BCLC Renames Self-Exclusion Program
The Canadian province of British Columbia’s main gambling regulator, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), has revealed a series of upcoming updates to its voluntary self-exclusion (VSE) program, designed with the hopes of combatting any associated stigma, while also hopefully making the initiative more approachable overall. The program has been renamed “Game Break” and will showcase new features.
The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is rolling out a series of upcoming updates to its voluntary self-exclusion (VSE) program in order to reduce any associated stigma. ©GooKingSword/Pixabay
Self-Exclusion Scheme’s Terms of Enrolment Will Remain the Same, says BCLC
The Canadian province of British Columbia’s chief gambling regulator, known as the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), recently stepped out and announced a series of forthcoming updates to its voluntary self-exclusion (VSE) program. These have been designed in the hopes of reducing stigma and making the scheme appear more approachable.
The program will now go by the name of “Game Break” and will feature a new-look, as well as additional features for players, including the likes of an active reinstatement process for individuals who elect to return to play, thereby providing players with better support who are of the conviction that returning to gambling is the right choice for them at this given point in time.
Most importantly, however, is the fact that the terms of enrolment for the scheme will stay entirely the same, meaning that players will be able to choose to enroll in Game Break for a six-month, one-year, two-year or three-year term.
When a player has completed one of these terms, then they will subsequently need to complete an online course should they wish to return to playing. This is where “Game Plan” will step in by helping people come to an educated decision as to whether returning to gambling is the right choice for them, offering an opportunity for self-reflection and to set out goals before their grand return. Additionally, those participating in the program will still have the ability to choose whether to extend their Game Break term or not.
Program Has Been Redesigned to Weaken Barriers and Destigmatize Self-Exclusion
Reinforcing the destigmatizing and positive message behind the BCLC’s redesign of the “Game Break” program was BCLC director of player health Ryan McCarthy, who cited player empowerment as a key driving factor behind the thought process:
“We want players to gamble within their time and money limits, and we want them to feel empowered to take a break if it’s what they need. Taking a break from something is often seen as a positive choice.”– Ryan McCarthy, Director of Player Health, British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), Press Release
McCarthy went on to emphasize how the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) simply wants to enable players to make the wisest and most informed decisions possible:
“We’ve designed the Game Break program to reduce barriers and destigmatize self-exclusion, while also including a reinstatement process to help participants better understand their own gambling behaviors if they wish to return to play. The changes to our self-exclusion program are another way that we’re working to help individuals make informed decisions about gambling and provide them with support and resources to help them practice positive play behaviors.”
British Columbia Lottery Corporation and Everi Holdings Joined Forces in January 2023
The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) has been in the news a fair amount recently, having partnered up with the gaming machine and financial trading services company Everi Holdings just recently in January 2023.
The core aim of the partnership is actually to support the BCLC’s anti-money laundering work in the Canadian province. Everi will therefore hand over its Everi Compliance anti-money laundering software to the BCLC in order to bolster its gaming and online operations and protect their integrity.
The compliance software is currently being deployed in over 600 gaming properties, so the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) can be assured that it will get the job done. Darren Simmons, executive vice president and fintech business leader at Everi, showcased the provider’s knack for deftly meeting its clients’ needs, highlighting specifically its RegTech software:
“Everi is committed to adapting to customer needs as the industry changes and creates exciting new opportunities. BCLC has prioritized high levels of compliance as part of the continued expansion of their fast-growing gaming operations in casinos and online platforms across British Columbia. Our RegTech solutions are designed for a wide variety of applications, and we are proud to have been chosen to support BCLC’s critical anti-money laundering program.”– Darren Simmons, Executive Vice President and Fintech Business Leader, Everi Holdings, Press Release
BCLC Put Out Disclaimer Concerning Illegal Gambling Websites in September 2022
And very much in line with its job, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) issued a stern warning related to the dangers of gambling with unlicensed websites back in September 2022.
Arriving just ahead of that season’s NFL playoffs, the warning was also designed to funnel sports bettors to British Columbia’s sole legal and licensed online gaming website – PlayNow.com
Vice president of legal, compliance and security at the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), Marie-Noëlle Savoie, emphasized the litany of regulatory requirements the website has to meet to even operate in the first place:
“BCLC’s PlayNow.com must meet stringent requirements to support safe and secure online gambling, including those related to technical integrity, age verification and protection of personal information. For British Columbians who choose to bet on sports, we want them to choose PlayNow.com because it’s the only legal gambling website in BC and the only whose profits go back to the province to support things we all rely on, like healthcare, education and community programs.”
