Hippodrome Casino Director Flags Ending Problem Gambling Stigma

The importance of safer gambling and player protection is setting the tone for the next stage of the UK gambling evolution, and the mindset has to change, according to a casino expert.

Sam Douglas, Director of Safer Gambling at Hippodrome Casino, is under no illusion that safer gambling is “simply the right thing to do”. With a new set of responsible gambling initiatives constantly churned out, including reality checks, he thinks now is the time to step things up a notch.

Ending the stigma around problem gambling

Although the UK problem gambling rate dipped to 2.4% in the latest Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GBSB), there is no getting away from the fact that gambling still has a stigma attached to it. This was recognised by Douglas, who insists more conversations are needed to remove the shame often felt by bettors.

In an interview with iGaming Expert, Douglas said:

“It is something we discuss frequently, and for me it keeps returning to communication. If tools such as reality checks or limits are only raised once someone has already encountered a problem, it is unsurprising that they feel stigmatised.

“The more normal and low-key that conversation is, the less stigma becomes attached to it. Language matters a great deal here too. We try to steer away from terms such as problem gambling and other negative language, focusing instead on player protection.

“Framed in that way, the tools become something that enhances the player experience rather than a guardrail placed around them. This is an area I want to continue developing, but communication is where it starts.”

Cautiousness around FRAs

The phased rollout of financial risk assessments (FRAs) confirmed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC last month has been a highly contentious matter. While this was designed to identify high-risk bettors, especially those making a net deposit of more than £5,000 during a rolling 24-hour period, the betting industry has been up in arms about it.

Some critics have questioned the idea of the process being frictionless, while others have accused the government of “abdicating responsibility” over the policy. Casinos have been using credit reference data to monitor players, and Douglas is adamant cautious is a more apt word to describe his feelings on the topic.

He added:

“I would describe it as cautious rather than nervous. There is a genuine conversation at present about getting the level of friction right and reassuring higher-spending customers that these checks do not compromise their privacy or standing with us. That is a fair concern, and one I do not think should be dismissed.

“What reassures me is that we already have a framework in place for this. Our high value customer process requires both a thorough affordability check and a safer separate gambling evaluation before anyone is granted that status.

“My underlying view is that regulation in this space needs to be common sense and genuinely risk-based. Getting that balance right, matching the level of scrutiny to the level of risk, matters as much as the checks themselves.”

Promoting good methods

Inculcating good methods at Hippodrome venues is essential. Douglas revealed staff have been fully trained to spot players susceptible to problem gambling through watching videos as well as listening to those with first-hand experience of gambling harm.

While it takes time to enforce serious change, player protection should never be taken for granted. The Hippodrome doesn’t want to leave anything to chance to get a handle on the matter.