Lottoland urges youngsters to “stay safe online” with new RG campaign
Lottery operator unveils P.A.R.E.N.T responsible gambling initiative alongside Gibraltar’s department for education
Lottoland has launched a responsible gambling campaign in collaboration with government officials in Gibraltar to educate young people about the risks associated with online gaming.
The new campaign, called P.A.R.E.N.T, focuses on six behavioural elements and aims to “educate, inspire and empower” young people by helping them stay safe online.
The six elements, which also make up the initial P.A.R.E.N.T, are parent, awareness, responsibility, environment, nurture and trust, while the campaign also encourages children to “switch off to switch on”.
The scheme is being rolled out in conjunction with Gibraltar’s department for education following a consultation period with teachers, non-governmental organisations and gambling stakeholders.
Lottoland CEO Nigel Birrell
Lottoland CEO Nigel Birrell said: “Focus group discussions held at the University in Gibraltar helped us create a forum of people crucial in bringing this scheme to life, and the response we have had has been incredibly positive.
“Together, we will provide young people today with the resources they need to ensure they are empowered to ‘switch off’ when they need to, and ‘switched on’ enough to enjoy all that online gaming has to offer with the self-awareness required to stay safe and sound at all times,” he added.
As part of the campaign, Lottoland researchers found that:
- Almost half of UK children enjoy unlimited time online each day – and one in five have access to online games without any restrictions in place at all.
- Children’s online gaming habits cost the average UK parent £31 in charges – a third of whom are unaware of the costs due to them until it is time to pay up.
- Half of all UK youngsters spend up to four hours a day online in the school holidays – and almost twice the amount of time on average that they do in term time.
Birrell added: “Industry operators often focus inside our businesses when it comes to helping and supporting our customers, and rightly so – we have to tick all the right boxes and above all be responsible operators.
“Research shows that issues can start from a much younger age than amongst those players simply aged 18 or older, however, and Lottoland felt strongly that we could and should be doing more in the countries we operate in.”