Responsible Gambling Statement of Commitment
OUR COMMITMENT
Great Canadian Entertainment (“GCE” or “Great Canadian”) is committed to promoting responsible gambling (“RG”) experiences at all our destinations. This Statement of Commitment describes the policies and procedures that GCE has in place regarding responsible gambling, collectively referred to as the “RG Program” or “Program”.
Responsible gambling is one component of our player health strategy. Our approach to responsible gambling is grounded in harm prevention and mitigation, driven by the mandates and obligations stipulated by our Provincial Lottery Corporations and Regulators, and captured through our RG Program. We believe responsible gambling is achieved through policies and procedures that enable guests to make informed choices, support positive play, and encourage or facilitate access to a range of support services. The policies and procedures under the RG Program are developed in compliance with the requirements set out by our Provincial Lottery Corporations and Regulators. We are committed to supporting the well-being of our guests and ensuring team members understand and implement the RG Program effectively.
OUR APPROACH
This Statement of Commitment is not an acknowledgement of any obligation on behalf of GCE to control, limit, prevent, or otherwise modify the gambling behaviour of our guests. The choice to game ultimately rests with the individual. Our priority is to ensure that our guests have access to information about positive play habits, as well as gambling support resources.
Key Elements of Our Responsible Gambling Program
- Responsible Gambling Team
GCE’s RG Program is managed by the corporate-level RG team. The team has a mandate to oversee, guide and establish responsible gambling initiatives, policies and procedures in conjunction with industry standards and provincial guidelines, in addition to fostering an overall culture of responsible gambling awareness throughout GCE.
- Onsite RG Champions
Every GCE destination has an individual who is responsible for managing the onsite RG Program, including but not limited to:
- Raising awareness of RG policies, practices and activities at the site level;
- Integrating RG topics and discussions into other operational daily/weekly/monthly meetings;
- Educating team members on RG issues;
- Maintaining a working relationship with the site’s RG Advisors/ Information Centres (if applicable)
- Holding quarterly RG committee meetings.
- RG Information Centres
In accordance with provincial requirements, GCE destinations have an RG Information Centre located on or near the gaming floor. These centres provide guests and team members with resources to enable them to make informed decisions about their gambling activity. Below are some examples of resources where guests can access information, as well as other support services that are available:
Onsite RG Information Centres:
- British Columbia: Gamesense Centres
- Ontario: PlaySmart Centres
- Nova Scotia: Responsible Gambling Resource Centres
Toll-Free Gambling Help Phone Numbers:
- British Columbia Problem Gambling Help Line
1-888-795-6111 - New Brunswick Gambling Information Line
1-800-461-1234 - Nova Scotia’s Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line
1-888-429-8167 - Ontario ConnexOntario Help Line
1-866-531-2600
- Ontario Virtual PlaySmart Centre here.
1-833-888-2306
Online Resources
- National: ResponsibleGambling.org
- British Columbia: Gamesense.ca
- Ontario: Playsmart.ca
- Nova Scotia: YourBestBet.Ca
- RG Code of Conduct
GCE is committed to promoting an RG-supportive work environment for all our team members. All GCE team members are required to sign the RG Code of Conduct to acknowledge their reading and understanding of the Code’s requirements.
- RG Training
All team members are required to complete the appropriate level of responsible gambling training for their position as outlined in the GCE Player Health Training Policy and any provincial requirements. The training ensures team members have tools to appropriately support our guests.
- RG Check
GCE sites maintain the RG Check accreditation through the Responsible Gambling Council, as required by provincial regulations. RG Check is an accreditation program created by the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) based on its Responsible Gambling Standards for land-based venues. The Standards provide independent benchmarks for gambling service providers’ content, quality, and breadth of RG programs.
- Voluntary Self-Exclusion
Voluntary Self-Exclusion programs are offered at all GCE destinations, in alignment with our Provincial Lottery Corporations and Regulators.
- Responsible Marketing Practices
GCE properties and designated marketing departments ensure that gambling is represented responsibly in all advertising and marketing materials.
Specifically, GCE marketing materials will not:
- Encourage people to play beyond their means;
- Imply the certainty of financial reward;
- Appeal or use individuals who are and/or appear to be minors;
- Appear at venues where the primary audience are minors;
- Depict a pre-occupation with gambling; and/or
- Imply that chances of winning increase the longer one plays.
Marketing materials and social media posts include a responsible gambling message and/or graphic, as the Provincial Lottery Corporations and Regulators mandate.
- Assisting Guests
All team members have a role to play in supporting our guests in positive play habits. Team members are expected, at a minimum, to follow the provincial guidelines regarding the appropriate response to guests:
- Guests are treated with respect and dignity;
- Issues are escalated to someone who is a specialist in assessing and deciding the appropriate action, usually a supervisor;
- The circumstances that have led to guests seeking assistance are assessed;
- Guest identification and loyalty club information will be requested (where appropriate);
- If guests are in a distressed state, team members will strive to deescalate the situation as necessary;
- Guests are informed of sources of onsite (and online) resources and self-exclusion offerings; and
- Where appropriate, team members will provide information to facilitate contact with more specialized professionals onsite and/or in the local community.
- Reporting
GCE locations will comply with all required RG reporting requirements as determined by our Provincial Regulators and any guidelines set by Provincial Lottery Corporations.
- Validity
Our Commitment to Responsible Gambling:
- Applies to all destinations owned or operated by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation and impacts all guests at GCE destinations.
- Has been approved by the appropriate members of GCE’s Senior Management Team.
