Gamblor’s World

Author:
Source: Monsters and Critics News
Published Date: Dec 13, 2007

Description:
The north-eastern Spanish region of Aragon has announced plans to build the world’s biggest casino complex after Las Vegas. The complex of 32 casinos, five theme or amusement parks and other forms of entertainment will be created in an area measuring more than 2,000 hectares in Los Monegros desert, where the regional authorities have pledged to bring water, electricity, roads and other infrastructure.

Posted: 21 November 2007 | Subscribe Online writes Natalie Valios

You probably don’t see yourself as a gambler. But many of us - about 32 million to be precise - have participated in some form of gambling in the past year. And when you look at the number of ways in which we can lose our money - from playing the National Lottery, bingo or gaming machines to betting on the horses, doing the football pools or visiting casinos - odds are that most of us gamble more often than we believe.

Since the Gambling Act 2005 relaxed rules on advertising for casinos and online gambling sites and introduced powers to license so-called super-casinos, fears have been raised about a possible surge in problem gamblers. Just before the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007 was published two months ago there was a flurry of media stories predicting exactly this.

But they were wrong. Contrary to speculation, the number classed as problem gamblers - more than 250,000 - is about the same as in the last prevalence survey in 1999. And the number of adults who gamble has fallen by about one million in the past eight years.

However, with more than £10bn expected to be lost by punters next year, Mark Griffiths, professor of gambling studies at Nottingham Trent University, denies claims of scaremongering over the problem.

“People seem to think there’s no problem because it has stabilised,” says Griffiths, who co-authored the prevalence study. “But a quarter of a million adult problem gamblers is a public health issue.

“Problem gambling can negatively affect significant areas of a person’s life, including their physical and mental health, employment, finances and relationships.”

continued at

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

July 5, 2007 - 12:18 PM, swissinfo

Image caption: Switzerland has one of the highest casino densities in the world (Keystone)

Five years after the first Swiss casinos opened for business, almost 17,000 people have been banned from playing in the country’s 19 gambling houses, mostly for addiction reasons.

Casinos have a legal obligation to work to prevent gambling addiction. swissinfo visited a casino on a midweek afternoon to see the everyday players the law aims protect.

Inside the Casino Barrière de Fribourg is another world. It is cool and dark with no hint of the scorching summer’s day outside. In the moment it takes to get your bearings it seems like a vast space filled with flashing, beeping, jingling machines.

The regulars trickle in, flash their identity cards and head straight for their favourite machines. At this time of day the table games are lying idle.

But the most popular and most addictive slot machine game, Super Cherry, is a hive of activity. There are players in front of two thirds of the casino’s 20-odd Super Cherry machines, including one player who is able to master two machines simultaneously.

Low income

Psychiatrist Claude Uehlinger, head of the Fribourg Addiction Treatment Unit, provides treatment to gambling addicts, most of whom come to him under pressure from their family circle.

“Socio-economic status is a factor in gambling addiction, with less-educated people on lower incomes more at risk,” Uehlinger told swissinfo.

“It’s not only a question of time but also a question of environment. Ease of access to slot machines, for example, can trigger and speed up the addiction but psychological predisposition is also important,” Uehlinger said.

The personality trait of impulsivity plays a major role in the development of pathological gambling.

“A person with a weakness in terms of mood stabilisation would be more at risk,” Uehlinger said.

Gambling is a very severe addiction and it requires long treatment.

Claude Uehlinger, psychiatrist

Intervention

According to Linda McCarthy, resident psychologist and customer relations manager at Fribourg Casino, it is the casino’s goal for the client to remain healthy.

“Our approach is more about collaboration than confrontation. If necessary we will direct them to the appropriate professional help.”

Casinos are obliged to train staff to recognise problem clients. In Fribourg, once a person has been identified as a potential addict, McCarthy approaches them, suggesting a deal to limit the number of visits per month or stop access altogether. This arrangement would include all Swiss casinos.

It is not uncommon for family members of players to call the casino asking for their relative to be barred. If they can supply proof of financial difficulties, the casino will impose a ban on the person.

“There are still people who slip through the net, we cannot prevent all cases but we can do a lot to reduce the risk,” McCarthy said.

“Casinos must observe their clients, keep a record of problems.

Jean-Marie Jordan, Federal Gaming Board

Inspections

The Swiss Federal Gaming Board supervises and inspects Swiss casinos and ensures that the law is upheld. In its report for 2006, the Board praised casinos for significantly improving their measures for gambling prevention.

The Board carries out unannounced and arranged inspections which can be short one-day inspections or in-depth three-day visits.

“Casinos must observe their clients, keep a record of problems and speak to visitors if necessary. They may also demand proof of the person’s financial status and they have the right to bar the player,” Jean-Marie Jordan of the Federal Gaming Board told swissinfo.

“From the social point of view, we acknowledge the casinos are on the right track,” Jordan added.

According to Uehlinger it takes months of treatment exposure to deal adequately with gambling addiction. “Gambling is a very severe addiction and it requires long and repetitive treatment including psychotherapy, behavioural therapy, medication and lifestyle change.”

“Addiction cannot be completely cured but you can people move from an addiction state to a remission state. However addicts have a predisposition to go back to their addiction throughout their lives.”

swissinfo, Clare O’Dea

What is social bookmarking?

CONTEXT

A report co-commissioned by the Federal Gaming Board in 2004 found that the average monthly loss incurred by gambling addicts was SFr5,380 ($4,437).

Of the gamblers in counselling, 54% were losing half or more than half of their monthly income on average.

The gambling career can be subdivided into three phases:

1. The positive early phase, also known as the winning phase 2.The critical adjustment or losing phase 3. Finally the addiction or desperation phase.

KEY FACTS

Switzerland has one of the highest casino densities in the world.

There are 19 casinos in Switzerland, 9 A-casinos and 12 B-casinos.

B casinos are restricted to 150 gaming machines, three table games and maximum bets of 25 francs.

A-casinos decide themselves how much the bets can be.

In 2006 Swiss casinos made a profit of SFr955 million.

SFr750 was lost in slot machines and the remaining 205 came from table games, such as Black Jack or Roulette.

http://news. sawf.org/Lifestyle/ 39061.aspx

Posted on Monday, 25 June 2007 (EST)

OSLO (AFP) - In a bid to combat gambling addiction, the Norwegian state
has declared a monopoly on all slot machines and has given humanitarian
organisations, volunteer groups and sporting clubs until July 1 to
remove their machines from bars, supermarkets, airports, gas stations
and other locations.

Apparently the charities, embarassed at the harm they have been
causing, have agreed to the move. The new machines, to be operated by
Norsk Tipping, the state lottery monopoly, will be less “aggressive” .

see article …

at

License conditions and codes of practice
Gambling Commission. (2007).
This document sets out the Gambling Commission’s general licence conditions and associated codes of practice under the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act). These conditions and codes will come into force for gambling operating and personal licensees on 1 September 2007. The document sets out: the suite of general conditions to be attached to operating licences; the suite of general conditions to be attached to personal licences; the principal code of practice, distinguishing between ‘social responsibility’ provisions and ‘ordinary’ provisions (the social responsibility provisions are highlighted by shading within the text); and the code of practice to be attached to casino premises licences concerning access for children and young persons.

Westminster eForum Keynote Seminar: The future of gambling – regulation, reorganisation and new media opportunities

Timing: Morning, 26th June 2007

Venue: Local Government House, Smith Square , London SW1P 3HZ

www.westminstereforum.co.uk

Westminster eForum Keynote Seminar: The future of gambling – regulation, reorganisation and new media opportunities

Timing: Morning, 26th June 2007

Venue: Local Government House, Smith Square , London SW1P 3HZ

8.45 – 9.00 Registration

9.00 – 9.05 Chairman’s opening remarks

Lord Roberts of Llandudno, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for International Development and for Wales

9.05 – 9.35 The view from Government

Theme: The view from DCMS on the future of the UK gambling industry.

Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Sport, Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Questions and comments from the floor

9.35 – 10.25 Gambling in the UK : Where are we now?

Theme: How has the situation in the UK gambling industry changed in the past 10 years, and how will it develop in future? What opportunities do new media present, and how can we take advantage of them?

Professor Peter Collins, Director, Centre for the Study of Gambling, University of Salford

Professor Mark Griffiths, Professor of Gambling Studies, Nottingham Trent University

Scott Davies, Director and Co-Founder, Million 2-1

Kevin Farrell-Roberts, Chief Executive, Gordon House Association

Questions and comments from the floor

10.25 – 11.15 Social and economic consequences: What impact will super-casinos and internet gambling have?

Theme: What consequences will follow the possible opening of the UK ’s first super-casino? Will full implementation of the Gambling Act 2005 lead to greater accessibility of remote gambling? Will development lead to regeneration of deprived areas? Will problem gamblers face increasing temptation and reduced supervision, or will improved regulation provide increased security and protection?

Steven Bate, Campaign Organiser, Campaign Against Super-Casino Expansion (CASE)

Jez San, Founder and President, PKR.COM

Revd Christopher Jones, Policy Advisor to the Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England

Bob Harris, Chairman, TourEast London
Questions and comments from the floor

11.15 – 11.20 Chairman’s closing remarks

Lord Roberts of Llandudno, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for International Development and for Wales

11.20 – 11.40 Coffee

11.40 – 11.45 Chairman’s opening remarks
Laurence Robertson MP, Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland

11.45 – 12.10 Regulation under the Gambling Act 2005

Theme: What’s changed? How can regulation promote industry while protecting the vulnerable? How are local councils preparing for September and what will the changes mean for them, and for industry?

Mark Du Val, Director of Policy, LACORS

Questions and comments from the floor

12.10 –
12.55 Self-regulation vs. external regulation

Theme: How can regulation of new media applications/ platforms promote industry while protecting vulnerable groups? Is external regulation the best option, or should there be more self-regulation?

Bill Galston, Independent Director, eCogra

Geoffrey Godbold, Chief Executive Officer, GamCare

Richard Flint, Managing Director, Sky Bet

Jenine Hulsmann, Partner, Clifford Chance

Martin Cruddace, Head of Legal, Betfair

Questions and comments from the floor

12.55 – 13.00 Chairman’s and WeF closing remarks

Laurence Robertson MP, Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland
Peter van Gelder , Director, Westminster eForum

Draft agenda subject to change

30/05/2007 - 7:55:58 AM

The amount of money being spent on gambling in Ireland has soared over the past five years, according to research presented to a conference in Dublin yesterday.

The figures show that more than €3.6bn is known to have been spent by gamblers last year, compared to €1.6bn in 2001.

However, experts say this is only the tip of the iceberg as it does not take account of gambling via the internet or in casinos.

International estimates would suggest that around 40,000 people in Ireland have a gambling problem, but those behind the latest research say this is likely to be an underestimate given the high expenditure.

© Post Publications Limited, 97 South Mall, Cork. Registered in Ireland: 148865.

The Guardian

Wednesday April 18, 2007

Have we no greater ambition than training our young people to be doormen and
croupiers?

Peter Hetherington

The evening skyline in the city closest to my home is illuminated with
brash, neon signs above tacky, new casinos, including a big health centre
and gym recently converted into a gambling emporium. Beside the endless bars
and clubs offering cheap liquor I’ve recently noticed new hoardings
advertising “fast bucks” at the gaming tables.

If you have been led to believe that Britain’s gambling revolution stalled
after the recent House of Lords decision to throw out an order licensing 17
new casinos - including one Las Vegas-style supercomplex in Manchester -
think again. Hundreds of “smaller” ones are emerging in towns and cities
where, sadly, leisure now appears the only industry alongside retailing.

Saner voices outside the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
might argue that the country has enough gambling dens without the need for
the bigger ones being pushed by the culture secretary, Tessa Jowell. She
insists that her plans are “still very much alive”, after the Lords
rejection. I wonder.

Over the next few weeks the issue will resurface again in the high court,
which has granted the British Casino Association, representing current
operators, a judicial review of the plans. It fears a loss of trade from the
“big 17″. But there is now wider concern in parliament and in government,
aside from rebellious backbenchers who clearly feel - yet again - that the
DCMS has taken leave of its senses. Sources close to Gordon Brown think that
the chancellor is unconvinced by Jowell’s argument that a supercasino in -
say - Manchester will merely be one element in a leisure-cum- entertainment
complex, and the key to regenerating a depressed inner-city area.

By now, he might have also discovered that a few cities have reservations as
well. Take Nottingham. Its council has resolutely refused to join the great
municipal gambling bandwagon amid police concerns about the potential of
supercasinos to generate antisocial behaviour. These are allied to what the
authority says are clear dangers to vulnerable people and children.
Councillors have decided not to issue any new casino licences in a city that
already has eight venues. Aside from the moral objections of dragging the
poor and vulnerable into a spiral of more debt, one senior councillor
recently asked: “Have we no greater ambition than training our young people
to become doormen and croupiers?”

Like others, I have viewed the DCMS defence of the expanding casino culture
with growing incredulity, frequently asking myself whether Jowell and her
ministerial colleagues occupy a parallel universe to the rest of parliament,
and the country.

The reality hit me last year when interviewing the boss of one of the larger
operators, which had just opened a new casino a few miles from where I live.
He was competing with three others in the city. Had its arrival affected
their business? No. “Our arrival has tapped into a vein of hitherto unmet
demand,” he volunteered. “Sure, we’ve got to offer a decent slug of the pie
to local communities, but don’t forget only 3% of the population of the UK
will visit a casino in any one year, while in parts of the US, penetration
can be anything from 10%-25%, so if you took the view that over a period of
time penetration in the UK was going to move in that direction, then
suddenly the numbers start to look appealing.”

And there you have it. Soon the issue may return to the Commons, with the
prospect of a compromise emerging - perhaps proceeding with the 16 “smaller”
casinos, minus the super complex. But, hopefully, that is likely to be
overtaken by events, with Brown’s likely accession in the summer. Then he
might, hopefully, turn his attention to the DCMS, which brought us
round-the-clock drinking and now threatens lottery good causes by grossly
underestimating the cost of the 2012 Olympics - and return it to the real
world.

· Peter Hetherington writes on community affairs and regeneration