Responsible gaming measures - Serbia

Responsible gaming measures - Serbia

Mirjana Acimovic, Chairman od Social responsibility in Gaming Committee, Euromat, March 2015

SerbiaEUROMAT member associationJAKTA - Association of Gaming Operators, Authorized Technicians and Producer of Slot Machines and Equipment for Games of Chance Gracanicka 11BelgradePhone: +381 112 180 968Fax: + 381 112 623 229

Legislation applicable to the gaming machine sector Social responsibility is prescribed in the Games of

Chance LAW from December 2011. According to this Act, organization of games of chance must be socially responsible and oriented towards the protection of minors, prevention of addiction by participants in games of chance and the protection of the personal data of participants in games of chance. Organizers are required to implement in the most efficient manner the ban on minors participating in games of chance.

Responsible gaming measures - Serbia Each organizer shall within the facility where

games of chance are organized and in the immediate vicinity of the entrance, display a poster measuring 100x80 centimeters containing the corresponding text on the prevention of addiction as well as contact information of the institution certified by the Ministry of Health for the treatment of addiction to games of chance. When games of chance are organized in kiosks, poster measuring 50x40 centimeters shall be displayed on the outer side of the kiosk.


A brochure-flyer must be placed on each desk or counter used for registration of participants in games of chance.

Slot machine clubs shall be located no less than 200 meters away from educational institutions (primary and secondary schools).


Before starting the job, all employees of the organizer of games of chance that have direct contact with participants in games of chance must be trained in prevention against addiction of participants in games of chance.


Other responsible gaming measures Although the responsible measures are

prescribed in the Act, there is still no prescribed the design and content of prospectuses from the Ministry of Health and there is no penalties and any control if employees are not trained in prevention. Also the Law did not specify who can educate or who can treat problem and pathological gamblers.

Responsible gaming measures - Serbia Industry members are voluntarily conducting

responsible gaming measures and promote responsible gambling via age limitation, machine specifications, training personnel, reasonable pricing, and promoting entertainment experience.

In Serbia, the organisation of games of chance has to be socially responsible and organised in a manner that ensures the protection of minors, and the prevention of addiction for players. Additionally, all player data is protected by law.

Responsible gaming measures - Serbia Leaflets addressing issues of gambling

addiction, and featuring the contact data of an institution certified by the Ministry of Health for treating addiction, must be made available at each counter or window where games of chance are played, and a poster containing the same information must be displayed in the vicinity of the entrance door. There also must be noticed, making it clear that minors (below the age of 18) are prohibited from gaming.


There are private associations for compulsive gamblers (mostly run by former gamblers) which aim to provide therapies and remedies, and rehabilitate problem gamblers. These are usually very small, run at regional or local level and require payments from compulsive gamblers, but not regulated in anyway by the Law.


Some private operations have own-initiative prevention programmes in place, but most of them are having cooperation with two main national institutes with long time experience, reputation and credibility.


National institutions providing assistance The National Health System deals with the

issue of problem gamblers as a regular disease in their psychiatric department and it is covered by health insurance. The Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut”is an authority within the sphere of responsibility of the Ministry of Health. The task of the Institute “Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut” is to promote health at the national level, to which end it implements education campaigns on central health issues.

Responsible gaming measures - Serbia There are two main national institutions and

one NGO Agency who have great experience and neuropsychiatry doctors and medical personnel with extensive knowledge and experience with personal dedication to treat patients with problem and addiction. Also the Institute for public Health, “Dr. Milan Jovanovic Batut” is planning to activate all medical university centres in Serbia in prevention and qualified treatment of problem gambling.

Responsible gaming measures - Serbia 1. Special hospital of Addiction Diseases

Teodora Drajzera 44

11000 Belgrade

Director: Dr. Mira Kovacevic

Tel: + 381 367 14 29

www.drajzerova.org.rs

Day hospital for non-chemical addiction rehabilitation treatment with extension works since October 2010.


Special hospital of Addiction Diseases during four years educated 2500 in prevention against addiction of participants in games of chance and continues to expand co-operation with relevant industry representatives.

Responsible gaming measures - Serbia 2. Institute of mental HealthAddress: Palmoticeva 37, 11000 Belgrade,

SerbiaTelephone number: (+381) 11 3307 500Fax: (+381) 11 3231333

Director: Professor Dr. Dusica Lecic Tosevski

Head of Day HospitalDr Ivica Mladenovic, M.Sc., Psychiatrist


Dr. Mladenovic is coordinator and author of "integrative systemic model for the treatment of pathological gambling (gambling addiction)," which is already three years successfully applied in the Institute of Mental Health.

www.imh.org.rs


Agencies providing assistance

3. Klub “Sansa”, first Serbian association for fighting pathological gambling,

Dr. Ivica Mladenovic, Mr. Sc, psychiatrist, Chief of daily hospital of Addiction Diseases Institute for Mental Health in Belgrade

Dr. Goran Lazetic, psychiatrist, Institute for Mental Health in Belgrade

Help Line: 0800 301 302

www.klubsansa.com

Responsible gaming measures - Serbia Klub “Sansa” is part of the pioneer

project in Serbia “Responsible Gambling” and it was inspired by EUROMAT Responsible Gaming project and first RG Brochure, with Jakta association as Serbian Euromat member. Project “Responsible Gambling in Serbia” is supported and financed by gaming industry gathered in Jakta Association and its main principals are:


Research in the field of games of chance

Intensive education and adequate communication on the principles of RG

Education of Employees Help line Treatment of addicts and problem

gamblers

Responsible gaming measures - Serbia After 5 years of work, Dr. Mladenovic, author of

the first research in this field in Serbia: “Pathological Gambling with Self-help Guide”, has first positive results of his project in treatment which last 10 weeks with family members, demonstrate the success of 75% of patients cured.

Klub “Sansa” is also running program for education "Prevention of gambling addiction among the participants in the games of chance".

Thank you!

SerbiaEUROMAT member associationJAKTA - Association of Gaming Operators, Authorized Technicians and Producer of Slot Machines and Equipment for Games of Chance Gracanicka 11BelgradePhone: +381 112 180 968Fax: + 381 112 623 229

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