ARTICLES
Dvying Into Industry Topics
Gambling Regulation in Jamietopia (v1)
As I've spent the past few months listening to the open meetings preparing for the launch of sports betting, it's easy to be a fly on the wall and nitpick each decision being made. We don't have perfect information and there has yet to be a perfect regulated gambling...
3 Quick Things: Problem Gambling Identification, Friction, Rates
Three quick thoughts on topics that are on my mind this week in the gaming/gambling world.
Ditch the Fun. Ditch the Entertainment.
As I move forward with my personal projects and consulting aimed at reducing gambling harm, I'll be eliminating (or suggesting the elimination of) two core concepts that are frequently used in responsible gaming messaging: fun and entertainment. To this point, they...
Dyve In Episode 011: Brianne Doura-Schawohl on the “Betting on Our Future Act”
Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) introduced the Betting on our Future Act, new legislation that bans all online and electronic advertising of sports gambling. In this episode, Brianne Doura-Schawohl discusses the likelihood of success as well as future implications of...
Beyond Artificial Intelligence: A Necessary Chat About Interventions
If you've been following the problem gambling space for the past few years, it will come as no surprise that artificial intelligence (AI) offerings to spot problem gamblers seem to be everywhere. The technology has been around and discussed for years, but lacked...
The Black Market Myth That Holds Us Back
I often see the argument made that regulated sports betting products need to be equal to their illegal offshore opposition in order to "capture the black market". This line of thinking follows the belief that in order to get the market to switch from illegal providers...
It’s Time to Provide Options for Problem Gambling Help
The first step to creating a successful marketing campaign is to understand your target audience. If we can understand who they are, what they think, how they engage with the world, and most importantly, how they might engage with the product or service we’re trying...
Player Protection vs Data Collection
A few weeks back I was reading the Twitter thread of Alun Bowden, Senior Consultant at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, discussing Kambi’s presentation “Journey to the limitless sportsbook”. One thing that jumped out was his comment on their new 3rd Generation Trading....
All Eyes on Kindred: Life After Maris & Karim
As I watched the growth of responsible gambling and expanded player protection across the gaming industry, there was always one operator who stood tall above the rest. This was Kindred. There was a special “it factor” that instantly captured my attention. I had long...
“Bro! Chill.”
My son is 10 years old. He’s also very much like me. Yeah, I feel your pain. It’s really rough at times, right? It’s such a brilliant time to watch him grow as his analytical mind is on overdrive 24/7/365 as are his emotions. When he analyzes a situation and it...
The Silver Lining of Gambling Ads Manipulating Society
If you were new to the space and spent a week poking around the problem gambling landscape, you would surely come to know advertising as a primary point of concern for advocates looking to reduce harm. Forget a week; it would only take a few hours to discover fear of...
Responsible Gambling Messaging: Switching From Limits to Growth
The core messaging of responsible gambling campaigns should not focus on setting limits and restrictions on play. This approach has been used for far too long and the results aren’t there. For safer gambling campaigns to have maximum impact, we need to ditch the focus...
The First Responsible Gambling Research Question I’d Want Answered as a CEO
If I were a gaming executive, what research would I want to see? Here is what would be at the top of my list.
Don’t Drink to Get Drunk
Is our current messaging around responsible gambling missing the mark?
What Metrics Are We Using to Define “Vulnerable”?
If you've spent any amount of time near the water coolers of life that discuss responsible gaming, problem gambling, or gambling disorder, you've surely heard a lot of talk surrounding the "vulnerable". And this is where I ask the following questions (numbered to make...
Jamie’s Wednesday Musings for March 2nd, 2022
On this second day of #PGAM2022, I reflect on hotlines, A-List celebrities in gambling ads, and high-five a positive trend I’m seeing.
Jamie’s Friday Musings for February 4th, 2022
Criticism of Responsible Gambling Prevention Messaging Let’s jump straight to the point. Messaging aimed at reducing problem gambling and gambling harm is really, really hard. This is why I’m frustrated when I see criticism of prevention campaigns. And I become doubly...
What’s That Stale Smell?
When I started gambling, I was the poster child of responsible gambling (RG). I had a front-row seat watching the development of gambling addiction in a close friend and with this awareness, I followed every RG suggestion with extreme care. I knew it was critical....
The Missed Opportunity of Mental Health Discussion in Safer Gambling
With today being World Mental Health Day, it's a great time to reflect on current safer gambling messaging and the lack of emphasis that is placed on mental health. From time to time there will be messaging highlighting the dangers of gambling while dealing with other...
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally
In sixth and seventh grade, I competed in the county Math Olympics. Yeah, in addition to being an athlete, I was a bit of a nerd. There were different “events” at the Math Olympics and I competed in Mental Math, a fierce battle to solve math problems without the use...