Canadians Eye Player Protection for Online Gambling

The IRC Research Institute has partnered with the National Council on Problem Gambling to research problem gambling and other addictions on a global basis, and will be recruiting suitable respondents for the study.
 
"This is a study to learn about player practices, perceptions and needs regarding player protection strategies," said Rick Smith, executive director of the IGC. "It is not a study to examine the problems caused by online gambling. The aim is to identify what can be done to assist people who have problems in controlling their online gambling."
 
The idea for the survey was developed earlier this year by Dr. Jaime Wiebe, president of the Factz Research Institute, a firm which specializes in research on Internet gambling, and Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling,
 

Industry-Wide Approach

Wiebe said the main goal of the research is to develop an “effective industry-wide approach” to problem gambling prevention.
 
The study, what is more, will cover the global Internet gaming industry and include all types of online gambling, including sports betting, poker, casino and horse race wagering.
 
Researchers will collect data on the gambling patterns of Internet players, including frequency and duration of play, as well as the nature of gambling problems; the characteristics, behaviors and consequences of uncontrolled Internet gambling; and the awareness of the help available to keep gambling safe. The start date will be determined by how long it takes to get a number of Internet gambling sites involved in the research.
 
"There is definite interest," bsaid Wiebe. "We just need to get more sites involved."
 
The online gaming sites which participate in the survey will be kept confidential, said Wiebe, for the project is not about reviewing specific Internet sites. Rather, it's about examining the players. "We know so little," said Wiebe. "Until we talk to the players and find out what's really happening out there, we can't possibly come up with a solution to the problem."
 
Wiebe has already begun to produce the online survey.  "I have done four gambling prevalence studies and problem gambling studies in the past, so I have the basic questions and objectives in mind,” said Weibe, who has a doctorate in community health, and who was previously employed in the gambling industry. 

Industry Cooperative

For years, researchers have wanted to examine Internet gambling, but without the cooperation of the online gaming sites themselves, it has been difficult to design proper programs to research responsible gambling.
 
But, she said, it is highly likely online gambling is actually safer than gambling at a conventional casino. “The nature of the Internet allows for safeguards that land-based casinos don't have, such as information about recognizing when you have a problem and where to get help. This is a golden opportunity for education and prevention,” said Wiebe.
 
The preparation for a new study comes just as another research group, by a researcher, Diana Abelt, based in Milwaukee, Wis., indicates that five percent of college students have difficulty controlling their online gambling.  "It's accessible 24 hours a day, and you don't have to even leave your house," Abelt said.

© Copyright 2006 Online Casino Crawler This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.