GACO Responsible Gambling Workshops (4th-5th of April)

The workshops will focus on the importance of strengthening Crisis prevention training and Safer Gambling, knowledge.

In the last year, multiple operators have received hefty fines, license suspension and additional license conditions due to failures in Social Responsibility (SR) and AML.

Key issues raised by the regulators included the shortcomings in customer interactions and lack of information regarding affordability and vulnerability.

Bookings - Click Here

Regulators expect operators to have meaningful customer interactions when markers of gambling-related harm (GRH) are highlighted.

Currently, most of the training is delivered by trainers, or people who have suffered from gambling-related harm. Although this is generally positive in terms of increasing empathy, this training often lacks in-depth evidence-based techniques to change behaviour and the latest research on Gambling Disorder. This type of training also tends to have strong biases and their training is difficult to apply in real life in an operational setting.

The good news is that a specialised training programme can help bridge this gap. It can provide a safe environment to develop the necessary skills to successfully interact with vulnerable customers.

About the Igaming Coach delivering these workshops

Pedro Romero MSc, PGDip, MBPsS, MBACP, Cert TIHR, PhD Candidate, is a counsellor, psychologist, and executive coach.

Pedro has worked in senior roles at leading iGaming companies including 888, William Hill,  GiG, JPJ Group (Gamesys Group) and Marathonbet. Aside from his industry roles, he has been the Head of Gambling Therapy, a charity that provides online support for problem gamblers worldwide.

Pedro realised that most of the safer gambling training available is delivered by people or organisations with a partial understanding of gambling and harm minimisation and the learnings are difficult to apply to real-life situations in an operations environment.

Pedro provides best-in-class training that can be applied in real life making a genuine difference for staff and customers.

His expertise makes him one of the few people - if not the only person - to have clinical, third-sector, academic research, and senior experience in the industry. He has upskilled hundreds of gambling executives since 2014.

Sessions, Dates, Time and Location (Delivery of 2 half-day training modules)

• Module one: Suicide Prevention and awareness training, SafeTALK. 4 hours (9.30 to 14.00) – 4th April 2023
• Module two: Safer Gambling and advanced customer interaction (MI). 4 hours (9.30 to 14.00) – 5th April 2023
• Location: Finance Centre (Suite 761, Europort) 

Price

• GACO Members: £80 per attendee/per module
• on-GACO Members: £100 per attendee/per module

 There are 2 modules one on the 4th and one on the 5th. 

Training Includes:

• Training presentation
• Case studies and role play.
• Interactive discussions and post-presentation Q&A sessions.
• Diverse selection of resources and audio-visuals.

Annex I: Syllabus for Suicide Prevention and awareness training, SafeTALK.

1. Introduction to suicide awareness and prevention in gambling.
2. Notice and respond to situations where suicidal thoughts may be present.
3. Recognise that invitations for help are often overlooked.
4. Move beyond the common tendency to miss, dismiss, and avoid suicide.
5. Apply the TALK steps: Tell, Ask, Listen, KeepSafe.
6. Know community resources and how to connect someone with thoughts of suicide
to them for further suicide-safer help.
7. Roleplay.
8. Q&A and feedback forms.

Annex II: Syllabus for SG Training & Advanced Customer Interaction training (MI) 4 hours

1. Intro
2. History of Gambling and disordered gambling.
3. Prevalence of Gambling Disorder.
4. Terminology and definitions.
5. DSM 5 and ICD 11
6. Gambling continuum.
7. Theories of addictions.
8. SG Flags.
9. Gambling Related Harm (GHR).
10. Risk Factors.
11. Vulnerability and risk groups.
12. Younger Adults
13. Comorbidity.
14. Self-harm and Suicide – Data.
15. Case Studies.
16. The future.
17. MI intro.
18. Four processes.
19. Engaging Skills.
20. Problems with Persuasion and traditional approaches.
21. Advice resistance.
22. How to present SG tools? Elicit-Provide-Elicit.
23. Change Talk vs Sustain Talk.
24. Personal qualities and interaction outcomes.
25. Hit bottom myth and Righting Reflex.
26. Compassion Fatigue and supervision
27. MET and SBIRT models.
28. Organisations that can help.
29. Q&A and Assessment

Bookings - Click Here