If the global casino business is going to strengthen its commitment to social responsibility and, by extension, its players, then mandatory loss-limits are an absolute must. There is no room for negotiation on this point. According to Ekaterina Ivanova, who is a researcher at the University of Stockholm, this is the case.
Ivanova is well-versed in the workings of the gaming industry, and for the past four years, she has been conducting study on the responsibilities that come along with gambling in its various forms. Her study, which was funded by Paf, a reputable company that operates in the gambling and betting industry, makes use of data that was particularly gathered all throughout the Swedish capital. In a practical sense, her research establishes the standard for the casino business all over the world. This comes at a time when an increasing number of nations are considering how they might regulate and govern gambling as well as online casinos and sports betting sites in a manner that is to their advantage.
A Centered Attention on Mental Health
The researcher has taken a method in which they focus not only on the negative aspects of gambling, such as addiction and other similar issues, but also on other behaviors that are frequently exhibited by problem gamblers. This is the approach that they have taken. The behavior of players, the reasoning behind casino limits, and the probability that gambling-related difficulties or harm may be accurately predicted are all aspects that will be investigated as part of the research study.
Ivanova’s research is primarily motivated by the fact that, in her opinion, targeted research that is aimed at compulsive gambling is not only badly inadequate as it stands at the present time, but it has also been slipping behind for quite some time now. She believes this to be the case. Within the context of the wider picture, there are certain aspects that stand out as appearing to be more deficient than others. From the point of view of public health, issues pertaining to prevention and treatment appear to be at the top of the list of concerns that require immediate attention.
The fact that those who are most inclined to develop problem behavior are nonetheless, even in a progressive age such as ours, seen as the victims of troublesome character traits rather than suffering from an actual ailment is at the basis of many of the challenges that are now being encountered by the gambling business today. This is a mental shift that is going to have to take place if there is going to be any good that emerge from the industry’s dedication towards social responsibility.
It Is Not a Good Idea to Set Limits Voluntarily
Ivanova feels that the conclusion that can be drawn from the extensive study that has been conducted over the past four years is that the introduction of voluntary gaming limits is not always capable of achieving the positive benefits that are intended, at least not consistently.
According to Ivanova, the lack of quality research material on the subject of gambling-related harm is one factor that contributes to the fact that owners of online casinos are working relentlessly in favor of a responsible sector. However, online casinos can only do their best, and many of them have really stepped up to the plate in terms of encouraging responsible gambling. These online casinos have developed solid links with organizations such as GambleAware and Gamblers Anonymous in order to steer players in the right way, should they require assistance.
A Multi-Tier Investment
But kudos should go to the casino operator Paf for not only proving that not all operators are simply concerned in the success of their businesses financially, but also for making the research study with its own actual data available to the public. When investigating problematic behaviors that can arise from an unhealthy relationship with gambling, data gleaned from actual gambling and player behavior proves to be extremely useful. This frees Ivanova from the constraining requirements of having to rely on limited surveys and questionnaires, and instead provides her study with a definite and strong base in terms of how it actually is. Participants in a survey are typically unaware, and in many cases utterly oblivious to the fact, that they, too, struggle with a number of the challenges that are typically attributed to everyone else. This in no way implies dishonesty, but rather draws attention to the fact that we are frequently the last ones to recognize the nature of the problematic behavior that we engage in.
Daniela Johansson, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Paf and Chief Responsibility Officer, believes that what Ivanova’s research is effectively accomplishing is advancing the investigation into the responsibility of gaming by one step. Johansson is further of the idea that what Ivanova has managed to achieve over the course of the previous four years translates to real-world knowledge capable of helping us all acquire a better understanding of the tools and techniques that are proven to provide higher gaming responsibility. Johansson is further of the belief that this information can help us all gain a better grasp of the tools and methods that are proven to provide enhanced gaming responsibility.
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