Developments and changes within the Responsible Gambling Association
The Responsible Gambling Association has always been dedicated to promoting a safe and responsible gambling environment. In recent times, considering the whole socio-political-economic context in which we all find ourselves, this Association is witnessing some significant changes that alter the way it approaches the problems related to gambling addiction and the protection of players.
Ovidiu Iosif, executive director of the Responsible Gambling Association, analyzes the latest transformations that the organization he represents is going through, as well as the news regarding the Association’s strategy and actions.
- Implementation of the BetBlocker application, a solution for those who want to self-exclude, control and restrict the access of minors to gambling.
One of the most notable novelties is the implementation of the BetBlocker application on the website of the Responsible Gambling Association. With the support of BetBlocker, a UK-based charity that developed this app, the Responsible Gambling Association is making available to the public the opportunity to download and install a free service designed to help gamblers manage their gambling problems and provide parents with parental control and management of their children’s access to gambling. The app offers a multitude of benefits, including:
– Ability to manage and control personal (including self-exclusion) or children’s access to gambling
– Ability to block a vast list of legal and/or illegal gambling operators
– Flexibility in the implementation of restrictions, be it total limitations or specific time/vulnerability periods
– Restriction scheduling function: the times or periods when the restriction will be activated or deactivated can be set. This guarantees total control over the situation at all times
– Parental control and access management for children: This feature allows adults to restrict children’s access to gambling, including when the devices are being used by them. The function can be activated or deactivated by the parent, by means of a defined password
The application can be downloaded from the website www.jocresponsabil.ro and www.betblocker.org/ro/
Photo: Number of BetBlocker app downloads in April
2. Adjusting the Association’s programs: a more effective approach
As part of its strategy and program review efforts, the Responsible Gambling Association has decided to restructure its services to provide a more efficient approach. Online Counseling 24/7 Program, which requires the presence of a psychologist on the Live Chat on the website www.jocresponsabil.ro it will no longer run 24/7, but will be adapted to focus on peak times and priority player needs, i.e. between 14:00 and 24:00. Currently, the service is accessed by an average of 18 people/day, 5-600 per month and 5-6,000 per year.
Also, starting in May, the Responsible Gambling program will offer a maximum number of psychological evaluation and counseling sessions per month, promoting a more efficient use of resources and focusing on the quality of the intervention. Currently, we offer three psychotherapy sessions free of charge (in the past we offered five sessions), physically or online, at one of the offices in Bucharest, Iași, Cluj, Craiova and Constanța, to all people who requested enrollment in the program. Appointments can be made at the Telverde toll-free number: 0800.800.099. In 2023, 541 beneficiaries from almost all counties of the country signed up (almost half, 275, being from Bucharest & Ilfov).
3. Intensive dialogue with the regulator and its new management team
The Responsible Gambling Association has intensified dialogue with the National Gambling Office and the new management team, where involvement in responsible gambling programs is on another level. The open and pragmatic vision of the ONJN leadership towards identifying the best solutions, programs and projects to prevent and treat gambling addiction is evident. We are optimistic that by the end of this year the programs so awaited by the society, by the gamblers and equally by the industry will materialize.
4. Combating the unauthorized use of the Responsible Gambling logo by operators who mimic social responsibility
So far we have tried to correct this situation discreetly, by trying to dialogue with the operators concerned, without making the abuse public. Only sponsorship of the Association’s programs entitles the operator to use the Association’s logo or resources. I think the time has come for transparency towards the industry and the market. For example, Princess Casino uses the Association’s logo and guides customers with problems by referring them to the AJR website, and Powerbet “supports the ‘Responsible Gambling’ campaign, having Telverde in every location”. They are not operators facing financial difficulties, but this is probably how their management understands the “responsible” approach.
These practices damage the integrity of the programs and messages promoted by the Association and do not represent fair behavior neither towards the players nor towards the operators who allocate resources to keep gambling in the recreational sphere, respectively to offer specialized support to those who have such problems. I believe that it is worth having such a fair communication so that it is known at the level of the gambling market who respects and who does not respect the principles of social responsibility. I appreciate operators who don’t want to help AJR but don’t use our logo or insignia much more than those who make a mockery of “responsible gambling” by using our brand without having the right to do so.
All of these transformations demonstrate the Responsible Gambling Association’s commitment to adapting to the ever-changing needs of the gaming community, but especially adapting to the context in which the gambling industry finds itself today.
Developments and changes within the Responsible Gambling Association
