Top 10 Factors Hindering Industry Development | Casino Basics
Why is there a lack of education in the gambling industry in educational institutions and commercial companies?
Despite the fact that casinos have ancient roots in China and bets were placed even in the gladiatorial arenas in Rome, why is there still no education on how to become a casino manager? What should a casino be like? How can one play and have fun in a casino safely and effectively?
I have compiled the top 10 factors that influence casino and betting products in a way that hides them in the shadows of stigma and fog of secrets.
Social Stigma: Gambling games historically carried a social stigma in many cultures due to their association with addiction, financial problems, and other negative consequences. This stigma can hinder open discussions and educational efforts. For example, in Ukraine and China, cultural heritage and history are significantly different, but the attitude towards gambling by policymakers is equally condemning. Nonetheless, the market size continues to grow every year. This indicates that political figures use social stigmatization to push the gambling industry into the shadows and corruptly appropriate taxes from this entertainment industry for themselves. This affects not only the business but also the players. The lack of awareness and player support infrastructure is due to the absence of taxes and, consequently, funding to support it.
Complexity: Gambling games can be a complex subject with a wide variety of games, rules, strategies, and terminology. Teaching people about gambling games can be seen as a challenging task, and some may feel overwhelmed by this complexity. The complexity can be seen in Diagram 1 (find it below). Here, I show what makes up the online CASINO product for operators. On the left, we have a player who, with a single click, gains access to the online product from anywhere on the planet. On the other hand, there is a complex and sophisticated organization of software solutions that make this possible. I have included the key directions for the casino operator, but this diagram is even more complex with legal, anti-fraud, AML, and revenue tools. All of this is measured by performance metrics and is complicated by the fact that the casino business is just as volatile as the game itself for the players.
Lack of Information: In some regions, there may be a lack of easily accessible information and resources about gambling. Due to the lack of information, individuals may find it challenging to access educational materials and support. This fact is relative to the first fact and is powered by the industry's closed nature.
Cultural Differences: Cultural views and beliefs about gambling vary greatly. In some cultures, gambling may be more acceptable and integrated into everyday life, such as in Canada, where casinos are a popular way of entertainment during retirement. On the other hand, in some cultures, gambling may be strongly discouraged or even prohibited, such as in all Arab countries where gambling is forbidden by religious beliefs. These cultural differences can impact the level of education and awareness regarding gambling. The more prohibitions, the less knowledge, creating a sad correlation.
Regulation and Advertising: Gambling is strictly regulated in some places, and the advertising of gambling can be limited. This can restrict the visibility of educational initiatives related to gambling. For example, in Canada, gambling advertising is only allowed on casino websites and in direct email communication from operators to players, while in Australia, gambling advertising can be aired from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The only online casinos are prohibited in Australia and there are advertisements for retail casinos like Crown Melbourne. Therefore, if an operator wants to attract a lot of traffic in such countries to bring them to their online casino, they need to use complex schemes to circumvent the ban system and advertise everywhere. For instance, they can create applications for social casinos, advertise on TikTok without using key terms like gambling, casino, or slot machines, and use something like Coin Master, which replicates casino game mechanics, attracts players who enjoy it, collects their data, and then invents another scheme to sell the game in a real online casino, for example, through email marketing communication.
Industry Interests: The gambling industry, like any other, has financial interests, and it may not always prioritize or support comprehensive education on gambling practices. Some critics argue that the industry may have an interest in not fully informing players about the associated chances and risks. I cannot agree with this thesis because, while working in various casinos, I have never heard of such sinister intentions. On the other hand, I have never seen courses for learning how to play in a casino either. Perhaps this is related to bans and superstitions, and it's unknown whether there is even a demand for education from the target audience who enjoy gambling.
Resource Allocation: Governments and educational institutions may allocate limited resources for gambling education compared to other health and social issues. As a result, there may be fewer educational programs and initiatives. This is true. Unfortunately, due to the stigmatization of the gambling industry, such programs will not be politically popular, not for politicians, and not for the majority of the masses who simply condemn it and do not want to delve into the matter. In reality, the more knowledgeable you are about how a casino works and whether you can really make money from it, the less you want to play if you are playing with your last money. Knowledge would protect better than simple authoritarian bans under the guise of social condemnation. As for people who have the money to play for fun, they do not need resources from the state and societal approval.
Lack of Research: Comprehensive research on the effectiveness of different gambling education programs is still emerging. This can make it difficult for policymakers and educators to design evidence-based initiatives.
Misconceptions: Some people may think they already understand gambling and its risks, leading to a lack of motivation to seek further education. This overconfidence can be a barrier to effective educational efforts.
Privacy Concerns: People may hesitate to openly discuss their gambling habits and issues due to concerns about confidentiality and potential social consequences, making it challenging to identify those who may need help.
Efforts to address the lack of education about gambling typically involve public awareness campaigns, the promotion of responsible gambling practices, and the development of resources for individuals who want to learn more.
Now, I invite you to join my "Casino Basics" course or other products that soon will be available on the website www.slottywolf.com. I'm excited to share my knowledge, having worked in online casinos for over five years, and I also just love playing slots, so we'll have plenty to discuss together. Goodbye!
PS Gambling is not wrong, the people are.
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