The inclusion of health concerns in Swiss gambling legislation: an opportunity to access industry data

Carlevaro, Tazio; Lischer, Suzanne; Sani, Anna-Maria; Simon, Olivier; Tomei, Alexander

doi:10.1080/14459795.2017.1324894

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…There are 21 casinos and about 9000 lottery-vending points, which together raise around SFr1.5 billion yearly 1. This makes Switzerland one of the densest countries in the world, in terms of gambling opportunities 2. Nevertheless, problem gambling prevalence is comparable or even lower than in other European countries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of a web-based self-help tool to reduce problem gambling in Switzerland: study protocol of a two-armed randomised controlled trial

et al. 2019

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IntroductionThe past-year prevalence of problem gambling worldwide averages 2.3%. Switzerland exhibits a slightly lower past-year prevalence rate, of 1.1%, among adults. Only a minority of these adults attend outpatient treatment. Surveyed problem gamblers have explained that they wanted to handle the problem on their own. The option of a web-based self-help programme could potentially reach those users who hesitate to approach treatment centres and help them to reduce or stop their problem gambling. The effectiveness of such web-based interventions has been shown in other countries.Methods and analysisThis two-armed randomised controlled trial (RCT) will examine the efficacy of a web-based self-help intervention, relative to an active control condition with a self-help manual, at reducing problem gambling. The active intervention programme, spanning 8 weeks, consists of nine modules developed to reduce gambling and attenuate psychopathological comorbidity, including depression, anxiety and stress-related disorder symptoms, relying on motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy. With a target sample size of 352, questionnaire data will be collected at baseline, and at 8 and 24 weeks after baseline. Primary outcomes will be the number of days one has gambled in the last 30 days. Secondary outcomes will include money and time spent on gambling activities, changes in gambling-related problems (Problem Gambling Severity Index, Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale), use of alcohol and cigarettes, and psychopathological comorbidity. All data analysis will comply with the intention-to-treat principle.Ethics and disseminationThe RCT will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki; the consort eHealth Guidelines for studies on medical devices; the European Directive on medical devices 93/42/EEC, Swiss Law and Swiss Regulatory Authority requirements. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Canton of Zurich. Results will be published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal. Participants will be informed via e-mail about study results via a lay-person-friendly summary of trial findings.Trial registration numberCurrent Controlled Trials registry (ISRCTN16339434).

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of a web-based self-help tool to reduce problem gambling in Switzerland: study protocol of a two-armed randomised controlled trial

et al. 2019

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“…Under the Federal Gambling Act, casino personnel must be trained in early detection, and providers must collect data about gambling disorder. The law also stipulates that casinos must meet their social obligations by collaborating with addictive disorder treatment and prevention centres (Carlevaro, Lischer, Sani, Simon, & Tomei, 2017). To this end, casinos in Switzerland are supervised by the independent Swiss Federal Gaming Board (SFGB), which is also responsible for enforcing the Casino Act and the associated executive ordinances on mitigating the socially harmful effects of gambling by imposing social safeguards.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Detection of At-Risk Gambling to Reduce Harm

Lischer¹

2019

Harm Reduction for Gambling

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Self-exclusion and imposed exclusion as strategies for reducing harm: Data from three Swiss Casinos

Lischer¹,

Schwarz²

2018

JGI

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Swiss gambling legislation is unique in that it includes health concerns and obligations for gambling operators. Specifically, the operators are required to provide social measures for the prevention of problem gambling. Moreover, gamblers with financial problems must either be banned from all casinos in Switzerland or exclude themselves. This study examines the reasons that lead to the application for a voluntary exclusion. It also considers to what extent excluded gamblers circumvent their respective prohibitions. Furthermore, it aims to identify the self-reported reasons why gamblers seek to lift the exclusion. The present study is the first of its kind to examine these questions, using data provided from three Swiss Casinos. A first step in the study involved analyzing the data obtained by trained Shift Managers during interviews with 8,170 gamblers, with the interviews taking place between 2006 and 2015. An invalidated casino questionnaire, based on DSM-IV criteria, was also completed by 3,650 participants from this sample. A second step involved evaluating forms. These forms were the documents completed during interviews with 1,005 gamblers who had successfully applied to have their interdiction terminated, with the person responsible for implementing social measures completing the forms. The findings indicated that most players had found other ways to gamble, during the exclusion period. The main reason gamblers gave for wishing to remove their ban was wanting to be able to visit a casino again. The possible reasons for this discovery are discussed, alongside the benefits and drawbacks of using industry-generated data.Résumé La législation suisse sur les jeux est unique en ce sens qu’elle inclut les problèmes de santé et des obligations pour les opérateurs de jeux. Plus précisément, ces derniers sont tenus de prévoir des mesures sociales pour prévenir la dépendance au jeu. De plus, les joueurs qui ont des problèmes financiers doivent soit être exclus de tous les casinos suisses, soit s’en exclure de manière volontaire. Cette étude examine les raisons qui sous-tendent la demande d’exclusion volontaire. Elle examine également dans quelle mesure les joueurs exclus contournent leur exclusion et elle vise à déterminer les raisons invoquées par les joueurs pour demander la levée de l’exclusion. La présente étude est la première du genre à examiner ces questions, en utilisant les données fournies par trois casinos suisses. Une première étape de l’étude a consisté à analyser les données obtenues auprès de 8 170 joueurs par des chefs de quart qualifiés, entre 2006 et 2015. De cet échantillon, 3 650 participants ont également répondu à un questionnaire non validé sur les casinos, basé sur les critères du DSM-IV. Une deuxième étape a consisté à évaluer les formulaires que la personne responsable de l’application des mesures sociales avait remplis lors d’entretiens auprès de 1 005 joueurs qui avaient réussi à faire lever leur exclusion. Les résultats indiquent que la plupart des joueurs ont trouvé d’autres moyens de jouer pendant la période d’exclusion. La principale raison invoquée par les joueurs pour la levée de leur exclusion est qu’ils souhaitaient pouvoir se rendre à nouveau dans un casino. Nous discutons des raisons possibles de cette situation, ainsi que des avantages et des inconvénients de l’utilisation de données générées par le secteur.

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The inclusion of health concerns in Swiss gambling legislation: an opportunity to access industry data

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

Efficacy of a web-based self-help tool to reduce problem gambling in Switzerland: study protocol of a two-armed randomised controlled trial

Efficacy of a web-based self-help tool to reduce problem gambling in Switzerland: study protocol of a two-armed randomised controlled trial

Early Detection of At-Risk Gambling to Reduce Harm

Self-exclusion and imposed exclusion as strategies for reducing harm: Data from three Swiss Casinos

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