A biennial event not to be missed and which was interrupted only by the pandemic, now behind us. We are talking about the European Conference on Gambling Studies and Policy Issues, which in the 2024 edition, the 14th, is held in Rome. The appointment is from today 10 to 13 September, at the Lifestyle Hotel Rome and represents an opportunity for discussion and analysis that the most important scholars in the field of responsible gaming and policies that are being carried out in this area will take part.
With Pieter Remmers, Ceo of Assissa Consultancy Europe and “life” of the event, we first take stock of the main topics that will be covered in this 2024 edition of the Easg Conference.
“Of course there is a focus on the hosting country Italy in the first plenary session. We also have special topics and sessions on Ai, Women and gambling, what is important related to research, what topics should we look at the next five years and a session focused in the industry. Land based and online, gambling and betting and lotteries”.
Why was Rome chosen as the venue for this edition of the conference?
“The Easg conference is always going around in Europe, we have been in a lot of countries already and it was really time to come to Rome this year. Besides, we hope on support and sponsorship of Italian operator, because without their support it is impossible to organize a conference like this”.
Italy has been a pioneer, in Europe, of political choices such as the 2018 Dignity Decree, the ban on gaming advertising with cash winnings, but also the introduction in many Regions and Municipalities of distance between gaming locations and the so-called sensitive places, and of time limits for rooms and devices. Is it possible to take a stock of the benefits of these measures?
“Italy has indeed been a pioneer and is followed by a lot of countries and even more countries have a focus on taking more restrictive measures. In the conference there will be room enough to pay attention to the effectiveness of taking measures. Close to 100 research projects will be presented. Including international but also projects focused on the hosting country Italy”.
In terms of responsible gaming and relevant policies, has Covid changed anything at a structural level and, looking at the future, what changes should we expect from the massive use of artificial intelligence, including the generative one?
“Of course Covid has changed a lot of things, but more over the introduction of Ai plays a significant role. But we should not forget that human behavior, human contact, human interaction remains extremely important if we want to do things in the right way”.
What are the new frontiers in responsible gaming research and, conceptually, is responsible gaming possible?
“Responsible gambling, sustainable gambling and betting and all the things that go with it, are very, very important. In the conference we will also pay attention to a high level gambling research”.
How important is collaboration between politics, regulators and gaming operators in promoting responsible gaming?
“In essence all the stakeholders play their role, not only politicians/regulators and the industry, but also researchers, treatment specialists and experts by experience.
And above all let us not forget the player, gambler and better as without them there is nothing to think about and set rules and regulations.”
What are the other subjects that should be involved in promoting responsible gaming?
“Please check the programme of the event for details”
Finally: are gaming addictions a serious and real problem, as has also been highlighted in recent times in Italy, thus leading to measures such as the total ban on advertising, or perhaps they are a problem a little amplified by some political and social sectors?
“Gambling addiction is a serious problem and should be considered that way for sure. The problem in general is that we try to regulate and that is usually not based on evidence, not on facts, but very often on feelings and that is not the way to do it.
So that means that the problem maybe be not as big as well usually say it is,but we have to take all this very seriously.”