Agnes “Neki” Liwanag, Widus director for business development, said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has mandated all casinos to develop a program for responsible gaming.
“We are not only promoting gambling but we also have to know the responsibility of the casino in helping our clientele,” Liwanag said during the signing of the MOA.
“We have to be sensitive with the needs of our clients,”
she added.
Liwanag explained that LCRC will guide them to identify players who have problems and how to approach them because a lot of them are in denial.
“They don’t want to acknowledge that they have a problem,” she said.
LCRC is a counselling and training center, located at 105 Scout Rallo St., Timog, Quezon City, which caters to persons with psychological problems including addiction.
Agnes Agbayani, LCRC executive director, said clients will fi rst undergo assessment to determine what kind of intervention will be made.
LCRC founder Dr. Randy Dellosa said there is individual and family counselling. “But what is really important is the rehabilitation which can change the mind,” he said.
Dellosa said “it is always better to spend time inside the center because while outside, the temptation will always be there to play so they have to be taken away fi rst.”
He said in some cases medication is introduced because patients don’t sleep or eat well. “They become psychotic, depressed and even suicidal,” he said.
The problem starts when the gaming becomes addictive and an obsession, he said. “So when these problems develop, patients have no disregard for the consequences anymore,” he added.
“Wala na silang pakialam (They don’t care anymore) even if they lose everything including their wives,” Dellosa said.
He said tips on how to prevent gambling addiction include setting your limits by sticking to the budget, make sure to monitor or watch the time while you’re playing or have somebody to remind you it’s time to go.
Meanwhile, Liwanag said for Widus, they will start training their staff especially on how to spot and approach potential individuals with problems.
