The BZgA counselling service continues to be supported by the gambling industry

The BZgA offers interested parties various options for obtaining counselling on gambling or specific help with problems. All services are free of charge, which is made possible not least by broad support from the gambling industry. It was recently announced that the cooperation and financial commitment will be extended.

The Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) is likely to be familiar to many gambling fans, especially due to its counselling services for (problem) gamblers. The logo and a corresponding contact and help option can be found in many German online casinos, sports betting providers and also at GambleJoe.

In general, the BZgA is a federal authority that sees its main task as communicating specific values for a healthier life to the citizens of Germany. Prevention and health promotion are high on the agenda. This is reflected in concepts, strategies and measures that are developed together with cooperation partners and implemented in campaigns, programmes or projects. Gambling is increasingly the focus of attention.

In addition to a hotline for immediate counselling, the BZgA offers a comprehensive information and help portal on the Internet at Check-dein-Spiel.de. Among other things, it offers self-tests (similar to the AI self-test "Gamalyze" for recognising gambling problems of the German Sports Betting Association - DSWV) and facts about legal support. The partners involved cover a large part of the costs involved. The BZgA and the cooperating organisations recently announced that further cooperation has been secured.

Seven associations and companies from the German gambling industry participate in the BZgA's programme

In recent years, the BZgA has received broad support from the German gambling industry. Most recently, the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder - GGL) 2022 ensured that the authority's services remain secure. In May of this year, we reported on how the BZgA hotline was to be financed in the future. At that time, the GGL brought together various industry representatives and was able to reach an agreement after intensive negotiations, as was frequently reported in the press.

Recently, the German Vending Machine Industry (DAW) confirmed that a further co-operation agreement had been signed. All in all, seven associations and companies from the German gaming industry are involved. The breakdown is as follows.

• The German gaming machine industry, represented by AWI (Automaten-Wirtschaftsverbände-Info) and DLTB (Deutscher Lotto- und Totoblock): DAW sponsors the BZgA's nationwide help hotline and two thirds of the prevention programme.
• The Federal Association of Private Casinos in Germany, the German Casino Association, the German Sports Betting Association, the German Online Casino Association and the German Lotto Association: These organisations contribute the remaining third of the total costs in financial support.

What those responsible say about further cooperation

In the press, the spokesperson for the DAW board emphasises the importance of prevention work:

"With our support for the BZgA's telephone helpline and many other projects, we fulfil our social responsibility for a sensitive product that we offer. As a responsible, legal and state-licensed provider, we do not want to make money from gambling addicts. In addition to the nationwide player ban file, arcade certification and proof of competence with mandatory testing for operators, prevention is a crucial part of our work. We are therefore pleased to be able to continue our long-standing cooperation with the BZgA in the future".

The German Lotto and Totoblock and Axel Holthaus, Managing Director of Lotto Niedersachsen, which is currently responsible for the association, also had their say:

"The state lottery companies have stood for responsible, state-approved lottery products for more than 75 years - we have been funding BZgA's prevention work for ten years. We are pleased that more and more lottery providers have recognised their responsibility since 2022 and are providing funding for counselling services to prevent gambling addiction."

Finally, the managing director of Lotto Hamburg, Torsten Meinberg, who is currently the chairman of the DLTB's working group on player protection and prevention, also had a statement up his sleeve:

"Especially in view of the liberal State Treaty on Gaming 2021 and the associated approval of online gambling, it is important for us and the organised industry to ensure good player protection as well as qualified advice on the risks of gambling and the prevention of gambling addiction."

Conclusion

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