Self-Exclusion in Action: "The Patient Gambler"

Here is an article sent to me by Sol Boxenbaum of Viva Consulting in Montreal, Canada. The article is pasted here in full as I can't find the link to the original.

The patient gambler
Parkinson's may have driven him to gamble, but authorities were slow to stop him
Tom Blackwell, National Post, Saturday, October 30, 2004

Joe Treyes must have cut quite a figure at Toronto's Woodbine racetrack. Not long into slot-machine sessions that stretched from dawn to dusk, the 58-year-old's medication would wear off and Parkinson's disease would take hold of his slight body, causing it to shake and jerk almost as crazily as the spinning reels on the machines.

Sometimes he'd fall down, or spill someone's free drink.

Other patrons just thought he was happy, perhaps having hit the rare jackpot. "I was so popular there. Everybody knew me because I was the guy who danced and whooped a lot and went crazy at the machine," Treyes recalls of that period from late 2003 to this past March. "But at the same time, my Parkinson's was acting up. Some people thought I was just dancing. They didn't know."

Scientists now believe the debilitating disease, or the drugs used to treat it, may actually be encouraging gambling addiction in Parkinson's patients.

Regardless, the electrical engineer should never have even been inside those slot-machine halls. Three years earlier, he had signed a self-exclusion agreement at Woodbine: an indefinite contract that called on Ontario gaming authorities to try to keep him out of the province's casinos.

He stayed away of his own accord for two years, undergoing counselling and electro-shock therapy in a fruitless attempt to curb his addiction. But when he started gambling at Woodbine again last year, no one stopped him, and the one-armed bandits relieved him of his last $100,000 in savings.

His photograph would have been on file as part of the self-exclusion process, but Treyes' identity was no secret to casino staff. He says he frequently collapsed when the drugs to control his Parkinson's wore off and he had to be helped into Woodbine's back office by security personnel, who usually took his name and other particulars. They let him rest until the next dose of medication started kicking in, then he'd head back to the gaming floor.

"They let me play and play," says Treyes. "I was out of control."

This is hardly surprising, says an Alberta-based expert who has studied casino exclusion systems. Most provinces offer the service as a key plank of their anti-addiction efforts, says Dr. Robert Williams of the University of Lethbridge's school of health science, but in his view the orders are rarely enforced with any vigour, making them little more than public relations gestures.

Authorities in the Netherlands and other European countries, on the other hand, have made exclusion work, partly by requiring gamblers to show identification at the door.

"It seems very odd to me that the [provincial] government would drag its feet in assuming some responsibility for a contract it has signed," Williams says. He mentions what may be a possible explanation: problem gamblers account for a major chunk of casino revenues.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. says it cannot comment on Treyes' case for privacy reasons, but says generally that catching excluded gamblers as they enter their premises is all but impossible. About 12,000 patrons a day walk into Woodbine, for instance, noted Theresa Roncon, a corporation spokeswoman.

As it turns out, Treyes' strange combined affliction of Parkinson's and pathological gambling is no more unique than his experience with exclusion. Mounting evidence suggests sufferers from the debilitating disease are particularly susceptible to gaming problems, perhaps because of medication they take that pumps the brain chemical dopamine into their bodies. Dopamine helps alleviate the tremours, shuffling gait and stiffened facial muscles associated with Parkinson's, but also has been linked to compulsive gambling behaviour.

"The normal little voice in your head that tells you, 'Don't do this any more,' doesn't work," says Dr. Mark Guttman, a leading Canadian Parkinson's physician.

"I've had doctors, lawyers, very educated people get involved in this kind of activity." One of his patients lost $500,000 gambling.

Just this past week, a session of a major conference on Parkinson's in Austria focused on gambling, sex and other addictions among patients with the disease. "It's a hot topic," says Guttman, who is Treyes' doctor.

He has 20 Parkinson's patients with gambling problems, out of a caseload of 1,200. While this percentage is not high, he notes most started gambling obsessively after being put on the medication and stopped as soon as they were taken off. And it would seem unusual that anyone coping with a life-altering, degenerative medical condition would become a compulsive gambler if something powerful was not driving them, Guttman says.

Indeed, a study presented at the conference suggests a much larger proportion of Parkinson's patients may be in trouble with gambling. The paper by Drs. Abraham Lieberman and Ali Rezai, top U.S. experts on the disease, note 20% of patients in an on-line survey indicated they had gambling addictions, several times the rate in the general population. The higher number could partly stem from the survey's methodology, but is likely also explained by anonymous participants feeling freer to admit an embarrassing problem, the authors say.

Treyes, a native of the Philippines, was working as an engineer at Delphax Systems, a maker of high-speed printers in Brampton, Ont., when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1993. Three years later, he left to go on long-term disability. He says he started playing the slots at Mohawk Raceway west of Toronto and then at Woodbine. He celebrated Christmas Day, 1999, by playing the machines at Mohawk, near Guelph, Ont. "I left my wife and daughter to gamble."

Finally, after losing about $20,000, he decided on his own to sign the exclusion order in September, 2000. He saw a psychiatrist who prescribed electro-convulsive therapy, which Treyes believes only made his addiction worse. He spent three months at Homewood counselling centre in Kitchener, still making little progress.

He was also taken off the type of drug suspected in Parkinson's patients' gambling problems, but his behaviour apparently chang-ed little.

Then in October, 2003, he went back to Woodbine, this time bankrolled by his share of proceeds from the family home, sold after he separated from his wife. His bank statements from the period tell a sad story, the balance of about $100,000 shrinking away relentlessly, with withdrawals of several hundred dollars almost every day.

Eventually, he dipped into his disability cheques and had nothing left to pay his rent. This summer, he was evicted from the nursing home where he was living. Meanwhile, his wife and 27-year-old daughter, fed up with the spiralling addiction, have abandoned him.

As he hit rock bottom, it seems, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation finally decided it had had enough of its disruptive, time-consuming customer. On Jan. 2 this year, when Treyes' bank balance stood at minus-$28, the agency took out a trespassing order on Treyes, indicating they would have police charge him if he tried to come back. But he did anyway, seemingly unimpeded, and raced through another $30,000 by March.

He says staff at Woodbine told him the trespass order was signed out because he had "abused the system," but never mentioned the exclusion order.

It is a pattern Williams is familiar with. Studies in Quebec and Connecticut showed that those who signed a self-exclusion agreement and wanted to return encountered no obstacles. In the Netherlands, not only is more done to enforce the orders, but the idea of signing them is promoted heavily. If gamblers visit a casino frequently, a staff member will approach them and ask if they want to sign an exclusion order, Williams says.

Roncon says about 1,000 gamblers a year have signed self-exclusion applications since they became available in 1999. A number of gamblers have been discovered and ordered to leave, but no statistics are available on exactly how many, she said.

But Williams says casinos tend to be very effective in keeping out those it really does not want as customers, such as "card counters" and other cheats and people who unduly disrupt the facility.

Treyes says he is looking for some kind of help, at least to oversee his disability cheques, and keep them out of the slot machines. He is clearly still hooked.

After a recent interview ended, Treyes shuffled up to a reporter's car as it was about to pull away.

"I hate to do this," he says, "but I'm broke. Can you give me $5?"

© National Post 2004
Copyright © 2004 CanWest Interactive Inc. All rights reserved.
CanWest Interactive Inc. is an affiliate of CanWest Global Communications Corp.

I will not comment on this today (as its Sunday and I need some family time) but I will discuss it tomorrow. I would be interested on you comments on this article.

GG

Solution-Focused Debate Needed But Are We Ready

Thanks to Bill Clark, for bringing to my attention this article from the Halifax Herald, Solution-focused debate needed on problem gambling

The article by Robert C. Shaw, a former vice-president of Casino Nova Scotia and a current member of the Nova Scotia Gaming Foundation, discusses the recent Internation Conference on Problem Gambling held in Nova Scotia, Canada. (Attended by the Manager of Gambler's Help Southern, who presented at the conference.)

Shaw, discusses his views on the conference and that it will be along time before the various sides of the problem gambling debate will be able to effectively discuss potential solutions and responses to problem gambling due to the views, beliefs and interests of those from various positions.

The article discusses the fact that 'social-justice' advocates have extreme views of the industry and equally extreme solutions. It should however be noted that they do not believe their views are extreme. It should be also noted that while in principle, operators have a vested interest in reducing harm, and influencing public opinion of the industry, history shows that their main interest has been protecting and increasing revenues regardless of the cost to the community.

There is 'tension' between the opposing philosophies, but there are still solutions. These solutions can be win-win but may initially appear to both sides that they have to give up something. Operators need to acknowledge that egms can and do cause harm and that their practices are contributing to this. They also need to acknowledge that they are not doing enough. Gambling opponents need to acknowledge that the gambling industry is a legitimate industry and that it is a form of entertainment that people enjoy. They also need to acknowledge that while poker machines do cause harm, it is not to everyone and it is not intentionally designed to make problem gamblers - it is designed to make money and any harm that occurs is an unfortunate, but potentially preventable, side effect.

The middle players - 'moderates' - do need to do more and make their voice heard. Gambling has a place in society, despite the fact that there will always be some potential and actual harm, that occurs. Gambling also does have benefits in a range of areas. However the gaming industry does not and has not done enough about problem gambling and needs to do so. The 'moderates' do however have to really be moderates and divulge their true positions and backgrounds - transparency is paramount in ensuring real debate can occur.

Regulators need to take and actual and genuine interest in this issue as they are supposed to be acting on the community's behalf. Regulators are supposed to act independently of government, so they are in a critical position in the debate.

In order to move to a solution-focussed debate, we need to have the debate and involve the best and most productive voices not the loudest. Only then will we get to a point where some real action can occur to protect the community while ensuring they retain the (informed) choice to gamble if they choose.

What do you think?

GG

UK Press unite against the gambling bill

According to an article on the BBC News website the bulk of the UK press has decided that gambling expansion is not a good thing and have come out strongly with headlines denouncing the Labour Party's proposed 'reforms'.

Whilst tabloid the 'Daily Mail' (see previous post) has their 'Kill the Bill' campaign, even broadsheets such as The Guardian (who have a special report on the topic here) have come out against the bill.

This turn of events has put the government into defense mode, with Culture Minister, Lord McIntosh countering with responses to the "10 myths about the gambling bill"

One interesting 'myth' for Australians, is the following as presented by Lord McIntosh

The government has not learnt from Australia's failed deregulation. "This is in fact the opposite of the truth. I have seen for myself what a disaster the Australian model has been and it is one we have deliberately avoided."

However 11 Labour members of the House of Commons, put their names to a motion opposing the expansion of the casino sector clearly demonstrating that the ruling party is divided on this issue.
So this issue is clearly yet to be decided and with the press, opposition parties and even some of the Labour party's own parliamentarians opposed this bill is not assured to be passed, in its current form at least.

Is this opposition a sign of the times, or is it just the UK learning from Australia's mistakes? Is there something we can learn from the process to apply here especially with the relicensing process about to commence in Victoria?

What do you think?

GG

Lose it more than once at a Virgin Casino

Following ventures into the Airline, Credit Card, Mobile phone and many other businesses around the world Sir Richard Branson has taken the plunge and moved into the world of gambling.

Only ten weeks ago, Branson opened his new online casino Virgin Games. But he is not stopping there, as Branson has just become a member of the British Casinos Association and is looking at having his signature brand on one of Britain's new 'super-casinos' according to The Guardian.

However the the proposed gambling legislation in the UK is set to be much more restrictive than originally planned after opposition forced significant ammendments including allowing much fewer of the casinos than originally planned. (http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=621585§ion=news)

The worldwide message seems to be that gambling is an issue that the community is concerned about. People are now wary of the effects that gambling expansion can have on their communities and governments need to listen and realise that backlash that has occurred in the UK is not unique and is now likely to happen in many countries around the world.

People are concerned about gambling. Governments take note.

GG

Pokies Numbers Cut in Sth Australia, BUT

Accordng to The Australian, legislation has passed the lower house of the South Australian parliament that will reduce the number of poker machines in South Australian hotels by 3000.

The legislation however will not remove any machines from sporting or community clubs, and the new reduced cap will stay in force for at least 10 years without further reductions. There will be no regional caps (as applies in Victoria), no changes in operatin hours, and no increases in gambling taxes.

This of course means that whilst there will be a community benefit in terms of a reduction in machine numbers but hotel revenue will be protected for the next ten years. This will of course mean that rather than a win-win, some will look at it as a lose-lose with both AHA and anti-gambling advocates being unhappy with the outcome.

What is your view?

GG

Fed Govt to attack problem gambling on many fronts

In what continues to be a surprising yet promising development, the first major policy release by the newly returned coalition government here in Australia is a response to problem gambling.

Melbourne's Herald-Sun has published an article detailing the government's proposed "assault on problem gambling." (PDF of article here)

For the first time it appears that a serious centralised effort with targeted solutions to the various different categories of gambler will be used including in-school prevention strategies to attempt to prevent young people from joining the growing population of 18 to 25 year old problem gamblers.

The article also says that the government is examining a range of tactics to combat the impact of problem gambling on families:

USING doctors to help identify and treat problem gamblers.

SETTING up a national gaming research institute.

A GREATER role for Centrelink staff to identify problem gamblers and direct them to counselling.

NEW regulations on ATMs at gaming venues.

Also the new University-based Gaming Research Institute would have satellite centres across the nation aimed at helping provide information to governments for making policy decisions on gambling.

A federal government taking such public action on this issue can only be welcomed. We will of course have to wait until the plans and proposals become actions before we can truly assess the impact of this policy, but at least it is a promising development.

What do you think of this development with the Federal Government taking an interest in problem gambling? Will it make a difference?

GG

How to get around the smoking bans - take the machines outside

This news comes from the Illawarra Mercury in NSW. (Sat 23 October 2004, Page 14)

Pokies outside to avoid smoke ban

FORGET dimly lit, smoky gaming venues where the air is conditioned and the weather outside is a world away.

The view of poker machine players in the Illawarra may be about to expand as far as the horizon after plans were announced to investigate creating the region's first alfresco gaming experience.

Shellharbour Workers' Club manager David Whyte confirmed yesterday he was looking at ways of parking poker machines on the award-winning balcony to avoid a smoking ban announced this month.

"We are looking at doing something with an outdoor area with pokie machines," he said.

"The logistics of it are not easy but it is certainly something we are considering."

He predicted the balcony would become one of the most popular areas of the club after July 1, 2007 when the ban comes into force.

Open-air gaming would allow players to continue smoking and avoid a predicted long-term loss of 10 per cent in gaming revenue, which last year would have converted the club's $536,000 profit to a $250,000 loss, according to Mr Whyte.

It comes on top of the much-publicised State Government poker machine tax, which came in on September 1, and which will cost the club $220,000 this year, rising to $1.6 million in 2011.

The club has just released its annual report, which showed a 90 per cent increase in catering profits to $97,000 on the previous year, and a 20 per cent increase in bar trading to almost $1 million. Despite warning that a new user-pays culture will replace many club subsidies, Mr Whyte said these figures were a result of a determination to grow areas other than gaming.

Poker machine profits still dwarf all other areas, however, providing $11.5 million profit last financial year, of which 2.5 per cent - or $289,339 - was paid to about 100 community groups.

Among them was the Shellharbour branch of the Labor Party, whose councillors' refusal to unambiguously reject the gaming tax was called "a slap in the face for clubs in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven region" by ClubsNSW chief executive David Costello.

The club's 20,000 members vote for a new board this weekend, with 12 candidates standing for eight places. The result should be known by tomorrow night.

Well there you have it. Ingenious solutions to a problem that may not even exist, as a 10% reduction in revenue is an invented figure which is not based on any solid evidence. Not only that, the club suggests an end to club subsidies of services it provides to the community and moves to a user-pays model, away from the traditional actions of NSW clubs towards the practices here in Victoria, especially by the pseudo-clubs and club-hotels.

At least in Victoria, the Community Benefit Statements are coming in and we will all be able to see how much the clubs are making and where the money is going. We have been waiting for this transparency for a long time.

What do you think about moving machines outside?

GG

Anoter interesting reason for gambling expansion: "To Protect the Children" says Blair

According to GamblingGates.Com, the recent moves in the UK to expand gambling through the establishment of large casinos as about "Better protection for children." says British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The UK Labor Party PM suggests the bill will introduce 20 to 40 new casinos to the 120 small casinos that already exist. However the new casinos will of course be of a different scale and operate very differently to the private-club style establishments that currently exist in Britain.

Blair also said:

"Whether we like it or not, we have gambling in this country, but with a series of rules and restrictions which are completely out of date."

"Ninety per cent of the gambling bill is about better regulation and protection for children, removing slot machines from about 6,000 premises where minors, children, might have access to them."

UK Government members are split on whether the bill which would allow Las Vegas-style casinos and £5 million of additional investment to the country should be passed.

The Opposition conservative party leader Michael Howard has said that his party will oppose the bill.

The UK Daily Newspaper, The Dail Mail has launced a campaign to "Kill the Casino Bill" Their website (click here) contains a range of information on this battle which is starting to get nasty.

It is interesting that for a change the mass media are becoming involved in the gambling debate so earnestly and at such an early stage compared to what has occurred in other jurisdictions around the world.

There will be lessons learned for all sides, but what is clear is that the outcome in the UK will effect gambling regulation and legislation around the world.

GG

Weird Logic? Open Casinos to help treat problem gambling

Currently in the US state of Nebraska, campaigning is in full swing for both sides of proposals to introduce two casinos and 4,900 gaming machines to the state. The proposals will be voted on by Nebraskans on November 2.

An interesting statement by gambling supporter and local mayor, Greg Robinson was made in response to a campaign by anti-gambling group "Gambling with the Good Life." According to the Las Vegas Sun :

If gambling is expanded in the state, authorities on the state and local level could opt to use the extra revenue to better treat addiction, he said.

More casinos, more machines, closer proximity means better treatment of problem gamblers? Treatment services for problem gamblers are underfunded - lets open a casino?

If you make it easier for people to gamble, you better have well funded services to handle the increased client load. But if you already have problem gamblers and you don't fund services well enough already, why would you expand gambling which history tells us will create even more problem gamblers.

Doesn't seem to make sense to me. Now if you want to make money for operators and governments, gambling is a real money spinner but at what cost to the community.

Expanded gambling does have winners and losers, but by design there are only a few winners and many losers.

GG

Research proves the less you earn the more you gamble

Professor Jan McMillen and her team at the Centre for Gambling Research at the ANU (Australian National University) have released an extensive study into the effect of gaming machines on local communities which provides evidence for some generally held beliefs about locating gaming machines in residential areas.

The study, "Gaming Machine Accessibility and Use in Suburban Canberra: A Detailed Analysis of the Tuggeranong Valley" found the following:

• Clubs who draw their patrons from the local area around the venue attract heavier gamblers.
• Youngest patrons (18-25) and oldest patrons (75+) are the highest users of venues and machines.
• Rate of egm gambling declines as household income increases.
• If you travel less to gamble at your preferred gamble, you gamble more money and more often.
• People who walk to, or catch a taxi to venues seem to gamble more.
• Smokers gamble for longer than non-smokers.
• Smokers, loyalty card users, weekly EGM gamblers and gamblers who use more than one machine report higher losses.
• Gamblers who live within 4km of the venue report higher losses.

These findings are based on research conducted by a well respected source. This is the evidence that industry and government keep saying that they need before making changes to gaming legislation and/or industry practice. The study has been done. Prof. McMillen has also suggested repeating the study in other areas of Australia. The model exists now and the new Ministerial Panel on Gaming here in Victoria should immediately conduct the same research here. If they don't conduct it, local governments in growth areas such as Casey should fund the research themselves as it will give them proof of the effects of gambling on their community.

Gambling unfairly targets those close to venues, the young and aged and those with low incomes. It may not be by design, but it happens anyway. Reform is needed to reduce the harm that is occurring to the community at large.

GG

1000 visitors this month and counting

A quick thank you to all of you reading this site. In the just on two months that the blog has been published many people have discovered the blog and I hope are enjoying reading it.

For October we have had over 1000 visits and over 600 unique visitors.

I hope to continue bringing to your attention gambling issues from Australia and around the world.

GG

Federal Government develops an interest in problem gambling

For many years the Australian Federal government has taken an arms-length approach to gambling regulation. Gambling is usually a state concern except where it involves issues that cross state boundaries such as telecommunications.

However only two weeks after a Federal election that saw the incumbent conservative coalition government returned, Family and Community Services Minister, Senator Kay Patterson has decided to take an interest in reducing problem gambling.

According to The Age, here in Melbourne, the Federal Government has asked banks to consider placing restrictions on ATM facilities in gaming venues.

Senator Patterson has stated that tackling problem gambling was priority for the re-elected government but that it would be focusing on "evidence-based solutions."

Much of the evidence already exists and action should begin to be taken now. However the government should be congratulated for deciding to make problem gambling an issue of national importance.

They will have to be steeled for battle as there are many, including State governments, gaming and casino operators and others cashed up and ready to challenge anything that might affect revenues.

The Federal Government should be supported in their aim, but we will wait to see if the promise comes to fruition.

GG

Dangerous Crossover - Computer Games Become Slot Machines

As a community educator and gaming specialist, a question I am often asked is whether playing computer and console games such as those found on Playstation 2, X-Box, or designed for PCs can contribute to gambling behaviour later in life. The truth is that I don't know for certain, although logic would suggest that the normalising of playing a game on a with a video screen for hours definitely makes the ability to sit in front of a electronic gaming machine for hours seem more normal and acceptable behaviour.

Games for many years have tried to build in the entertainment aspects of computer and console games into slot/poker machines with a range of success. Some machines like Aristocrat's 'Chicken' were successful for a short time however games with second screen features which appear like computer games with the perception of control have been successful in the past.

However we are beginning to move into unchartered territory with Bally Gaming's announcement that they have signed a deal to create slot machines based directly on popular computer games.

First off the production line will be slots based on legendary original Atari games 'Pong', 'Asteroids', 'Centipede' and 'Breakout' which will probably appeal to people in the 25-35 age group who originally had Atari 2600s in their homes. (I did)

However more of a concern is the decision to make slot machines based on current popular internet games such as those seen at Popcap games and Pogo.com. The first of these is highly popular game 'Bejeweled' but others are guaranteed to follow.

Electronic Arts which produces the games which will become the themes for the slots, produces a range of titles including 'The Sims', 'Ultima Online', 'Battlefield 1942' and the world's most popular sports games including NBA Live, NHL Live, and Madden.

These games are proven performers as computer and console games, obviously Bally believe they will take the audience from the console to the casino and be big money spinners for operators.

Relationships like these could in future be targeted and designed to condition 14-25 year olds, with minimal exposure to slot machine gambling but extensive exposure to video games, for slot machine gambling to be a more normal and acceptable behaviour - to make them think that this is no big issue its just like the games I play at home.

Children are already given the impression, especially in venues where console games are provided to occupy children, that these are the kids games and when I get older I get to play the adult games - the poker machines.

Is this a dangerous development, or just something to make poker machine gambling more fun? Tell me what you think.

GG

Fall from grace: Baseball's "Big Daddy" Strikes Out Big

As America watches with anticipation a decisive Game 7 of the American League Championship Series to see whether it will be the perenially successful New York Yankees or curse-ridden Boston Red Sox who make it to this years World Series, some perspective on how fragile success can be comes with the publishing in US Newspapers including the Detroit News and USA Today of former baseball superstar Cecil Fielder, known to fans as 'Big Daddy'.

Cecil Fielder used to have it all - fame and fortune and a happy family. But now it is all gone.

"Gambling caused Cecil Fielder's empire to collapse," said Al Arostegui, the Realtor who sold the Fielders their 50-room palace in Melbourne, Fla., in 1995 for $3.7 million.

"This isn't a story of a hero who went bad, but a hero who got sick. For Cecil, gambling is a disease; it's like a cancer of some sort that ate away his wealth."

Cecil Fielder's life was destroyed by gambling. What is even more surprising is that it is one of the rare occasions when you can see a person's life being lost to gambling in only a few hours.

The origins of the Fall of the House of Fielder are spelled out in a file in New Jersey Superior Court, titled Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino versus Cecil G. Fielder. It's about one 40-hour period in which Fielder's gambling compulsion apparently broke all bounds, with a casino extending him credit every step of the way.

On a February day in 1999, Cecil Fielder walked into the Trump Plaza casino in Atlantic City just before noon, and filled out an application for credit.

Under "Income/Assets," he included: "Salary — $5 million."

Under "Other Casinos," he listed a $100,000 line of credit at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas.

Trump extended Fielder a $25,000 line of credit. That money, plus whatever cash he had started with, lasted a day and a half.

Fielder requested, and was given, another $25,000 line of credit.

That was gone in two hours and 40 minutes.

The casino lent him $27,500 more.

That lasted less than 20 minutes.

The casino extended Fielder's credit by another $50,000.

The minute-by-minute records stop there, but the file contains a total. By the time the binge was over, Fielder owed the Trump casino $580,000.

Cecil Fielder still owes the casino, and a range of other creditors money. He is going through a messy divorce with his wife. He has lost his home, his wealth, his family and with the publishing of these articles a lot of pride.

Gambling can have consequences for anyone, no matter who you are. If you gamble, gamble responisbly, because if you don't you are risking more than just money.

GG

Problem Gambling in the UK: A Croupier's View

Thanks to Gary Morris, Intake Worker at Gambler's Help Southern for bringing this article in the New Statesman to my attention: A Croupier's eye view It is also available in PDF form here.

The article is interesting in that it describes first hand what it is like to work in one of the UK's currently existing casinos. The comparison in the article between a saudi millionaire who could afford to lose £100,000 compared to a woman who lost £50 is a good example of how the amount you gamble isn't neccessarily the measure of problem gambling, it is the harm that is caused by that gambling even if it was 5c that is the issue.

A worrying element of the article was this quote:

As croupiers, we were encouraged to report to our superiors anyone we considered a "problem gambler" - that is to say, anyone who was unable to stop and was betting beyond their means. In reality when a report was made, the casino managers were reluctant to act against the man. He was, after all, a punter.

If this is the current practice now in the UK, what will it be like when their is further competition due to the planned expansion of gambling. Regulators need to heed the warning and insure that effective practices are enforced for gaming operators and their staff.

Gambling can be a leisure activity for some, but when it starts to become harmful then it is no longer fun - for the gambler and those affected.

GG

Poker Epidemic Sweeping America's Youth

An interesting article on the poker craze affecting teenagers in America is published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. The article "Teens: The New Face of Poker" presents many angles to the issue including whilst there may be no obvious harm to regular low-stakes poker games, the effect of normalising behaviour patterns may cause longer term detrimental effects.

The parent in the article even presents it as a harm minimisation strategy:

"In my glass half-full perspective, all available science tells us that those types of individuals would develop an addiction whether a parent hosts a card game or not," Winters said. "There's so much gaming available these days that if you have an itch to gamble you can scratch it in any number of ways. You have to keep a public health mentality. Keep the betting minimal. Keep booze out of the picture, and make sure it's a social event."

Depending on the age of the young people, and the nature of the gambling, this may actually be true but parents need to make careful decisions and supervise and set ground rules to make sure that the gambling does not get out of hand.

Parents need to decide how they will teach their sons and daughters about gambling responsibly but while low-stakes gambling may seem like a safe entertainment option there are potential consequences that parents need to be wary of.

GG

Gambling Guru quoted on Neopets issue

An article on GamblingGates.Com has cited Gambling Guru and my position on Neopets.

Thank you to GamblingGates.Com editor, Alex Cup and writer, Ken Wough for publishing a quote from me that did not take me out of context and presented my view on this issue in one line: "Gambling in these forms should not be available for minors. It does not appear neccessary for the game, and the rest of the Neopets game does seem to be fine," said Keith Don, an educator at the Gambler's Help Southern's Gambling Guru website.

GG

Neopets Comments - Adding Some Balance

Thank you to all those who have sent in opinions on the Neopets issue. Most comments have been in support of Neopets, and while I understand the points presented, my view that gambling games are not required for children.

In the interests of balance, I present some of the opinions received by gambling site, GamblingGates.Com which after publishing a story summarising the Neopets issue received more than 100 emails from users. While many opposed the gambling ban, like most of the comments I have received, some supported it.

For instance, Eileen H. Kramer from Columbus, Georgia wrote: “I read your story on the Neopets McDonalds promotion. The story contains some innacuracies picked up from the original, but the truth is worse in many ways than what the story describes.”

Eileen goes on to say that “Neopia not only offers gambling, it encourages it. There are two free games of chance to whet the newbie player's appetite for something for nothing. These are Tombola and the Fruit Machine. I play Tombola every day. It costs nothing and once in a while I get lucky”.

“The most attractive form of gambling in Neopia are the wheels. You pay anywhere from fifty to five hundred Neopints to play and then the wheel spins. If you are lucky you win more Neopoints or a prize. If you are not lucky, you lose Neopoints and if you are really unlucky your pets become ill and unhappy. Try imagining something like this in real life. The wheels teach that it is OK to risk the welfare of something you love for a chance at gaining riches”.

Also the following from Tania appeared in the GamblingGates forums:

I read your story on the Neopets McDonalds promotion. The story contains some inaccuracies picked up from the original, but the truth is worse in many ways than what the story describes.

I have been on Neopets since July of this year. Let me correct the misconceptions first. You do not need to gamble to make money on Neopets. Games of skill are much more reliable cash cows than games of chance. On Neopets as anywhere else, the house always wins. Also there is enough free and cheap food around that pets do not starve. If pets starve, they DO NOT go to the shelter. In fact it costs money to disown a pet, so it is more common to "let them rot" in Neoian parlance.

All that said, Neopia not only offers gambling, it encourages it. There are two free games of chance to whet the newbie player's appetite for something for nothing. These are Tombola and the Fruit Machine. I play Tombola every day. It costs nothing and once in a while I get lucky.

Then there are other games of chance: poker, blackjack, 21, poodle and turtle races. The problem with these though they are cheap to play is that you can easily chase your losses. I've done that a few times too many and I'm an adult.

The most attractive form of gambling in Neopia is the wheels. You pay anywhere from fifty to five hundred Neopoints to play and then the wheel spins. If you are lucky you win more Neopoints or a prize. If you are not lucky, you lose Neopoints and if you are really unlucky your pets become ill and unhappy. Try imagining something like this in real life. The wheels teach that it is OK to risk the welfare of something you love for a chance at gaining riches.

Of course hungry pets do not motivate most Neopians to gamble. Neopets is designed to make most of its residents feel poor.

Expensive items such as paintbrushes that change your pet to a non-standard color, pet pets (pets for your pet), and other goodies are in the site's headlines. Pets that win the spotlight prize have usually been painted. Given this pressure to obtain what is out of reach, many Neopians feel the temptation to gamble.

Finally, the wheel of excitement, one of several wheels features an avatar if you win 10,000NP on it. This small image that you can use on the chat boards identifies you as a winner and adverises the wheel as place with big easy winnings. What naive users forget is that Neopia is a big place and that for ever 10,000NP win there are thousands of losses and pets made ill.

I am glad that parents are speaking up about the gambling on Neopia, though the story would carry more weight if they cleared up the misconceptions and concentrated on what really goes on inside the walls.

Like Tania, it would have been better if the TodayTonight story got their facts right, but despite this the main premise of their story and the Herald-Sun article was true - Gambling is an issue in the way it is presented and is accessible to children in Neopets.

Thank you again for all your comments. I think my position is clear on this and unless it changes or their are any updates to this issue, I will be trying not to post as much on Neopets as there are many other issues that also need attention.

GG will keep trying to bring attention to gambling issues that can potentially cause harm to our community.

GG

UK Gambling Expansion Going Ahead: Govt Introduces Bill

The UK Government led by Prime Minister Tony Blair is set to introduce legislation allowing for gambling expansion including Las Vegas-styled Mega Casinos. With US Casino giants Caesars and MGM Mirage waiting eagerly for a share of the pie, Britain's new Gaming Bill which is set for approval by the middle of next year, would open up a US$6 Billion market according to global investment bank Goldman Sachs.

UK gamblers already gamble an estimated US$65 billion each year (2001) and the US operators can't wait to open new venues which will be allowed a maximum of 1250 machines.

However the UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport which is reponsible for the legislation does believe that their regulations would prevent widespread problem gambling:

"Our concern is the protection of the public and introducing reform in a controlled way," said department spokesman Anthony Wright.

"We do not want gambling ventures seeing this just as an opportunity to make a quick buck. There will be a strong element of social responsibility and giving something back to the local area."

It is yet to be seen whether the bill will achieve what it sets out to do. However The London Times is asking for comment on whether gambling laws should be relaxed. Why not give your comment here.

The approach taken will definitely create more problem gamblers - that is inevitable, but is the bill a balanced approach or is any gambling expansion in the UK unneccessary and harmful to the community.

Tell me what you think?

GG.

Neopets Gambling Controversy Hits Slashdot - Founder Speaks

Slashdot - one of the world's havens for technology discussion on the internet has published an article on the Neopets Gambling Issue. So far it has received 350 comments.

The discussion is interesting with other issues to do with Neopets, apart from the gambling issue being discussed.

Appearing in the discussion was a user 'borovan' who said his name was Adam. Adam is the founder of Neopets.

Heh, rubbish...

The focus of Neopets is primarily games and exciting content. It was not started to make money at all, but with 8 billion pageviews a month we have to or the site would not exist.

Marketing, Immersive Advertising, all these things were not even considered when the site was founded, they are simply a necessity, and we approach it in a much better way than most sites (no popups, no horrible flash ads floating in the middle of the screen)

We do specifically state that pages with advertisements on are actually paid for by sponsors, in caps no less at the bottom of each page.

How do I know this? I founded the company, so there.

Adam

We haven't yet heard Adam's opinion on the gambling issue - but through a comment I made on slashdot, I have invited him to have a right of reply.

Adam/borovan if you read this let us know what you think about this.

GG

Response to Kaylee - Thanks for your comments but Neopets need to fix this

Hi Kaylee,

First I want to thank you for your comments on the Neopets site. You are passionate about Neopets and you make a lot of good points.

However I'll clarify why gambling games the way they are presented for kids on Neopets isn't valuable in teaching them about the potential dangers of gambling.

Whilst some children will realise that gambling on these games can cost them points, others don't and simply chase their losses. Nothing actually tells them that there is a risk or what the potential consequences are, and unfortunately some to begin gambling as part of their regular neopet routine, chasing potential winnings or trying to regain losses. The problem is that children in this way learn the behaviour, and this learned behaviour can be played out in the real world causing other problems. This is more true when you have games which are identical to casino games. Kids can actually learn to play black jack and other casino games which then make it easier to play in the real world i.e. if I win in neopets why won't I win at the real game.

Also the fact that the gambling on neopets can be manipulated through cheats by players or by Neopets themselves can contribute to the development of false beliefs about gambling such as about chances of winning, that gambling at a certain time or certain way can increase my odds etc. These false beliefs are a major contributor to problem gambling behaviour.

Kids can be taught by their parents (and schools) about gambling in a way that is much more helpful and informative without the risks. This may involve simulated gambling but for some children the only message they will learn from the way neopets presents it is that I won or I lost or that I can win what I want so I should keep playing. Try to teach a 7 or 8 year old about odds, chances of winning, consequences of gambling - its pretty difficult unless it is really, really simplified. Try to teach them about black jack and it would be impossible. For a child of that age Black Jack can only do harm not good.

I accept what you say about Kayceecat_5's post. I couldn't see any webcam link either. I only assume someone had told her child to go to one of the neopets boards outside the neopets site or that someone posted a link (with spaces in it) and asked users to go there or that someone used one of the messenger programs after being invited whilst in one of the neoboards. However I made it clear it was from the review site and was an opinion and if it did happen to her child it is a potential issue.

Gambling is not legal in Victoria for anyone under 18. The same is true for most states in Australia except for some lottery products which are 16. I believe Neopets should make the gambling games inaccessible for children under a certain age say 13 or 15. If they did this children above this age may be able to learn something but even then there should be more information about the gambling games available to users. At a minimum, parental consent should be clearly given for access to these gambling games which is currently not needed for this but only other types of content such as 'neomail'. This is a point made by many users in the neoboards, and on some of the other neopets discussion boards on the net.

Neopia is like the real world where gambling is an option, but in the real world people experience problems and addictions to gambling. It is possible for the same addictions and problems to occur in the Neopian world but there is no information, warnings or help available. Players can get so engrossed in the game that apart from the normalising behaviour this can effect them emotionally as well and can become habit-forming.

Regarding the petition, on some of the Neoboards on thursday and friday, users said that they were using fake names and email addresses to add to the petition. If you look for yourself on the petition you will see that some users are on multiple times.

I don't want to ban gambling. However I do want controls on gambling and information made available to people so that if they choose to gamble, they do so responsibly and don't get into problems. If the gambling games aren't such a big part of Neopets then why is there such an uproar?

Today Tonight did present incorrect facts (not uncommon) - but the core of the story and the comments made by Nick Xenophon, Michael Carr-Greg and others are correct.

My position has not changed, but like I said in a previous post I believe that Neopets can be really fun and educational but gambling is not required for this to be true.

GG

Neopets users - There is problem gambling in Neopia

An interesting thread from the alt.games.neopets newsgroup: Subject: I think I have a problem (Google Groups archived)

Some of the thread

From Sunshyn - Subject: I think I have a problem

with Brucey B Slots..... thank god I found out that I have potential for a gambling problem on Neopets rather than at a real life casino! It's getting really sad, I have to play card games (Pyramids and such) at the same time as slots so that I can make more money with the cards to gamble with.......at least I'm not draining my bank account to do it (yet.)

Reply from Puluz

*steps forward* hi i'm Puluz and i have exactly same problem. where's that 12 steps program meeting for brucey b slots addicts?

The rest of this thread talks about chasing jackpots on the slots.

Another thread Oh My !!! More Slots talks about someone claiming they have a gambling addiction

From Kerry:

Neo's gonna have to start coughing up some real money to pay the therapist to help with my gambling addiction :P

Another thread painted Neopets as a gambling operator

From Paul Choong Subject Re: A social experiment

have you noticed how they keep making the betting groups higher? first 70 then 25 and now 50??? i think they've realised how much ppl r hooked on that
game and are trting to get people to just waste all their neopoints.....

Seem familiar to those that work with problem and at risk gamblers?

GG

The Age view on the Gaming Panel

State blasted on gaming research http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/14/1097607368364.html#

GG

Gambling Issues: A Focus for Melbourne's Herald-Sun Newspaper

Today the Herald-Sun has two articles on gambling issues, along with yesterday's follow up on the neopets issue

Mcdonalds Backs Down - About the Neopets issue.

Nurse Stole $40,000 - About a North Balwyn woman who stole money from patients at a residential home in order to gamble.

and Gaming Panel sparks row - The State Government has invited gaming operators on to a new ministerial panel on problem gambling which will discuss the style and scope of research projects.

GG

Neopets on Today Tonight again and more responses to comments from Neopet users

After being bombarded with calls and emails, Today Tonight did a follow up piece last night on Neopets. (The article can be accessed here from the Today Tonight site or here as a pdf on our site.)

I agree with Lisa Lee, a neopet user who appeared in the story who said

"Kids shouldn't be exposed to gambling, but rather than banning the gambling they should put closer restrictions to keep kids out,"

I couldn't agree more. If adults are playing have tighter restrictions for adult content. Unfortunately Neopets don't have the capacity to do this I expect and this is why it has been banned for all Australian users.

Its true there are a lot of other games to be played on Neopets. I don't have any problems with these at all. However gambling, especially in its exact adult form such as slot machines, and black jack are potentially harmful for children and adults alike.

I have received more comments from unhappy neopets users. I want to start off by saying the ban was put in place by Neopets at the request of Mcdonalds. I don't control the ban nor did I participate in the Herald-Sun article, or the Today Tonight story however I do support their position.

From Sara:

i was just researching into this ridiculous aussie-neo-gambling ban and found your site. my kids love neopets, i play on it too. its completely harmless. for the most part the kids don't even bother with the gambling games, thats my forte..and no, i don't gamble for real..so i very much fail to see how this fosters a gambling addition..neopoints are a far cry from real money, and neopets is hardly real life.. thank god i dont live in australia, thats all i can say..theres always a pathetic group of people out there somewhere who wants to ruin things for other people, because they think they know better..get a life...why don't you rally against kiddie porn or domestic abuse, or children starving in third world countries, or something real that matters... *shakes head in disgust and wanders away*

If the kids to bother about playing the gambling games why have them there.

Unfortunately the kids do play the gambling games. Evidence of this is the number of users that have been changing their user preferences to countries that aren't Australia ie there are now kids in Antarctica playing Neopets and playing the gambling games.

Gambling at an early age is often a precursor to gambling later in life. Also people can experience harm from all sorts of gambling. There are lessons that can be taught to children about gambling, but you just don't let them run amok in a children's casino which is basically what some of the games on Neopets are.

Also this is my job, there are plenty of people working against child pornography, domestic abuse and third world hunger, and I support them but my job is to reduce the potential for harm from gambling to the community and though this blog that is what I am doing.

From Nicole:

I'm going to try to refrain from just straight out abusing you for your ignorance and tunnel-vision here, but there's a lot i'd like to say to you.

How many of you that have kicked up a fuss about the "gambling" games on Neopets actually explored the site? Have you played Maths Nightmare? Or Castle of Eliv Thade? For some reason, I seriously doubt it. These are a good example of some of the
EDUCATIONAL games on Neopets. In Eliv Thade you must decipher a jumble of letters to find a word in order to advance through the game, and Maths Nighmare is pretty self explanatory. The use of both games is encouraged by the Neopets Team (TNT)by assigning them avatars- if you get high enough scores you can get a small, sought after picture next to your name in the boards. Avatar collecting is very common on Neopets- even with children.

I'm going to ask you to re-consider what you've done, because banning all Australians is extremely unfair. I'm twenty one, hardly impressionable with gambling. I know it is wrong, and the only reason i engage in it on Neopets is because it isn't real money. I'm not losing anything.

I agree that there may be any games on Neopets that are educational and I have no problem with them and they aren't blocked. I have nothing against Neopets but I do have something against gambling games being available on the site which isn't neccessary.

Neopoints while not being real money do have a value for the millions of neopets players. For them winning or losing neopets is real and thus the consequences and reaction to losses or wins maybe just like that of real gambling. How would you feel if all your neopoints were lost, I would expect that you would be pretty distraught.
However at 21 you do have the right to make choices, and if Neopets is catering to older audiences and has an effective means of checking age etc then they could allow gambling games for adults, but they don't which is why I am reasoning that they have banned it for all Australians.

From jes peters:

As a social scientist that has studied neopets, I find your suggestion that the luck/chance games are without consequences to be laughable. Like many things on the internet, neopoints gain credibility in the user's mind, and a large loss of them affects the user the same way a large loss of "real money" would.

Further, I would suggest that the major point all of the nay-sayers seem to miss is that the luck/chance games are substantially less popular with neopets players. The reason? Players work hard for their neopoints, and playing luck/chance games risks throwing thing them all away. One would think that the anti-gambling lobby would be
pleased with this lesson.

Are we just to shelter the young from all exposure to gaming? And if so, what then? Eventually children will become adults and no longer will they have the rallying cry of "Protect the Children" behind them. Does complete ignorance protect them better that muted exposure? While I am not an expert on gambling behaviour, I can say
that with other forms of addiction, complete ignorance and forced abstention is often
indicated. The user, upon being released from this abstention has learned no sense of what is moderate, and thus binges.

I appreciate the concerns of the anti-gambling lobby, but to compare Neopets to Child Pornography is completely absurd and offensive, not to mention semi-libelous. Clearly you have what we call in the sciences, horseblinders. You appear to have only seen the games of chance, and ignored all else. They must be understood in the context of the entire site, because social influences come from the total experience, not in small subliminal bits.

Yes, children are shaped by neopets. They learn many things, perhaps they learn how to play poker as well. But they learn how to save, they learn how an inflationary free market system works. I know people that home-school and use parts of neopets as educational tools. So yes, sir, the children are affected by neopets. I do not
believe, however, based on the scientific literature, and my own experience, that they shall all grow up to be gambling addicts as you so direly predict.

And on a personal note: I learned how to play poker at the age of 12 while in shop class at my public school. Shall we also ban woodworking?

jes you make some interesting points. Like I mentioned in the post above as neopoints get real value for a user this moves beyond a game to 'real' gambling. The effects both positive and negative become real too. But where is the information that would give a player something to learn about gambling - what are the odds, chances of winning, is it fair or rigged, does it allow for cheating, where are the controls against bingeing and losing the lot. To put it simply they aren't there - you gamble and you win and you lose and if you are negatively effected you suffer in silence. Regular gamblers are more highly likely to develop problems - the same would be true for regular neopets gamblers although their problems may or may not present in the real world depending on how connected they are to their points.

Exposure to gambling for children shouldn't mean teach them black jack and let them go mad. It should be carefully teaching them for example how a slot machine works, what their chances and odds of winning are (how hard it actually is to win and that over the long term you will lose) and teaching them the consequences of gambling especially as if it becomes a problem for a person. Does Neopets do this? No, and it probably can't as this probably needs to be taught interactively rather than learnt experientially as gambling experience normally will feed encouragement to gamble more.

Any childrens chat room can be a target of child pornographers. Recently in Australia Operation Auxin which has captured hundreds of child pornographers Australia-wide as well as shown that contact has been made through chat rooms. It is also not unforeseen that unsavoury characters may ask children to do things or meet in return for Neopoints. I did not accuse Neopets of producing child porn or distributing it, however I did say that in the light of what is currently happening we need to be careful, Neopets included.

No one said that every child will become a gambling addict. But do children need uncontrolled exposure to gambling, especially in its adult forms? No. If they did there would be no legal age for gambling anywhere but you would know that in Australia it is 18 and in some other countries 19 or even 21. Why, becuase gambling is for adults not children as their is a lot at risk. And for many gambler's they are risking more than just money but employment, relationships, families, friends, house and other assets etc. Also like I mentioned above there is probably a lot of good in Neopets but gambling is not one of them.

As for learning poker in woodwork - they should ban the playing of poker in class - maybe then you would have actually done the woodwork.

Also a further response from Sharon Ling:

Then mabye you should look at yahoo and other sites as well that only have slot like game instead of targeting one site. I dont agree with kids gambling but i dont think this site really encourages it or promotes it even though the games are there. If you dont want your kids playing it dont let them.

The key issue is that Neopets and the Mcdonalds promotion are targeted directly at kids. If yahoo and other sites are targeted directly at children please send me the link and I will have a look at it. Also I have not targetted Neopets because I have something against Neopets. If you go back in my blog (14th and 15th September) you will find an issue with a Bratz dolls slot machine (which has since been removed). This is a similar issue but with more impact due to the Mcdoanlds promotion.

So where are we now? Neopets gambling games are banned for Australians only - basically to protect McDonalds. Others around the world can still access the games. Also many Australian children are simply changing their user preferences in order to play the games.

Neopets needs to get serious about this issue and put in place an effective identity checking mechanism. The US COPPA regulations provide some guidance

• getting a signed form from the parent via postal mail or facsimile;
• accepting and verifying a credit card number in connection with a transaction;
• taking calls from parents, through a toll-free telephone number staffed by trained personnel;
• email accompanied by digital signature;

However as an interim measure I support Neopets and Mcdonalds in the action they have taken but more needs to be done to ensure that children can not so easily bypass the restriction.

GG

Neopets Gambling Games Unavailable and More Reaction

Neopets have disabled all their gambling games for Australians. This is what you get if you try and access a game

Despite the fear from some Neopet users that their beloved gambling games will be removed for good there are a few words of wisdom coming through:

From the Neopets.Com message boards

From sugar_monkey9279

That's crap. You ARE being taught to gamble by playing a lot of the luck and chance games. I'm usually for petitions, but that's just stupid. People that are as young as 7 and 8 shouldn't be taught that gambling is OK on a site geared towards children. Scratchcards, slots, poker, blackjack... all gambling. You just don't think so because you're used to it by now, and you just don't want to face it

This person was threatened by other users as being reported but stood up for her opinion.

And I didn't insult neopets, I just said that kids that are 7 and 8 shouldn't be taught to gamble. I have a 7 year old sister, and I sure as hell don't want her going off and playing poker and slots because then she'll think it's ok when she's older. So take your closed-mindedness and bug off.

Users have also started a petition (filled with false and duplicate names) asking for the games to be replaced.

I have also received more individual critical comments but I'll leave those aside for the moment.

It looks like Today Tonight will be running another story on Neopets tonight or some time this week. It will be interesting what angle they take.

Neopets may be fun and there are lots of other games etc to be played but gambling, especially for children doesn't have to be part of it.

GG

Gambler sues to protect winnings and wins

An interesting outcome, especially for any readers involved in the gaming industry. A Canberra gambler has won a case where another gambler wiped out his credits (probably by using the gamble feature.)Full article here

The outcome, which was the awarding of $2040 plus interest and costs, found that the venue had a duty of care to protect its patrons winnings.

The outcome was upheld by the ACT Supreme Court which refused the venue leave to appeal.

Venues should take note as they often claim that by putting up signs etc. they have no responsibility for players credits. This case found that venues do have a responsibility.

Venues do have a duty of care for patrons. This is one example but there are many others.

GG

I tried to warn you Neopets - National Prime Time Television Exposure Begins To Force Action

Following yesterday's Herald-Sun article, last night Australian national current affairs program "Today Tonight" on one of Australia's commercial networks, the Seven Network did a story titled "Parents no McHappy over pokie toy." (Here is a link to a page on the story on the Today Tonight website and here a pdf of the article stored on our server.)

I warned Neopets last week to remove the gambling functionality from their site or it was not unforseen that media attention would occur. Well that has now happened, and the consequences are that according to the Today Tonight article McDonalds is considering forcing Neopets to remove the gambling content.

Since this Today Tonight article I have received comments from Neopets users criticising my stance:

From Sharon Ling

This is totally ridiculous!!!! Thanks for ruining a game i love to play. This game does not encourage gambling..it is a small part of a great game for children that has lots of great games and its free. This site is one of the safe sites that is on the net for children. If you dont want your children to play ,dont let them, dont ruin it for the rest of us.

I thought this was a free country but clearly i was wrong..
Enraged neoholic!!

From Kaylee (Three Comments)

That is so wrong!! Neopets contains hardly any source of gambling. If you dont like it then stay away from it you idiot!! All the information that the silly mother and son gave on Today Tonight was all completely wrong, neopets is a fun safe website!!

OMG they do not have party chat boards which talk about frenchin and kissing!! You are full of **** I think you need to get your facts straight before posting rediculous articles such as this!!

this is so not true!!! there are heaps of games other than those games you listed to play. How can you say that it leads to serious gambling problems in real life!! you are so stupid i hate all of you!!! Neopets does not promote advertise(whatever) gambling in any way so just lay off and go home you loser!!

From Amy

This is an outrage!! Neopets is a harmless safe site which does not promote gambling. Stop telling lies before you ruin it for everyone

Before I respond to these comments, I want to say that I am not scared of criticism or debate on this issue. In fact I actually encourage it. I would like the community to debate gambling as an issue more and if I can get people expressing their opinions whether good or bad on gambling and thinking about the issues and consequences then I am succeeding. Also I am not anti-gambling, however I am responsible gambling - believe that people should be educated to make informed choices about their gambling. They should have access to real, genuine understandable information on gambling and understand the consequences. Most people who gamble occasionally as a form of entertainment are fine and experience little to no harm however their are many in our community where gambling becomes a significant problem. Also gambling from an early age is shown to be a precursor to problem gambling later in life, in addition to 18-24 year olds being over-represented as problem gamblers. So I encourage comments on anything I write and feel that people should be comfortable in expressing their opinions.

To Sharon - Children do not need to gamble to have fun. I don't have any problem with most of the Neopets site however their is no need for gambling to be present. It is true their are lots of other games, so why do they need gambling. Also everyone needs to realise that although Neopets started as a game when it was turned into a business concept its primary objective was to promote advertising.

The following is from the Neopets Press Kit

Immersive Advertising
In early 2000, when Neopets.com was in its very early stages, the Company envisioned a new form of advertising to support the growth and development of the website; advertising that would be different from the pervasive, and oftentimes offensive, pop-up and banner ads that were the norm throughout the Internet advertising industry. This new integrated advertising method incorporates the advertiser's brand, service and/or message directly into entertaining site content, thereby creating brand affinity with site members, rather than brand rejection that can result from offensive pop-ups and banners. The Company's integrated advertising, trademarked Immersive Advertising®, is an evolutionary step forward in the traditional marketing practice of product placement used in television and motion pictures. The Company's Immersive Advertising permits Neopets to integrate advertisers' products, services, and brands into highly-customized activities within the Neopets.com website.


Research has shown that, in part due to the diversity and richness of Neopets' interactive and entertaining content, repeat exposure to these branded Immersive Advertising activities creates a positive and long-lasting brand impression with site members. Neopets' creative professionals customize each Immersive Advertising campaign to showcase the product's unique attributes, to reach effectively the desired target audience.

So while you don't pay anything in dollars, Neopets and its advertisers are getting exactly what they want from you.

To Kaylee - Anyone can see that Neopets has gambling games and that they are accessible by children. This is not lies and as an example the Herlad-Sun did an investigation going in as an under eight year old and could access it. Stephanie Yost-Cameron of Neopets also admittted they offered gambling games on their site.

The quote about the chat rooms was taken from a rewiew on another site and the source was cited (link provided). If you have issue with the quote I suggest you respond on that site.

Research has shown that normalising gambling behaviour at a young age especially without understanding the potential consequences that can occur in real life can lead to problems later in life. In the Today Tonight story, child psychologist Michael Carr-Greg also detailed this.

As for being a loser, like anyone that has gambled over time you will lose, including me. So I guess like 99.9% of gamblers I am a loser, but unfortunately others who have had issues with gambling have lost more than money - homes, relationships, families, friends - people really do need to think of what they are really gambling with.

To Amy - Again it is not lies. By making gambling games available to children in a form that they are attracted to they are promoting gambling and normalising gambling behaviour.

Like I mentioned above, I encourage comments and feedback. Discussion and debate on this issue can only help. Part of my role is to encourage the community to become informed, think about the issues, and advocate and promote changes that will reduce the potential for harm from gambling to the community.

Action on issues like Neopets and previously the Bratzpack site, are elements of harm prevention in that they prevent the development of behaviours that may not show consequences now, but may later in life.

Also I would like to thank people around the world such as Raj in South Africa and Linda and Carmel here in Victoria for their positive feedback, it is very encouraging.

I will continue to try and bring attention to issues around the world that may contribute to harm from gambling, with a greater focus on issues here in Victoria. However these opinions are mine alone and whilst I believe that they are aligned with with views of Gambler's Help Southern this cannot be taken for granted.

Gambling is a big issue - and their is more that needs to be done.

GG

Victorian Action on Neopets - Major Daily Newspaper takes up the fight

Some action on the Neopet front. Victoria's main gambling activism groups, Interchurch Gambling Taskforce and Communities Acting on Pokies Problems are managed to get the attention of Melbourne's major daily newspaper the Herald-Sun.

Today the Herald-Sun published an article titled Not McHappy with blackjack for kids. (available here on the Herald-Sun Website or a pdf of the article here stored on the ghsouthern server )

It is great that there is some attention to this issue but I am not surprised by the responses of Mcdonalds and Neopets (Who have not responded to my email)

But McDonald's, which is giving away a Neopet toy with children's meals, said it did not endorse any forms of gambling and denied it was encouraging its customers to become involved in betting activities.
A spokeswoman said McDonald's investigated the website and felt it did not support gambling.
"There's a number of games you can play on that website. It's an interactive website, it's not a reality game," she said.
The spokeswoman said McDonald's was not responsible for the content of the Neopets website.
"Our partnership with Neopets is about collecting the plush toys.
"With regards to the website and what's on that, that was developed independently from McDonald's Australia."
Neopets executive vice-president Stephanie Jost-Cameron said the "luck/chance" games comprised a tiny portion of the site and were not aimed at younger children.
Ms Jost-Cameron said the online experience could teach children the consequences of gambling without actually losing real money.

Are you kidding? By gambling without any other information you only learn to gamble you don't learn about why you should gamble responsibly or anything about the risks and consequences. And Mcdonalds' argument is like the a person distributing child porn saying well we didn't make the site we are just promoting it, so its not our responsibility.

Well not so fast Mcdonalds and Neopets, this story is not over yet. Unfortunately the Mcdonalds Neopets promotion is a seed that will grow and with it groups like Interchurch Gambling Taskforce, Communities Acting on Pokies Problems and us here at Gambler's Help Southern will need to take action to inform parents in the wider community of the potential harms of Neopets.

We have just begun Neopets! So change or be changed!

GG