Have you ever heard of the saying, “Everything in moderation”? It is an expression that emphasizes the importance of finding balance and not going to extremes. That is to say, enjoy what life has to offer but be mindful of overindulgence.
It is in the name of moderation that the Philippines has put in place initiatives to ensure the nation’s popular pastime of gambling is carried out and enjoyed responsibly. Regulators and providers have come together to create a framework that allows citizens to keep gaming happily and most importantly, healthily.
Let’s take a look at some of the approaches and steps taken towards responsible gambling in the Philippines.
What responsible gambling?
Also termed “safer gambling”, responsible gambling are measures used by governments and the industry to mitigate the risk of harm to people and society arising from gambling. These measures include:
- Laws and regulations enacted by the government and industry bodies
- Tools and controls provided by operators
- Education campaigns and outreach programmes conducted by NGOs
For a good understanding of the importance of responsible online gambling, it is crucial to have a good grasp of its end goal.
Why is responsible gambling important?
You might be wondering, “Why should there be regulations? Why can’t people just decide for themselves?” Well, the answer is: To protect everybody, including ourselves. It is in the best interest of the nation, the industry, and each person to practice responsible gambling.
Without temperance, online gambling may pose several dangers to individual players, their family, and the community around them. These include:
- Addiction
- “Problem gambling”, “gambling addiction”, “gambling disorder”, or “ludomania” is repetitive gambling behavior despite damaging consequences to an individual and/or their family. At its worst, compulsive or pathological gambling may be diagnosed as a mental disorder under the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition).
- Underage gambling
- Although the age restrictions may vary, minors below a certain age in most countries are prohibited from utilizing gambling and betting services. This is because underage gambling is often tied to numerous other social issues. If caught, underage gamblers may have a criminal charge in their police record.
- Unethical operations and marketing
- The casino industry often struggles with issues of ensuring fair play in their offerings, factual incorrectness, and unconscionably targeting underage or vulnerable gamblers. Lack of internal controls and inadequate business continuity leads to high chances of fraud, cheating, and other unscrupulous business practices that breach the rights of consumers.
In other words, responsible gaming protects the players themselves, the families around them, the community at large, and even the industry as a whole.
How are responsible gambling initiatives implemented?
Here’s a look at how responsible gambling initiatives are implemented by different parties in the Philippines.
Government & regulatory bodies
To eliminate the chances of underage gambling, casino gamblers in the Philippines are required by law to be at least 21 years old.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is the government-owned corporation that acts as the main regulatory authority that governs the gambling industry in the country. PAGCOR enforces stringent regulations that pushes for responsible gambling. These include:
- PAGCOR Code of Practice
- The Code sets out rules and guidelines that ensure licensed entities deliver gaming services in a responsible manner that minimizes potential harm.
- Identity and age verification protocols
- Casinos must strictly implement Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures to validate players’ identities.
- Player exclusion programs for those who struggle with problem gambling
- The program provides people the option of barring themselves or their family members from all gaming establishments. These are recorded in the National Database for Restricted Persons (NDRP) and casino operators can access this database of persons restricted from playing in gaming venues.
- Mandatory staff training
- All casino staff are required to be trained in responsible gambling, such as identifying problem gambling, handling confrontation by problem gamblers, and recommending resources. This training is a compulsory criteria to maintain their Gaming Employment License (GEL).
- Mandatory responsible gaming elements on advertisements
- All media advertisements that promote gambling are required to include responsible gaming elements like age restrictions, the tagline “Keep it Fun. Game Responsibly.” Signage must be conspicuous locations and be of sufficient size.
- Restrictions on gambling promotions
- Operators are not permitted to directly advertise to new players through SMS or text blasts or solicit the registration of new players using their personal details.
Casinos & operators
It may appear counterintuitive that casinos would recommend restrictions on players’ gambling. However, it is actually beneficial for the industry to ensure that players flourish and are able to provide repeat business.
Conscientious and compliant operators, such as MCW Philippines, fulfill their corporate social responsibility (CSR) by sponsoring gambling addiction treatment programs, funding public awareness campaigns, and implementing responsible gambling policies in their casinos.
Establishments also provide responsible gambling tools that allow patrons to control their own play and resources for those seeking help. These include:
- Self-exclusion / time out / cooling-off period
- Puts the account on temporary hold
- Reality checks
- Reminders at regular intervals to gamble responsibly, take breaks, or stop playing
- Activity statements
- Shows an overview of the player’s gambling expenditure
- Social interaction monitoring
- Analyze interactions to spot signs of excessive gambling and recommend support
- Time limits
- Restricts the time on a playing session
- Deposit limits
- Restricts the amount the player can bet with
- Credit card restrictions
- Blocks access to casino transactions
- Account closure
- Permanently cuts off contact with the operator
- Educational materials
- Informational resources and self-assessment quizzes
- Helpline
- Support staff trained to assist with responsible gambling concerns and provide contact for professional counseling
Non-governmental organisations
NGO community outreach programs reach the grassroots where help is most needed by establishing helplines, counseling services, and support groups across the Philippines.
By engaging local communities in discussion about responsible gambling, their public education campaigns reduce the stigma of seeking help and disseminate information about harm from excessive gambling that help players make informed gaming decisions.
NGO’s also play a crucial role in research about gambling behavior and intervention strategies. This identifies solutions for gaps in policies and practices.
Conclusion
It is the responsibility of all parties to ensure the balance of entertainment and health among citizens. Casinos should continue working with regulatory bodies, NGOs, and the public to prevent problem gambling, provide support, and equip future generations to face such situations.
