Rise Above Gambling Calls for Immediate Ban on Ontario’s Exploitative iGaming VIP Programs

Since April 4th, 2022, Ontario’s iGaming market has witnessed a disturbing trend with the introduction of “VIP” Programs, leading to unprecedented harm inflicted upon gambling addicts. The public needs to be informed of the harsh reality behind these programs, drawing upon firsthand experiences of insiders who have held positions at prominent Ontario casino and sportsbook operators. These individuals have joined forces with Rise Above Gambling to shine a light on the issue and demand change.

The majority of operators licensed by the AGCO and iGO have adopted predatory VIP practices, specifically targeting and exploiting individuals struggling with gambling addictions. Compulsive gamblers are coerced into VIP programs designed to extract every last dollar from their wallets.

Exposing the Manipulative Nature of VIP Programs for Gambling Addicts

A staggering 80% of an operator’s revenues are generated by a mere 2% of registered users—termed as VIP players—who make substantial deposits and lose. Exploiting their egos, these individuals are labeled as VIPs and invited to VIP Programs to entice them with perks, aimed at extracting every last dollar from their wallets. These VIP programs directly prey on the vulnerabilities of those grappling with gambling addictions.

Disguised as an exclusive privilege, VIP programs offer personalized attention from dedicated hosts, exclusive event invitations such as access to sporting suites/boxes, golf outings, and concerts, as well as customized “bonuses” based on players’ losses and deposits. However, the true objective of VIP hosts and account managers is to maximize the losses and activity of the players.

These programs manipulate players into believing that VIP status is a privilege, despite the harsh reality that it actually signifies their position as top losing players. For individuals who have never experienced such luxuries before, being invited to a sporting event suite with unlimited food and drinks is an enticing VIP experience. The problem arises when these programs threaten to revoke these privileges if players decrease their activity (lose less) or choose to self-exclude.

Compulsive gamblers, who have not fully surrendered to their addiction, often hesitate to quit or self-exclude out of fear of losing their VIP status and associated perks. By self-excluding while still engaging in gambling, they risk losing their “history” with the operator and all the money they have invested. Despite claims of improved responsible gambling rules by regulators, these predatory programs never existed in the unregulated grey market.

VIP Program Staff Label Gamblers as “Degenerates” and “Losers”

Within these programs, Rise Above Gambling has uncovered instances where staff at multiple operators refer to VIP program members as “degenerates” and “losers.” Shirking their responsibility, staff members dismiss operators’ accountability for the consequences faced by individuals who lose money and struggle to afford their mortgages, attributing the blame solely to the players. Unbeknownst to VIP hosts, their actions inflict harm and cause significant damage.

Put simply, they know these players are among the site’s biggest financial losers. While attempting to extract every penny out of their wallet they forget that these are actual humans and refer to them as an account number. They don’t see the devastation that occurs behind closed doors and how spiritually and morally these individuals are bankrupt.

How VIP Programs Harm Compulsive Gamblers

During events hosted for these individuals, many of them exhibit an air of superiority, oblivious to the fact that they are actually substantial net losers. However, when our founders have shared their own struggles with gambling addiction and vulnerability, a majority of these individuals open up and admit their lack of control over their gambling habits, acknowledging the destruction it has caused in their lives.

Trapped in the grip of addiction, they become mere shells, driven solely by their insatiable desire to gamble, forsaking all other aspects of their lives. Neglecting their work, family, and relationships, they are tormented internally, yearning for a way out. Believing that the next big win will solve all their problems, they fail to recognize that no amount of winnings will ever be enough. These individuals are trapped in an endless cycle because they cannot find the strength to stop gambling. VIP programs are well aware of this and employ every possible method to incentivize their continued gambling, fully aware that they are bound to lose in the long run simply because they cannot stop.

VIP programs target individuals trapped in the cycle of gambling addiction, offering bonuses among other things that act as funds for further betting once a certain threshold of losses is reached. In the relentless cycle of gambling addiction, the availability of bonus funds through VIP programs serves as a lifeline for individuals who find themselves drained of resources or unable to make further deposits. These enticing perks, such as event tickets and exclusive service, intensify their addiction by creating a sense of grandiosity and fostering a continuous desire to gamble. Operators strategically employ various tactics to extract every last dollar from gambling addicts in Ontario, sparing no effort in their pursuit.

These individuals find themselves unable to resist the urge to gamble. If they withdraw funds, they inevitably return to gambling and lose it all. These programs deliberately overlook recreational and winning bettors, solely focusing on those who have lost substantial amounts and are considered lucrative by the operators. Exploiting every tactic at their disposal, operators relentlessly fuel the gamblers’ addiction until they exhaust their finances.

The detrimental effects of VIP programs are exclusive to gambling addicts, intensifying the consequences of their addiction and resulting in profound devastation. Rise Above Gambling urgently calls upon the AGCO and iGO to take immediate action and eradicate these exploitative practices that plunge addicts into destitution, drive them to commit crimes, and push them to the brink of divorce and suicide in numerous cases.

Drawing inspiration from the UK’s Gambling Commission, which has already implemented rigorous guidelines to address the misconduct of VIP schemes, Ontario must adopt similar measures to safeguard thousands of individuals within the community from harm and the impending destruction caused by these programs.

Advocating for Change: Rise Above Gambling’s Mission Against Predatory VIP Programs in Ontario

Our mission is to eradicate these predatory VIP Programs in Ontario and collaborate with regulators to reduce the harm caused by these operators. We will tirelessly advocate until this becomes a reality. Join the fight at riseabovegambling.ca to learn how you can make a difference.

Casino and sportsbook operators profit directly from exploiting individuals with gambling addictions. These individuals have lost control over their gambling habits. VIP programs exacerbate this loss of control and intensify the destructive cycle of gambling addiction. It is crucial to take a stand and protect compulsive gamblers, which is precisely what Rise Above Gambling aims to achieve.

We are currently building Ontario’s first gambling-dedicated treatment facility. Rise Above Gambling aims to provide inpatient residential rehab, outpatient treatment, and virtual therapy.

However, these VIP programs perpetuate gambling addiction, hindering our efforts to minimize harm for individuals struggling with gambling addiction in the pre-contemplation phase. We strive to reduce harm and ensure individuals do not have to reach rock bottom, facing divorce, contemplating suicide, or dealing with severe legal charges before seeking help and making a change.

Find out exactly what we do and how you can help below!

About Rise Above Gambling

Rise Above Gambling (RAG) is a distinguished non-profit organization committed to preventing problem gambling, raising awareness, and advocating for those affected. Spearheading a groundbreaking initiative, RAG is at the forefront of establishing Canada’s first specialized treatment facility dedicated to addressing gambling addiction.

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