"Responsible gambling" refers to a range of strategies, initiatives, and activities introduced by gambling regulators, policymakers, and industry operators to reduce gambling-related harms. There is an absence of agreement about the definition of responsible gambling among these parties, and stakeholders' experiences reflect varied and often conflicting positions about the development, implementation, and maintenance of existing responsible gambling programs. Complicating these issues further, there is little empirical evidence supporting the current crop of responsible gambling activities. Consequently, there is a pressing need to bring together key similarities and differences associated with disparate stakeholder groups.

Responsible Gambling: Primary Stakeholder Perspectives will inform and better ground both current and future debates focused on the topic of responsible gambling and its intended outcomes. Chapters address responsible gambling from the perspective of five groups of complementary stakeholders: scientists/researchers; clinicians; gambling operators; public policy makers/regulators; and recovering gamblers. Contributors address responsible gambling through the lens of the Reno Model, an approach that emphasizes the importance of stakeholders working together and using evidence-based methods to reduce gambling-related harms. Building upon and expanding the Reno Model and addressing conflicts and ethical compromises so that these programs can achieve their intended objectives (reducing the worldwide rate of gambling-related harms), Responsible Gambling will be of value to scientists, clinicians, policy makers, regulators, and industry operators interested in responsible gambling strategies and activities.

Howard J. Shaffer's profile page

Alexander Blaszczynski's profile page

Robert Ladouceur's profile page

Davis Fong's profile page

Peter Collins' profile page

Howard Shaffer is the Morris E. Chafetz Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the Field of the Behavioral Sciences at Harvard Medical School. His research, writing, and teaching have helped to shape how the healthcare field conceptualizes and treats the full range of addictive behaviors.

Alex Blaszczynski, Professorial Research Fellow and Director, Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic, University of Sydney, has a long history of treating and studying gambling disorders, and principles and policies related to responsible gambling. He is Editor-in-Chief of International Gambling Studies.

Robert Ladouceur is Professor Emeritus at Laval University in Quebec City. His books written with Stella Lachance, Overcoming Pathological Gambling (therapist guide and workbook) were published in English by Oxford University Press in 2007, and are now also available in Chinese, Japanese, and Finnish.

Davis Fong is the Director of Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming as well as a Professor of the Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management at the University of Macau. Professor Fong has been responsible for more than 40 gambling and tourism related research projects for Macao SAR Government.

Professor Peter Collins founded and directed the South African National Responsible Gambling Programme, and was Director for the Centre of the Study of Gambling at Salford University. He is the author of the book Gambling and Public Policy, and has consulted widely for governments and businesses on responsible gambling matters.

"Responsible Gambling: Primary Stakeholder Perspectives comes at a critical juncture in the history of the gambling industry and the discussion of player protection. This work represents the wide-ranging perspectives of some of the most important researchers and academics of our generation as well as significant voices in public policy and gambling operations and it is presented in the spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility. Here, at this critical juncture, this book reflects the views of all major stakeholders in the discussion of responsible gambling. It does so not to patch over different viewpoints, but rather to highlight them all in search of greater understanding leading to the possibility of yet further protections for payers to enjoy their gambling safely and without harm."

--Alan Feldman, Senior Advisor, MGM Resorts International

"This book is celebrated for its revolutionary attempt in putting different perspectives from stakeholders on an important topic, responsible gambling. It calls up a concerted effort in protecting those who are vulnerable of gambling disorder. It is inspirational and thought provoking."

--Dr. Elda Mei-lo Chan, Director, St. John's Cathedral Counselling Service

"In this book, the editors bring together an interdisciplinary group of authors to share perspectives and information on responsible gambling. The editors, pioneers in areas of responsible gambling theory and practice, have assembled different stakeholders including academicians, researchers, gambling industry operators, clinicians, individuals in recovery, governmental representatives, non-profit operators, public health workers, lawyers, policymakers and regulators. Given the contributions from these different groups, this book represents an invaluable collection for individuals interested in obtaining a current understanding of responsible gambling."

--Marc N. Potenza , MD, PhD, Director, Yale Center of Excellence in Gambling Research

"The idea of bringing all stakeholders together to share perspectives is often advised but rarely done in practice. In this ambitious project, Shaffer and his co-editors have assembled a group of responsible gambling thought leaders that are wonderfully diverse in their views and their viewpoints. This book contains their distilled perspectives, insights, and playbooks from a deep reflection on decades of experience. It's a thoughtful, provocative, and utterly honest view of where we are with responsible gambling, and what needs to happen for us to move forward. Anyone who's a stakeholder in the gambling industry has something to learn from this book."

--Khalil Philander, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Hospitality Business Management, Carson College of Business, Washington State University, Honorary Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of Sydney