By Nahuel Diaz, journalist and collaborator at G&M News.
What’s your analysis on your participation and the topics discussed at the Second Symposium on Responsible Gaming held in Chile?
I believe that the Second Symposium was an important and necessary step in developing policies and resources to address gambling problems in Chile. Topics discussed during the symposium highlighted the need for more research funding to determine the nature and extent of the problem in Chile, to provide treatment to those experiencing problem gambling and gambling disorders, and the need for industry support in these efforts. My participation involved presenting information about the State of California’s approach to addressing problem gambling and gambling disorders: the California Gambling Education and Treatment Services (CalGETS) Program. Funded by the California Department of Public Health’s Office of Problem Gambling, CalGETS provides services to those experiencing gambling-related problems and those affected by another person’s gambling problem.
Among other issues, you have explored the cultural factors related to problem gambling. If we focus on Latin America, what would those factors be, and how could we work to reduce the cultural influence that motivates uncontrolled gambling?
What I have researched has been the nature of problem gambling and gambling disorders in people who reside in the United States and are immigrants from or have ethnic origins in Latin America. This work has indicated that gambling is common for these people, is often social, and occurs both inside and outside of casinos. The impacts and consequences of problem gambling and gambling disorder are similar regardless of cultural heritage or country of origin: relationship problems, destabilization of the family system, mental health, physical health, financial problems, and legal problems. What may be influenced by culture is seeking help for gambling conflicts. Seeking services for gambling problems may be uncommon because people may not view gambling problems as a mental health problem or may not feel comfortable seeking services for mental health problems in general due to shame and stigma around such problems.
Both gaming regulators and operators in Latin America talk a lot about responsible gaming. However, there are still some risks for vulnerable sectors in these societies. What are your suggestions, in regulatory terms and in the internal directives of a company, to advance a public-private responsible gaming program that examines the different aspects of this issue?
What I can talk about most is how to reach out those who need more than messages or advice on responsible gambling. This would be the segment of the population that suffers from gaming disorder. This is a small segment of California’s population; maybe 3% to 4%. Each person with a gambling problem affects between 7 and 10 people around them and these impacts go beyond financial difficulties. Developing regulations that support formal treatment for those suffering from gambling disorders, as well as those affected by another person’s problem, is a vital step in addressing gambling-related harms. This treatment must come from trained and licensed mental health providers. In California, this has been attempted with the support of the gaming industry through agreements between private companies, state-sponsored games of chance such as the lottery, and tribal compacts with the state of California. These agreements provide for funding for a state agency tasked with addressing problem gambling. These funds are used for problem gambling research, treatment and education throughout the state. Key to these efforts has been the inclusion of stakeholders from government, industry, and the mental health field. With regard to responsible gambling, one possibility may be the link between these activities and the treatment system for gambling problems. Those working on responsible gambling in casinos are likely to come into contact with people who could benefit from formal treatment for gambling problems.
What does the mutual training agreement signed between UCLA and the Chilean Dreams company consist of? Do you think this type of deal can be extended to other companies, not only in Chile, but also in the rest of LatAm?
The mutual training agreement signed between the UCLA Game Studies Program and the Chilean company Dreams has two components. One is the training of mental health providers in Chile on problem gambling and gambling-related disorders, and the other is the training of community health workers in California on responsible gambling. Training for mental health providers will focus on the prevalence, correlates, and treatment of problem gambling. Training for community health workers will center on motivational interviewing to increase action on treatment referrals and responsible gaming behaviors for those who choose to play. This deal is currently only active with Dreams. However, it is possible to develop agreements throughout Latin America.
How to develop an educational initiative for children and adolescents that shows gambling as an entertainment so that, in the future, they become conscious and responsible adult gamblers who enjoy the activity in a healthy way?
Studies reveal that teenagers are at higher risk for problem gambling. Adolescence is a time of increased risk behavior activity. Programs that can encourage resilience, coping, healthy behavior, and problem solving may be helpful in reducing problem gambling among adolescents. Instead of educational initiatives for children and adolescents, I would propose education for parents about the risk factors for problem gambling and how to spot the warning signs of problem gambling. Early exposure to gambling activities, substance use, poor parental supervision, mood problems, attention deficit disorder, and history of trauma are risk factors for developing gambling problems. In contrast, a strong, healthy relationship with a caring adult, good problem-solving skills, and a sense of self-efficacy can protect against these issues. Changes in mood, anxiety, and behavior may indicate the onset of these difficulties. Things like a drop in academic performance, changes in social media, and preoccupation with gambling-related activities can indicate the possible emergence of a gambling problem. Another reason for delaying the appearance of gaming behavior is the late maturation of the frontal lobes of the brain that are involved in the regulation of emotions and behavior. This does not occur until around the age of twenty-five. Frontal functioning is important in the evaluation of behavioral outcomes and in the assessment of the risk/reward associated with the behavior. We must be attentive to all these manifestations and act accordingly.