OLG vows help for problem gamblers
Ontario Lottery and Gaming officials say resources are in place to tackle problem gambling in communities like Belleville where casinos operate.
Though yet to bring any Belleville agencies on board to handle potential cases of addictive gambling, like it does in communities like the Peterborough area (Slots at Kawartha Downs) where cases are referred to Four Counties Addiction Services Team (FOURCAST), the OLG says its on-site Responsible Gaming Centre is there to assist.
“We are still in the process of selecting a treatment provider in Belleville,” said OLG spokesman Tony Bitonti, about provisions in its responsible gaming arsenal. “We will have a treatment provider in place before the new facility opens in the new year.
“In everyone of our communities where we have a facility, we partner with these treatment facilities,” he said.
Last year the provincial government dedicated $54 million from its roughly $2 billion in OLG proceeds toward assisting people struggling with problem gambling, said Bitonti.
On a yearly basis, roughly 20,000 excessive gamblers take advantage of the OLG’s voluntary exclusion program.
Bitonti said when private entities, such as Great Canadian Gaming, take over operations, as they did in Eastern Ontario, they will have several tools at their disposal, including face recognition technology, which picks out excluded gamblers.
“Responsible gambling is a part of the contract,” Bitonti said.
Belleville’s Responsible Gambling Centre will be administered by Responsible Gambling Council of Ontario, a third-party agency.
“They will offer assistance to people who need it,” he said. “If they want to (voluntarily) self-exclude that’s offered there as well.”
Like any other addiction, Bitonti said problems gamblers have to take the initiative to seek help, as the OLG will not force any individual to stop gambling.
“They have to do it on their own,” he said. “It’s a voluntary thing.”
Gamblers can voluntarily ban themselves for six months, up to a year or an indefinite term. They can apply to re-instate themselves.
“If they’re detected going to our facility, our security staff will stop them and issue a trespass notice,” he said.
Relatives or close friends aware of someone’s gambling woes, cannot lobby the casino to exclude that person.
“They cannot recommend to us,” he said. “We will self-exclude someone. The person has to come in to self-exclude themselves.”
Though not an expert in the area of addictive gambling, Dr. Richard Schabas, the medical officer of health for the local region, said “it’s a concern, but I’m not sure how much the problem is aggravated by having a local casino, because there are many other ways people can gamble now, already.”
“I’m not questioning for a moment that it is a serious issue,” he said. “It’s obviously something that the gaming commission has to take into account when they make decisions about casinos.”
Schabas said communities must weigh the advantages, such as boosting government revenue, with the risk.
“Like most things, it comes with a cost,” he said.
Individuals can also take advantage of the Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline. The helpline is free, confidential and anonymous. Someone concerned about their gambling or concerned about someone else’s gambling can call 1-888-230-3505.
Great Canadian Gaming was chosen last year by the province as the new private operator of casinos in eastern Ontario. It has a casino in Gananoque and is building a new casino in Belleville and it also plans to replace the Slots at Kawartha Downs in Fraserville with a casino with table games in Peterborough, a plan that is now held up by three appeals to the Ontario Municipal Board.