Is the term, "Responsible Gaming", a paradox?  This was one of the interesting questions raised during the 2016 Responsible Gambling Awareness Week Lunch Talk, hosted by Singapore Pools in partnership with the Responsible Gaming Forum.

 

Held on 2 Aug 2016 at Livewire (Marina Bay Sands), the event was well-attended by over 150 representatives from the gaming industry, including club operators, counselling practitioners, and related government agencies. The Responsible Gambling Awareness Week 2016 was launched a week earlier on 29 July by Mr Tan Chuan Jin, Minister for Social and Family Development (MSF).  Singapore Pools has been leading and supporting this industry-wide initiative since its inauguration by MSF in 2013.  

 

At the talk, invited speaker Dr Jon Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC), shared from his experience of running 55 Responsible Gambling Resource Centres in Canada, the importance of getting attention from the patrons in the first place, before player education and counselling advisories can take place.  Dr Jon Kelly has served on the RGC for more than a decade. The RGC is the world's most recognised problem gambling prevention organisation, and it has counselled over 1.5 million visitors in the past 10 years.

 

The next invited speaker was Dr Thomas Lee, Consultant Psychiatrist at Resilienz Clinic. Dr Lee shared tips to help operators' frontline staff spot behavioural signs of a distressed gambler, so as to intervene and offer assistance.

 

In his address to the audience, CEO of Singapore Pools, Mr Seah Chin Siong, said that "As a pioneer operator, Singapore Pools was founded with the mission of providing a safe and trusted channel to counter illegal gambling. Our commitment to responsible gaming is deeply ingrained in our DNA ever since Singapore Pools began 48 years ago." He also urged the operators who were present to work together to raise awareness of responsible gaming among patrons.

 

Other RGAW activities lined up for the rest of the month of August include customer outreach road shows at participating operators' venues. Singapore Pools' Responsible Gambling Ambassadors and RGAW YAH! Ambassadors will also be sharing responsible gaming tips and reminders with customers at selected Singapore Pools outlets.  

 

 For more details about Singapore Pools' RG Programme, click here.