Sustainable Interaction delivers digital RG course to Svebico

We are proud to continue our partnership with Svebico, Sweden’s central organisation for bingo, by delivering a customized Responsible Gambling course for bingo hall staff. 

Svebico promotes responsible bingo operations, provides operator training, and supports Swedish community organisations through bingo-generated funding. 

The course focuses on gambling problems, responsible gambling, and how we can talk to customers we are concerned about. It was launched in May, and approximately 400 bingo hall staff are expected to complete the training before the end of the year.

Sustainable Interaction announces partnership with OLG

We’re proud to announce our partnership with OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation), an Ontario government agency that delivers lottery and gaming entertainment in a socially responsible manner. OLG has been WLA certified at the highest level since 2010.

To prevent and mitigate gambling harms, OLG is developing a policy framework to guide Responsible Gambling interactions with its digital players, aiming to reach the right players at the right time with the right message and interventions.

Sustainable Interaction will support OLG in developing this framework, along with an inventory of automated messaging for various channels that will be sent to players exhibiting markers of gambling harm.

Sustainable Interaction will also collaborate with OLG to develop a resource guide to support OLG’s Customer Care team in conducting proactive RG phone and email interactions with at-risk customers.

– It's inspiring to collaborate with OLG on proactive care calls and tailor an approach that suits OLG and their customers. I've had, and continue to have, the privilege of conducting research on proactive care calls at Norsk Tipping, where we observed positive outcomes and found that customers responded well. This also aligns with our own experience in conducting proactive care calls as an independent third party, says Jakob Jonsson, PhD and clinical psychologist at Sustainable Interaction.

Sustainable Interaction and FDJ initiate strategic collaboration to develop responsible gambling solution

We’re excited to announce our strategic partnership with La Française des Jeux (FDJ), the leading lottery and betting provider in France. FDJ offers responsible gambling experiences to the general public and holds both Responsible Gaming certification from European Lotteries and Level 4 certification from the World Lottery Association.

Sustainable Interaction will provide FDJ with strategic advice to develop an evidence-based responsible gambling solutions aimed at preventing and mitigating gambling-related harm.

Within the context of the cooperation, Sustainable Interaction will support FDJ in developing a technical model for behavioral analysis and risk profiling, to effectively guide RG interactions with FDJ’s digital players.

“We're proud to support FDJ with strategic guidance in developing a responsible gambling solution that not only complies with regulations but also sets a world-class standard for player protection. In this effort, we draw on our extensive experience with Behaviour Analytics  Solutions and Player Interventions.”, says CEO Johan Brandsten.

”Our collaboration with Sustainable Interaction is instrumental in building and implementing our new risk-detection scheme, thanks to their expertise and long-standing experience in this field. We look forward to continuing this important and fruitful work with a view to keep strengthening the actions we implement to protect our players.”, says Chief Sustainability Officer at FDJ Vincent Perrotin.

GamTest to support Argentine players through Betsson Argentina

We’re excited to announce that Betsson Group, who already offers GamTest in several markets, is expanding with a new brand: Betsson Argentina.

With this launch, players in Argentina will gain access to a scientifically sound self-assessment tool designed to help them understand and manage their gambling habits, while Betsson will gain valuable insights into the wellbeing of the player population.

- We are very happy that Betsson trusts our self-assessment tool to assist its players in Argentina to play at a healthy level, and we are proud to see our tool expanding into a new market in South America. We believe that GamTest is one of the best options for gambling operators to offer a low-threshold, easy-to-use player intervention, providing players with detailed feedback on their gambling habits and tips on how to stay safe, says Christofer Hagstedt, CDBO at Sustainable Interaction.

How does Paf work with care calls

Why are Duty of Care calls important to Paf? And how do the calls fit into Paf's overall work on Responsible Gambling? We had a quick sit-down with Jenna Ekström, Responsible Gaming Manager, and Team Manager HR at Paf.

Why is it important for Paf to work with care calls?

Responsible gaming is the backbone of our business and we strive to be a leading company in the gaming industry. We have long worked with proactive messages that are sent out using our responsible gaming system the Paf Radar, which detects potentially risky gaming behaviours. We have chosen to use care calls as a complement to the Paf Radar when we follow up on these players.

What advantages do you see in having an external resource make the care calls?

The aim of the care calls is to get players to reflect on their potentially risky gaming behaviour and for the players to make good decisions after the calls. Therefore, we have chosen to collaborate with Sustainable Interaction to handle the care calls efficiently and with the right expertise.

What is your experience of working with Sustainable Interaction?

We are satisfied with the co-operation between Paf and SI. We see that some of the called customers want to make a change already during the call. We also share communication channels with SI, which allows us to work quickly and efficiently.

Thanks for talking to us Jenna!

“We chose GamTest because, in our opinion, it stood out as one of the most advanced products on the market”

Betsson provides GamTest across various brands, allowing players to engage in a research-based evaluation of their gambling habits and receive personalised feedback and recommendations tailored to their responses. We interviewed Eduards Jakubovs, Head of Safer Gambling at Betsson Group, asking three short questions about how Betsson utilises GamTest to help players understand and manage their play.

Why did you choose GamTest?

We chose GamTest because, in our opinion, it stood out as one of the most advanced products on the market, if not the most advanced. It was also one among the very few with a solid foundation of real research. We found the work conducted by Dr. Jakob Jonsson and his team to be very relevant, providing a robust basis for the final product. It is always great to see market products being developed based on solid research and facts. GamTest also stood out as one of the rare self-assessment tests that not only gathered answers from players but also offered a five-dimensional analysis to the player. It also provides statistics on aspects such as preferred gambling form, gambling frequency, age, and more. 

What value does GamTest provide to Betsson?

Apart from the comfort of knowing that our players have access to a great tool that can help them access their gambling habits and provide personalised suggestions and recommendations, we also love the ability to use GamTest for proactive interactions with our players. It's a very convenient way for both the players and us to get a detailed overview of the players’ gambling habits and identify areas of increased risk.

What’s your overall experience working with Sustainable Interaction?

Our experience has been excellent, we love the quick support with occasional challenges or questions, as well as the expertise that the staff of Sustainable Interaction can provide in the field of player protection.

Elevating player protection: updates to Atlantic Lottery’s reinstatement program

We’re excited to share that our long-term partnership with Atlantic Lottery continues. To assist players in restarting their gambling on a fresh note, Atlantic Lottery provides a reinstatement education program for players returning after a long-term break in play. Originally developed by Sustainable Interaction, this program is now evolving to provide Atlantic Lottery with more in-depth insights into the experiences of returning players.

Founded in 1976, Atlantic Lottery is the only 100 per cent legal and government-regulated provider of lottery, online gambling and sports wagering in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. With a strong commitment to healthy play and sustainable practices, Atlantic Lottery has held a WLA certification (level 4) for over 15 years and now also holds RG Check accreditations for both their alc.ca platform and Red Shores Racetrack and Casino in Charlottetown, P.E.

Since 2011, Sustainable Interaction has been providing bespoke online training programs on topics such as responsible gambling, CSR and health and safety to Atlantic Lottery. 

“I’m impressed by Atlantic Lottery’s long-term commitment and proactive efforts to stay at the forefront in sustainability and responsible gambling. I would especially like to mention the effort to recertify their retail partners with continuing education on responsible gambling to ensure it always stays top of mind”, says Christofer Hagstedt, CDBO at Sustainable Interaction.   

“We know that in order to be successful in promoting healthy play, we need to first support our players in understanding their own play and how to manage it,” said Ashley McGuigan, Atlantic Lottery manager of healthy play. “We know that each and every player is the best person to evaluate their own play, so we take pride in providing them with high quality education and tools to help them do just that.”

The updates to the existing education program will include technical updates and a new survey component that will provide more insights on players returning to play, as well as content changes to align with updated messaging for players.

The tutorial itself consists of multiple steps and short, informative sequenced videos. The program ends with the player confirming whether or not they are ready to return to play, making it an active decision using the insights gained with this education.

“The program has received very positive feedback from the clients”

Finnish treatment provider Peluuri was an early adopter of online treatment. Back in 2007, Peluuri started providing a bespoke version of our online treatment to people struggling with gambling problems in Finland. The journey began with a single therapist and has now expanded to a team of six. In total, 2684 clients have completed the program. We’ve talked to Peluuri about their experiences of working with the treatment program and the changes they have seen over the years.

What’s your experience working with the treatment program?

The program complements our other services very well. It allows clients to participate from anywhere, and it is provided to clients free of charge. The high level of anonymity and the low threshold are other important factors.

The collected data is very important for us. It is an essential part of our information production, reportage and communication. 

Have the characteristics of clients seeking help changed over the years? 

Young men, aged 18 to 34, constitute the largest demographic group seeking help from Peluuri. The characteristics of players have largely remained consistent over the years.

In recent years, we have noticed that players seek help earlier. Previously, the average duration before seeking help was 7-9 years, but now it has decreased to 4-6 years. The acceleration of problems can be attributed to the faster and more addictive nature of games, coupled with easy access to money. While physical AGMs used to be the primary cause of issues in the past, nowadays, online casinos—especially online slots—are the predominant contributors. There has been a significant rise in mobile gambling.

Today, clients have way better access to equipment and to the internet, facilitating a smoother experience with the treatment program. In the early days, some clients had to use computers in public libraries or workplaces to complete the modules, which, of course, was not the optimal situation.

Has clients’ attitudes toward online treatment changed over the years? 

We haven't seen any notable change in clients’ attitudes, but there seems to be an overall positive change in perception toward online treatment. Maybe because it is a more common and accessible form of treatment now.

How does working with online treatment differ from working with ”traditional treatment”?

For some clients, sharing personal matters is more comfortable over the phone than in face-to-face conversations.

In 2013, we conducted a small pilot with 17 clients in the Gambling Clinic, where we applied the online treatment during face-to-face meetings. Both clients and therapists provided positive feedback, and we observed no significant differences in outcomes.

How do you reach and guide clients into the treatment program? 

Clients discover the program through various channels, including the Peluuri helpline/chat, Peluuri's webpage, Google, or referrals from professionals and collaborators. An introduction, featuring a video about the program, is available on the Peluuri webpage. We don’t market the program actively, as the demand already exceeds our capacity to accommodate more clients.

What does your process look like when a client wants to participate in the treatment program?

1. The client completes and submits the application, available on peluuri.fi.

2. Upon acceptance, the client is placed in the queue. The client receives a confirmation email along with information about their queue status.

3. While in the queue, the client receives regular emails about their position and information on reducing gambling harm. Information about alternative forms of treatment and support is also provided during this time.

4. Upon entering the program, the client receives an email requesting registration.

5. After registration, the assigned therapist contacts the client to schedule the first call. The client works with the same therapist throughout the entire program.

6. The program spans over 8 weeks (1 week per module), with weekly assignments and 30-45 minute phone calls with the assigned therapist. 

7. After completing all eight modules, the client receives 1-3 follow-up calls. Two follow-up surveys are completed at 6 and 12 months after program completion.

How do the clients experience the treatment program?
The clients are content with both the program and the content. Typically, clients who initiate the program are highly motivated. However, the long queues and waiting times can be frustrating for them. 

Participating in the program is straightforward. Clients have the flexibility to choose both the time and place that suit them for completing the self-study modules, and the client and therapist collaboratively agree on a convenient time for their weekly phone calls. The program has received very positive feedback from the clients, with many clients emphasising the significance of the phone calls with their therapists. 

Are there specific elements in the treatment program that hold extra value for you?

The surveys play a crucial role in evaluating and analysing the program's impact, serving as evidence of its effectiveness. Additionally, they provide us with valuable data concerning problem gamblers and gambling problems.

The program provides a structured framework for the client-therapist interaction, ensuring a systematic process. With that being said, the structure is still flexible enough to be tailored to each client's needs. The educational components serve as a solid foundation for meaningful conversations between client and therapist.

Research studies

Two studies have been conducted on Peluuri’s version of the online treatment program.

Find them here: 

• https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2006/11/1/article-p75.xml

• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362620086_Predicting_online_problem_gambling_treatment_discontinuation_New_evidence_from_cross-validated_models

”Now I can help clients no matter where they are, while I can work remotely myself.”

Can online treatment be particularly suitable for people with gambling problems? Yes, it is undoubtedly a good complement to traditional treatment to reach out and ensure that more people receive timely treatment, says Pia Norgren, licensed psychologist, specialist in addiction psychology, and co-owner of IBT Uppsala. Pia uses our online treatment for gambling problems to treat clients throughout Sweden. We spoke with Pia to learn more about how it's going and why she chose to work with online treatment. 

Why did you want to start treating gambling problems online?

I wanted access to a structured treatment for gambling problems and to reach more clients. Now I can help clients no matter where they are, while I can work remotely myself.

I feel that online treatment suits people with gambling problems particularly well. They are used to sitting at the computer, and I find that it's almost easier for them to engage in treatment in this format compared to meeting physically and doing assignments with pen and paper.

Very few seek help for their gambling problems through the municipality. They don't want to go there and ask for treatment. There is a significant shame associated with gambling problems – in that case, it can be a good alternative to receive treatment digitally and more anonymously. I have weekly video calls with the clients I treat, where we go through and discuss the tasks the client has done independently during the week. That meeting is needed and important.

How does online treatment differ from "traditional treatment"?

The fact that there is a set treatment structure with ready-made content makes it easier to maintain a thread in the treatment. It's easier to stick to the topic when you have a structure to follow. In traditional treatment, it can be easy to get lost in something else happening at the moment.

For clients with severe comorbidity, online treatment may not be as suitable. However, I can imagine a combination where part of the treatment occurs face-to-face, while online treatment is used as a supplement to address the addiction. 

What advantages do you see in using online treatment with a structured format?

First and foremost, I have access to modern tools that are in line with the times to effectively reach more people. For example, I don't have to prepare assignments and send them with clients. 

I like that the treatment includes many educational components. Relapse prevention is not really a treatment but more of an education. In online treatment, the client can absorb the knowledge on their own and at their own pace, giving us more room to focus on the core issues during our conversations.

I can follow the client's work in the treatment and see how he or she has answered the various tasks. During our video calls, I use the client's answers as a basis for the conversation. It makes it easy to start a conversation where the client can then speak freely.

What trends do you see for online treatment in the future?

I think there are too few treatment options for addiction in general. I have worked with clients who are criminally involved. They are difficult to reach, and not all therapists want to work with them. Moreover, it may be that you can't even meet them. Being able to work digitally with them would have been very good.

How is the collaboration with Sustainable Interaction?

Great! I have received quick feedback on questions, and everything has been straightforward.

Loterija Slovenije and Sustainable Interaction initiate collaboration to develop responsible gambling solution

We’re happy to share that Sustainable Interaction is teaming up with Loterija Slovenije, the official lottery in Slovenia and a member of EL and WLA, to develop a solution for safeguarding players.

Sustainable Interaction will assist Loterija Slovenije in developing an internal system to identify at-risk players and designing player communication and measures to minimise the harm caused by excessive gambling.

“We’re proud and grateful for the opportunity to work with Loterija Slovenije and enhance their efforts in promoting responsible gambling”, says Johan Brandsten, CEO of Sustainable Interaction.

Stanleybet group teams up with Sustainable Interaction

Stanleybet Group, one of the largest gambling operators in Europe, has partnered with Sustainable Interaction to enhance employee awareness and understanding of problem gambling and safer gambling.

Stanleybet opts for the foundational Responsible gambling course, covering various aspects of problem gambling, safer gambling and legal responsibilities, and an add-on course tailored to the needs of customer service.

The initial employees undertaking the course are based in multiple European jurisdictions where the Group operates including Italy, Romania, Belgium, Cyprus, Spain and the UK. The goal is ultimately to roll out the courses to the entire organisation in the coming years.

A  warm welcome to Stanleybet – we’re looking forward to working with you!

Sustainable Interaction provides ready-made e-learning courses as well as custom designed solutions that cater to the specific needs of your organisation and staff.
Read more about our selection of courses or take advantage of our course demos and see for yourself. 

For more information, please reach out to Johan Brandsten at johan@sustainableinteraction.se

We welcome Paf to our complete solution for Customer Care Calls

Sustainable Interaction has worked with gambling operator Paf for a long time to provide responsible gambling training and services.

Now we’re enhancing our cooperation further by welcoming PAF to our complete solution for Customer Care Calls.

As stated in the Swedish Duty of Care, gambling operators are required to monitor their customers’ gambling behaviour, investigate and take action if they detect signs of problem gambling. Providing customers with Care Calls is one way of meeting these requirements, while at the same time protecting and supporting at-risk players.

What is a Care Call?

A Care Call is a call directed to at-risk players. It can be players who spend over a certain amount, have high deposit/loss limits or display other signs of at-risk gambling behaviour. The aim of the call is to motivate players to a sustainable gambling behaviour.

How it works

• Identify. Our staff works closely with the operator to decide on player segmentation, and what recommendations to offer them. Information about identified at-risk players is sent to Sustainable Interaction via a secured system. 

• Contact. Sustainable Interaction’s team will carry out the Care Call with the customers, summarise it and report back via the system. 

• Report. Depending on the outcome, Sustainable Interaction will either include recommendations for proactive Responsible Gambling measures, or suggest suitable access limitations if signs of problem gambling are detected. The information is shared in the secured application and/or in set meetings.

What we offer

• No loose ends. Communication, documentation and reporting in a single end-to-end solution.

• Save resources. No need to allocate and train internal resources for smaller groups of players and languages. 

• Customer integrity guaranteed.  All data is encrypted and shared in a secured application.

• More than just a call. Offer your customers the best possible experience with our experienced team of Care Communicators. Customers consistently rate calls 4.5 of 5. 

• Compliance made easy. Documentation of all measures allows for structured reporting to authorities.  

The full solution, including the secured system, is at present available to operators with a licence to provide games to the Swedish market. For more information, please reach out to Christofer Hagstedt at christofer@sustainableinteraction.se

British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) implements GamTest as part of its GameSense program

We’re happy to announce that BCLC (British Columbia Lottery Corporation) is implementing GamTest, a self-assessment tool, as part of its GameSense program. GameSense is BCLC’s positive-play program designed to assist players in making more informed choices. It provides players with information, guidance and support around gambling habits. GameSense aims to improve player-based awareness and decision-making using education, research-based guidelines and best practices including access to player-health specialists online, over the phone and in every casino and community gaming centre in B.C.

GamTest will help provide further personalized GameSense-based resources to players throughout BCLC’s online and physical gambling locations. Learn more at: https://www.gamesense.com/

“GameSense is a widely known and appreciated initiative that is really making a change for players. We're proud to have BCLC choose us as their supplier of a self-assessment test and hope that it will add to the ongoing work in preventing problem gambling among their customers”, says Christofer Hagstedt, Business Area Manager RG at Sustainable Interaction.

GamTest is a validated self-assessment tool for players. It compiles data from the players’ responses and provides personalized feedback and suggestions for what to do to maintain healthy gambling habits.

GamTest is available in a number of languages, will be branded to suit the operator’s profile, and has minimal implementation time.

Sustainable Interaction to deliver training to Coolbet’s customer service team

Sustainable Interaction has signed an agreement with Estonian gambling operator Coolbet to provide Proactive Care Calls and Motivational Interviewing (MI) training to Coolbet’s customer service representatives. The training will be held by PhD Henrik Josephson and PhD Jakob Jonsson, both resident licensed psychologists and responsible gambling experts with Sustainable Interaction.

“As seen in studies, using Proactive Care Calls as an RG measure can help high risk players reduce their gambling by 30% - a change that appears to last over at least a twelve month period. This benefits both player and operator: the potential harm from overspending is reduced for the player, and the operator will in turn see a reduced churn rate when customers are able to sustain sound gambling habits.”, says PhD Jakob Jonsson, licensed psychologist and RG expert at Sustainable Interaction.  

Proactive Care Calls is an RG measure where high risk players are contacted directly via telephone. The purpose is to investigate whether the player is happy with their current gambling habits, if they want help to make any changes, and to motivate them to make sound choices about their gambling. You can read more about our training in Proactive Care Calls here.

Motivational Interviewing, or MI for short, is a well known and commonly used method for increasing a client’s motivation. MI is an excellent and helpful tool for customer service representatives when talking to customers as it can help limit the risk of conflict, while keeping the customer comfortable discussing their gambling habits.

Sustainable Interaction teams up with CEGO to provide customers with Care Calls

Danish gaming operator CEGO is teaming up with Sustainable Interaction to provide their Swedish customers with care calls. SI has worked with the method for a long time, and it gained the industry’s recognition when SI’s resident psychologist, PhD Jakob Jonsson, presented his doctoral thesis on the subject of care calls*. This is Sustainable Interaction’s first time providing the care calls as a full service - and the first of its kind in the industry.

Operators who provide games to the Swedish market are required to identify signs of problem gamblers within their player population, and then put adequate measures in place. These requirements are part of the Swedish Duty of Care. The Care Calls provided by CEGO and Sustainable Interaction is one such measure.

The Care Calls are a three step process. CEGO sends information about identified at risk players to SI via a secured system. SI’s team will carry out the Care Call with the customers, summarise it and report back to CEGO via the system. Depending on the outcome, SI will either include recommendations for what proactive RG measures CEGO should take with each customer, or suggest suitable access limitations if there are signs of problematic gambling habits. It’s imperative that the exchange of data is secure and encrypted to ensure the integrity of the customers. 

It’s important to note that these calls are in no way intended to be a form of treatment: it’s a responsible gambling measure provided by CEGO. The purpose is to provide at risk players with an extra layer of support and protection. As shown in Dr. Jakob Jonsson’s doctoral thesis, customers who receive a care call will not only reduce their gambling - they will also stay on as customers and maintain their gambling at a healthier level even 12 months after receiving the call.

The full solution, including the secured system, is at present available to operators with a license to provide games to the Swedish market. For more information, please reach out to Christofer Hagstedt at christofer@sustainableinteraction.se or see here:

*Jonsson, Jakob. Preventing problem gambling: Focus on overconsumption. Stockholms universitet, Samhällsvetenskapliga fakulteten, Psykologiska institutionen, Klinisk psykologi. ORCID-id: 0000-0003-3908-5841

Sustainable Interaction delivers online solution for treating gambling problems to French Arpej

We are both grateful and proud to announce our partnership with the French association Arpej and SOS Joueurs for the establishment of the first French online therapy for gamblers. This collaboration will provide SELF (French Online Care) treatment adapted to the characteristics of French-speaking players facing gambling problems.

Sustainable Care is the designers and creators behind the online treatment, which includes a secure platform for managing and administering clients and therapists, and an evidence-based treatment program with eight modules, each targeting a different aspect of gambling addiction and treatment. 

Based on methods such as Motivational Interviewing (MI) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), the treatment combines information, questions, interactive exercises and a forum for peer support. The closed system allows for efficient client-therapist contact and is designed to let clients progress at their own pace.

–We’ve been working with online treatment for many years now and have seen firsthand the positive impact our model has on individuals participating in the treatment. This positive effect is further supported by the extensive research conducted on our treatment, says Johan Brandsten, CEO of Sustainable Interaction. 

– This will be the first online therapeutic program for treating excessive gamblers in France. We’ve adapted the treatment program for the French market in collaboration with Armelle ACHOUR, Director of the remote resource center, Thierry Ventre, Doctor addictologist and Jean-Michel Costes, researcher attached to Concordia University in Montreal, says Emmanuel BENOIT, Managing Director of ARPEJ and SOS.

– When making these adaptations, we’ve been sensitive to the existing structure of the treatment program and the experiences that have already been gained. We would like to express our gratitude to Sustainable Interaction for their collaboration, Emmanuel concludes.

Criminal sanctions clients in Finland receive online treatment for gambling problems

Hi, Sofia! You offer online treatment for gambling problems to criminal sanctions clients all over Finland, could you tell us more about that?

Sofia Holmberg, project manager at RETS

Studies show that prisoners are 5 to 10 times more likely to have gambling problems compared to the rest of the population. By addressing problem gambling among criminal sanctions clients, we aim to reduce recidivism and individual and societal harms caused by gambling. 

In 2019 the Finnish Criminal Sanctions Agency started strengthening their services for community sanctions clients with gambling problems by cooperating with Gambling Clinic in the Helsinki Metropolitan area. In a pilot project, community sanctions officers in Southern Finland were trained to identify signs of gambling problems among their clients and refer them to the Peluuri’s Peli poikki online treatment program as needed.  The results of the pilot showed the importance of addressing gambling problems among community sanctions clients.

And now you’re building on that in a new project?

As a continuum to the pilot project, RETS (RETS Crime-Free Life Support Foundation) started the RISERaPeli-project in October 2021. In the project we will develop our version of the Peli poikki program to meet the needs of criminal sanctions clients who gamble at a problematic or high-risk level. 

Within the project, you’ll continue training criminal sanctions officers to identify signs of gambling problems?

Yes. In collaboration with the Criminal Sanctions Agency we aim to train all criminal sanctions officers to identify signs of problematic gambling behaviour. According to a Finnish study, 85% of prison workers felt that problem gambling is a serious concern among criminal sanctions clients. They also felt that their knowledge to provide help for clients with gambling problems were insufficient. So there’s really a great need.  

What challenges do you think the online treatment program will help you solve?

In 2019 the average daily number of criminal sanctions clients was higher than the number of inmates in Finland. Working online gives us the possibility to intervene quickly and provide help with a very flexible schedule to be able to prevent gambling problems from escalating. We can reach all clients regardless of where they are located and what type of community sanction they are serving.

Why did you choose Sustainable Interaction’s online treatment program?

Peluuri has been running the Peli poikki online treatment program since 2007. After learning from their experiences and looking into their evaluations of the program’s effectiveness, we felt that the program would be very suitable for criminal sanctions clients. We also got very good feedback from Peluuri about the program and working with Sustainable Interaction.