New Volume Of Increasing The Odds Explores Self-exclusion Research
The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) recently released the fifth volume ofIncreasing the Odds: A Series Dedicated to Understanding Gambling Disorders,which is titled“Evaluating Self-Exclusion as an Intervention for Disordered Gambling.”The NCRG’s monograph series provides easy-to-understand summaries of seminal peer-reviewed research on gambling disorders, as well as implications for future research and prevention efforts.
Self-exclusion programs are a form of help-seeking behavior that provides gamblers an opportunity to voluntarily limit their access to gambling venues. The gamblers pledge to stay out of participating casinos for an agreed time period, often for the rest of their lives. The findings presented in this volume ofIncreasing the Oddscan be used by regulators, policymakers and gaming industry representatives to shape the development and implementation of new and existing programs, leading to more effective results that may help individuals who want to stop or reduce their gambling activities.
The publication includes research summaries from Helen Suurvali, B.A., on what motivates gamblers to seek help and change their behavior; Richard A. LaBrie, Ed.D., on how self-exclusion programs can inform public health strategies; Sarah E. Nelson, Ph.D., on the role of the Missouri Voluntary Exclusion Program in changing participants’ gambling behavior; and Robert Ladouceur, Ph.D., on early benefits to gamblers through self-exclusion and testing improvements in a self-exclusion program.
The publication also features commentary from Kevin Mullally, general counsel and director of government affairs at Gaming Laboratories International and the author of the first state self-exclusion program implemented in the United States, as well as an appendix outlining self-exclusion programs in the United States and in select international jurisdictions.
A downloadable copy ofIncreasing the Oddsis available in theMonographsection of the NCRG website. The first four volumes of the series, which address topics such as youth and gambling, the various aspects of gambling addition recovery and gambling and public health, are also available on the website.
As always, we welcome thoughts and questions in the comments section below.
NCRG staffResearch Updateinterventions for problem gamblingKevin MullallyMissouri Voluntary Exclusion Programresponsible gamingRobert Ladouceurself-exclusion
