The Gaming Commission recently published a report which included the results of a survey conducted on 272 players in Belgium who had self-excluded via the EPIS system. The survey revealed that a majority of respondents felt that EPIS had helped them in controlling their gambling habits.
Here are some key findings from the survey:
- 90.2% of respondents believed that the EPIS scheme had helped them better manage their finances.
- 87.1% said it had improved their overall well-being.
- 80.1% mentioned that it had reduced their desire to gamble.
However, it was observed that around 25% of the respondents admitted to continuing to gamble despite being prohibited from doing so. Among those who still gambled, 33.8% did so via illegal channels, 31.1% used the National Lottery’s retail products, 24.3% used its online products, and 25.7% used gaming machines at cafes.
Magali Clavie, the chairperson of the Gaming Commission, suggested that the EPIS system should be expanded to cover unlicensed gambling to address the issue of individuals still feeling the urge to gamble or gambling in places where EPIS does not apply. He also emphasized the need to raise awareness about the EPIS system and specialized assistance for problem gamblers.
Another aspect highlighted in the report was the prevalence of direct marketing from gambling companies. The report revealed that 65.8% of respondents had received direct marketing, with email marketing being mentioned by 70.2% of the group and social media ads by 62.4%. The Gaming Commission recommended strengthening advertising restrictions, especially targeting vulnerable groups like young people and problem players.
The survey participants were predominantly male (72%) and had an average age of 40. The most common reasons cited for signing up for self-exclusion were financial problems (27%), psychological issues (20%), and relationship problems (7%). The respondents found the self-exclusion process to be simple and straightforward.
The report also highlighted that the EPIS system is currently underutilized, considering the overall number of Belgians experiencing gambling-related harm. It recommended enhancing the visibility of the EPIS system on operator websites and incorporating more preventive messages.
In conclusion, the report emphasizes the need to increase awareness about the EPIS system and improve its accessibility to individuals in the early stages of developing a gambling addiction. The Gaming Commission has recommended measures to enhance the visibility of EPIS on operator websites and raise awareness through preventive messaging.
Additionally, Belgium recently introduced a €200 weekly loss limit, which applies on a per-site basis. Players can request to have their limit raised if they are not registered as defaulters with the Central Individual Credit Register of the National Bank.
