Responsible Gambling Awareness Week - October 20-26, 2008
Responsible Gambling Information Centres (RGICs)
Finding Help
Who can I call to get help?
If you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, please call the Alberta Health Service’s Addiction Help Line at:1-866-332-2322.
Over the past three years, staffed Responsible Gambling Information Centres (RGICs) have been installed on the gaming floors of 15 Alberta casinos and one Racing Entertainment Centre (Edmonton’s Northlands). See RGIC locations.
Each RGIC is staffed (hours are posted at the RGIC kiosk) with a representative. The RGIC representatives:
- Are informed about responsible gambling
- Provide referral information regarding problem gambling
- Use a number of interesting tools to aid discussions, including
- the Player Awareness Terminal (PAT)
- the Cost of Play Calculator; and
- demonstrations and a video to illustrate the odds and randomness of gambling
- Provide information about the AGLC’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion (VSE) Program and assist with enrollment
- Educate casino staff about the signs of problem gambling
- Provide a Screening Card (Is Your Gambling a Problem?) and a variety of brochures:
RGIC representatives can also be contacted by phone or email. Contact information is posted at the RGICs. For more information about the RGIC’s and the services they provide, visit a centre or contact the AGLC.
Player Awareness Terminals (PATs)
First introduced during Responsible Gambling Awareness Week 2007 as part of the AGLC’s responsible gambling program, the Player Awareness Terminals (PATs) have subsequently been installed in all RGICs.
The PATs have proven to be a popular and helpful responsible gambling awareness tool, with their interactive screens offering a self-test, myths and tips on how to develop safe and responsible personal gambling guidelines and behaviours.