoun saw Mr Foroughi on 2 and 9 November 2006 and, with the assistance of a colleague, took a history and administered a series of psychological tests.

106 Mr Colquhoun concluded that Mr Foroughi met the diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling stipulated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed text revision, American Psychiatric Association Washington, 2000) (”DSM-IV”).

107 Mr Colquhoun went on to say that the essential feature of pathological gambling is persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behaviour that negatively affects personal, family and vocational functioning. In his view, Mr Foroughi suffers from this disorder, which he said is synonymous with other addictions. He stated that neuroscientific evidence indicates that, over time, pathological gamblers suffer from long-lasting structural changes to the brain with reduced capacity to make rational decisions to cease gambling.

108 Star City’s expert psychologist, Professor Blaszczynski was, until recently, the Head of the Department of Medical Psychology at Westmead Hospital . Since December 2006 he has been a full time academic, holding the Chair in Psychology at the University of Sydney . His curriculum vitae reveals a high level of specialised knowledge in the area of problem gambling in which he has written and worked extensively.

109 Professor Blaszczynski agreed that the essential feature of pathological gambling is persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behaviour. He also agreed that Mr Foroughi demonstrated five of the ten diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling under DSM-IV, a number consistent with the disorder’s diagnosis.

110 Although Mr Foroughi met five of the formal criteria stated in DSM-IV, Professor Blaszczynski expressed the clinical opinion that he is more correctly described as a problem gambler than a pathological gambler. Professor Blaszczynski came to this view principally because Mr Foroughi did not exhibit an important feature accepted as indicating impaired control, namely repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or cease gambling. Professor Blaszczynski expanded on his views in a second report dated 21 August 2006.

111 In my view, Professor Blaszczynski’s opinion is amply supported by the evidence. In particular:

• Mr Foroughi agreed that he told Professor Blaszczynski that he did not make any repeated genuine or concerted efforts to address his gambling problem.

• Mr Foroughi was given a package of information listing problem gambling services that were available at the time when the exclusion order was made yet he did not go to any of those services.

• Mr Foroughi understood on 18 May 2004 that he was undertaking to the casino to seek the assistance of a qualified gambling counsellor but he did not do so. He accepted that, apart from seeking expert evidence for these proceedings, he did not seek the assistance of a recognised and qualified problem gambling counsellor.

112 Senior counsel for Mr Foroughi made a strenuous attack upon Professor Blaszczynski’s evidence. He suggested that Professor Blaszczynski should have treated Mr Foroughi ’s prayers to cease gambling as indicating active steps to overcome his gambling problems. In my opinion, Professor Blaszczynski was correct to reject this suggestion.

113 Professor Blaszczynski concluded that Mr Foroughi ’s gambling was not motivated by a desire to escape problems or relieve dysphoric moods; his gambling was motivated by excitement and a desire to win, not to prevent or reduce distress or some dreaded event.

114 These conclusions were supported by statements made by Mr Foroughi to Professor Blaszczynski. In particular, Mr Foroughi told Professor Blaszczynski that he was motivated to gamble because he found the activity exciting and it provided him with an opportunity to win and recoup losses.

115 Professor Blaszczynski was an impressive witness and I accept his evidence in preference to the views of Mr Colquhoun. Whilst I thought Mr Colquhoun was doing his best to assist the Court, I have taken into account the relative experience and learning of both expert witnesses.

116 Professor Blaszczynski’s curriculum vitae contains a compelling statement of his expertise. He has received awards for his contributions to research on pathological gambling, as well as a large number of grants to carry out studies in this field. He has also published widely in the area.

117 I reject Mr Laughton’s attack on Professor Blaszczynski that “there is no evidence of the extent of his clinical experience.” The Professor’s curriculum vitae is ample testament to his clinical experience.

118 Indeed, Mr Colquhoun’s experience in the field of problem gambling is relatively slight. He says his expertise is in “addictions generally” with a main focus on drugs and alcohol. There is little in his curriculum vitae that specifically relates to problem or pathological gambling. His experience appears to be limited to some work he did in the area of gambling for the Department of Corrective Services approximately 10 years ago and in oral evidence he stated:

“I have seen a number of gamblers over time and treated them…and I’ve written a number of reports…mainly regarding the criminal activity attached to gambling.”

119 Even if I were to accept that Mr Foroughi is a pathological gambler, Professor Blaszczynski’s evidence is that such persons can exercise control and limit or cease gambling if they choose to do so. I accept this opinion which is supported by Mr Foroughi ’s own evidence that he felt able to keep away from the casino without professional assistance and, indeed, that he had been able to do so for a period of six months prior to seeing Mr Colquhoun.

Dr Karel Nespor in the Czech Republic has been doing work with problem gamblers using exercise and yoga.

This article in particular
Nespor, K., Prokes, B.: Physical Exercise and Yoga in Prevention and Treatment of Addictive Diseases. The Czech version of this paper was published in Cas. Lek. ces. 2005 (144):53-55.

An English version with other articles full text is at http://www.drnespor .eu/addicte. html

Bath Chronicle

September 27, 2007 Thursday

I believe that government, both locally and nationally, should have clear priorities as to where it spends its money.

There are some things that need financial help and assistance and some things that just don’t.

Recently, B&NES council reconfirmed its commitment to having a small casino in Bath .

I voted against the motion because I do not believe that a casino can in any way regenerate a community.

This means to feed the poor and heal the sick - a casino does far from that.

In voting for a casino councillors have committed £200,000 to proceed with the work that needs to be done to bring it to the city.

Surely what is more important is to find any surplus money to spend on the youth service which suffered a drastic £300,000 cut last year?

Isn’t it more of a priority to spend the money needed to bring a casino to Bath on the thousands of teenagers and young people who already think that local democracy does nothing for them?

The priority in Bath and North East Somerset should be our youth service, not a gambling house for the elite.

CLLR NATHAN HARTLEY BA (Hons) Liberal Democrat, Peasedown St John Bath

http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=51194741-817c-4678-af62-1b9436bb45fc

Plans also call for live entertainment, poker room at View Royal facility

Bill Cleverley and Louise Dickson, Times Colonist, Friday, September 28, 2007

The Great Canadian Casino in View Royal is planning a significant expansion that would see it almost double its floor space, build a lounge for live entertainment and add a teletheatre where patrons could watch sporting events and bet on live horse races.

But whether it will get municipal council’s approval to serve alcohol throughout the building — even on the gaming floor — is anyone’s bet.

“We are proposing a full-service lounge in which I believe we will get liquor approval. Obviously, we would like to be able to get liquor approval throughout the entire facility as we have with our other properties in Richmond and Coquitlam,” said Howard Blank, Great Canadian’s vice-president of media and entertainment.

Indeed, Blank says the expanded casino would be patterned after the successful River Rock Casino in Richmond.

But any proposal to serve liquor on the gaming floor would be “hotly debated” by municipal council, View Royal Mayor Graham Hill said yesterday. Council needs to sign off on the expansion before it can go ahead.

“Council has a good regard for the GCC and the way they run their business. … The lottery corporation has a messaging campaign that says ‘play within your limits.’ I know that members of council have a sense that liquor on the gaming floor could interfere with judgment.”

continued ….

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 19, 2007

Gambling Watch Network Reviews Draft

Electronic Gaming Equipment Minimum Technical Standards

- Finds AGCO Has Been Routinely Approving Unfair & Deceptive Slot Machines

FROM: Canada’s Gambling Watch Network

• We now know, through our review of Ontario’s draft Electronic Gaming Equipment Technical Standards, that Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs), including slot machines, have been routinely approved by the Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) without consideration of Criminal Code provisions and consumer protection principals and legislation. This has lead to the routine approval and operation of unfair, deceptive and fraudulent EGMs - this situation is a scandal and unacceptable.

• The draft standards appear to be a further attempt to legitimize concealed, unfair and deceptive features and processes within EGMs that would otherwise be illegal under the Criminal Code (fraud/cheating at play) and general consumer protection legislation, including the Ontario Consumer Protection Act.

• Sections of the draft standards can be described as a scheme intended to circumvent provisions of the Criminal Code, Competition Act & Ontario Consumer Protection Act.

• Game Fairness objectives that follow consumer protection principals should be included in the new technical standards so these standards can be used to ensure game safety, fairness, honesty and compliance with all Canadian laws.

• Consumers should benefit from the highest level of protection that exists, whether via specialized gaming technical standards or consumer protection legislation, such as the Competition Act and Ontario Consumer Protection Act.

• Gambling Watch demands that the AGCO start enforcing compliance of all laws when it come to approving EGMs, either through new technical standards or separate compliance and enforcement provisions.

• We have advised AGCO to immediately phase out unfair and deceptive EGMs and warn the public that these machines do not meet consumer protection standards.

• We have advised AGCO that all games with suspected “subliminal inducements” should be immediately shut down, regardless if these inducements are shown to work or not, since they are intended to deceive and are not in the public’s best interest.

• Open questions to all provincial political parties: “How will you manage this new lottery (slot fraud) scandal? How will you ensure EGMs comply with the Ontario Consumer Protection Act and other relevant legislation?

Full copies of Gambling Watch’s comments on the draft Ontario Electronic Gaming Equipment Minimum Technical Standards are available upon request.

PRESS CONTACTS:

Brian Yealland

yealland@post.queensu.ca
Spokesperson

Canada’s Gambling Watch Network
Roger Horbay

rogerh@gameplanit.com
Gambling Technology Advisor to

Canada’s Gambling Watch Network

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