The government of B.C. and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) are providing a total of approximately $11 million this year for responsible gambling programs and services.

Provincial Responsible Gambling Strategy

• Created in 2003, the Responsible Gambling Strategy promotes responsible gambling and effectively addresses problem gambling:

• http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming/responsible-gambling/index.htm

• As part of the strategy, the Responsible Gambling Program provides awareness and education activities, a 24-hour toll-free, multi-lingual helpline and free, no-waitlist prevention and clinical counselling.

• Last year, the helpline received more than 4,000 calls, and more than 2,300 people received counselling.

• The government of B.C. also provides GameSense advisors in every casino in B.C. to help players make informed choices.

• Through Budget 2013, the government of B.C. is providing approximately $6 million annually to support these vital services: http://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2013/default.htm

BCLC's GameSense Program

• GameSense is part of BCLC's responsible gambling program, focused on helping players make informed choices and giving them the educational tools they need to play responsibly.

• GameSense is online at: http://gamesense.bclc.com/ and integrated throughout: https://www.playnow.com/

• Information can be obtained at lottery retail outlets throughout the province. GameSense Info Centres are also located in every casino and community gaming centre.

• BCLC requires that all staff who work in B.C.'s gambling industry, whether directly with players or behind the scenes, must complete responsible gambling awareness training. 14,000 employees have completed this training.

• BCLC is investing $3.6 million this year in its responsible gambling program.

UBC Gambling Research Centre

• Through BCLC, the provincial government is investing $2 million over five years to create a new Centre for Gambling Research at the University of British Columbia.

• The centre will be academically independent and will conduct innovative research on the social and behavioral aspects of gambling.

• This research will help inform and improve responsible gambling programs and reduce the problematic impacts of gambling in B.C.

• The centre is expected to open in fall 2013.

Responsible Gambling Awareness Month

• In January 2013, BCLC and the Province held the first-ever Responsible Gambling Awareness Month, with activities in Prince George, Kamloops, West Shore, Langley and Vernon:

http://corporate.bclc.com/social-responsibility/social/responsible-gambling/awareness-month.html

• In total, BCLC reached out to more than 2000 people and trained 53 volunteers.

• BCLC also held the first-ever New Horizons in Responsible Gambling conference which attracted more than 250 industry professionals from around the world.

Read the Province's news release on increased funding and the new research centre:

http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/02/province-increases-commitment-to-responsible-gambling.html

Media Contact:

Sandra Steilo
Media Relations
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas
250 952-0617