Gambling addiction
In accordance with Art. 18 of the Intercantonal Agreement, Swisslos and Loterie Romande pay to the cantons an amount equal to 0.5 per cent of the gross gaming revenue achieved in each canton. The cantons are obliged to use these funds for the prevention and elimination of gambling addiction. They may cooperate to achieve this objective.
Since the Intercantonal Agreement became effective, the cantons have been cooperating to harmonize utilization of the Gambling Addiction Tax. Comlot welcomes these efforts to coordinate intercantonal approach to the prevention and elimination of gambling addiction. As a first step, the German-speaking cantons and the canton of Ticino commissioned an initial study of gambling addiction. An intermediate report resulting from this study has been available since June 2007. For their part, the cantons in the French-speaking part of Switzerland have concluded a cooperative agreement and commissioned their own study of gambling addiction, the étude romande sur le jeu. Other measures, such as increasing popular awareness, a telephone helpline for players with difficulties, and the creation of a website about gambling addiction are also planned. The two reports can be downloaded (pdfs in German and French) from the website of the Fachdirektorenkonferenz Lotteriemarkt und Lotteriegesetz FDKL (http://www.fdkl.ch); the Etude romande sur le jeu can be downloaded (pdf in French) from sos-jeu.ch (http://www.sos-jeu.ch/).
Several cantonal governments have begun to co-operate and co-ordinate their use of the Gambling Addiction Tax, which has led to the formation of three significant networks of cantons. At a higher level, attempts are in progress to co-ordinate these three networks in order to make the most efficient use of the tax. Comlot welcomes these efforts of co-ordinating intercantonal procedures to prevent and combat gambling addiction.
Assessment of potential for gambling addiction
According to art. 17 of the Intercantonal Agreement (IVLW), prior to authorising any lottery or betting activity, the Intercantonal Lottery and Betting Board assesses the potential of such activities for gambling addiction, and takes appropriate measures in terms of preventing gambling addiction and youth protection. To do so, the commission employs the list of criteria developed by the German forum, Wissenschaftliches Forum Glücksspiel. If a lottery or betting event is deemed to be significantly or highly addictive, event organisers are obliged to implement appropriate measures.
If Comlot suspects lottery and betting products already on the market to be addictive, it will implement measures required according to its regulatory mission. Regarding "Tactilo", an electronic lottery, a report was commissioned from a top international expert. It was published (in English) in January 2009, and can be downloaded from the Comlot Website at "Dokumentation/Verschiedenes".