After Manitoba Lotteries’ Board approved a CSR Policy in 2006, Manitoba Lotteries senior management embarked on developing a comprehensive strategy to guide its corporate social responsibility commitment. Stakeholder engagement was identified as a key component that would help inform our corporate efforts towards ‘authenticity’.

Stakeholder groups were identified, and research was conducted in early 2009 with four priority groups.

The research results have yielded rich information about how Manitoba Lotteries is doing in its efforts to be an ‘authentic’ organization. The research results are being used by our CSR committee to further develop our CSR approach.

Presented by:
Susan Olynik - Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs of Manitoba Lotteries

In 2008 CEOs and senior responsible gambling staff from most of the Canadian gaming jurisdictions gathered for two days to discuss the status of their collective responsible gambling efforts. Their vision: to position the Canadian industry as leaders in this area. The challenge: while most jurisdictions were justifiably proud of their individual efforts, there was little effective collaboration between jurisdictions.

After little more than a year, there is commitment to a national responsible gambling agenda and a roadmap of collaborative efforts in four key areas: research, player communications, training and programming.

This session will provide an overview of the national Responsible Gambling framework, along with a review of many of the 21 projects that have been identified as work priorities for this important ILC sub-committee.

Presented By:
Paul W. Smith – Director Corporate Social Responsibility of British Columbia Lottery Corporation
Bev Mehmel – Vice Chair, Director, RG Programs + Research, Manitoba Lotteries

The Challenges:
1. How do we, gaming operators, deliver information to “at risk” players without making them feel we think they may be problem gamblers?
2. How do we present responsible gambling messages/materials in a way that the general public recognizes our efforts?

BCLC’s response:
BCLC has taken a “branding” approach to its responsible gambling program, and through that process has abolished use the term “responsible gambling”. In April 2009 BCLC launched “GameSense” at BC casinos and community gaming centres. The launch included a complete redesign of the Responsible Play Information Centres, posters, brochures, the RG interactive kiosk and the corporation’s web site
( www.GameSense.ca ).

Through presentation of before/after research, video and product samples, this session will take attendees through the GameSense story, the strategies behind the brand, and into a British Columbia casino to learn first hand about this unique approach to player education.

Presented by:
Paul W. Smith – Director Corporate Social Responsibility of British Columbia Lottery Corporation

Gaming providers have been investing significant time and resources in the past decade in their ‘responsible gambling programs’. But, till now, there have been no benchmarks for assessing the quality of these investments. The Responsible Gambling Council, an independent non-profit dedicated to problem gambling prevention, has created a set of voluntary standards for the RG components of gaming operations. In 2010, the Council is offering industry leaders the opportunity for accreditation through its new “RG Check” program. This presentation will provide information about the standards and the accreditation process.

Presented by:
Jon Kelly – CEO of Responsible Gambling Council