The ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) launched a new campaign against pathological gambling. This year, the MSSS aims at increasing awareness among adults about gambling by illustrating its consequences. With the theme "You've got too much to lose", this campaign will run on television, on radio, in print publications and online.
We invite you to view the campaign. >>>
In collaboration with the Fondation Mise sur toi, L’Itinéraire is presenting a special report on dependency (in French only) [PDF Format - 1 MB], the connecting link between drug addiction, pathological gambling and compulsive drinking. Dependency is so harmful that it can destroy lives. With a grant from the Fondation Mise sur toi, L’Itinéraire has established awareness initiatives to help low-income earners and its readers better understand the phenomenon of dependency. An awareness kit adapted for L’Itinéraire readers, as well as four videos aimed at youth, has been developed. All of these tools are accessible from L’Itinéraire upon request. It is essential to discuss dependency, whether to gambling or drugs, in order to increase understanding and support for those wrestling with these issues. Addiction can be overcome!
Youth gambling can have lifelong consequences but falls low on the list of parental concerns compared to more obvious risks such as unsafe sex and drug use. This is one conclusion from a major study by a Canadian research team looking at parental attitudes on youth gambling. “Parents as Partners”, the first study to explore parents’ engagement in youth gambling awareness, reveals very few parents are aware of youth gambling risks even as rapidly expanding new technologies offer teens more opportunities to gamble.
For more information, a press release has been published today on this research.
In collaboration with the Fondation Mise sur toi, the Fondation des sourds du Québec has made two videos in American Sign Language (ASL), Self-exclusion Program and Your Player Profile in Eight Questions. These videos are available on this site, as well as on the site of the Fondation des sourds du Québec. You may also obtain these videos by contacting the Fondation des sourds.
The first video explains how the self-exclusion program works. This program was implemented when the first casino in Québec opened in 1993. The second video helps you evaluate your habits and behaviour to ensure that gaming remains a pastime.
Following a decision approved by Loto-Québec’s Board of Directors in December 2008, the Fondation Mise sur toi became an independent organization, free to make its own decisions and choices regarding all activities, as of February 2009. Mise sur toi now has its own Board of Directors, with seven members elected over the past few months.
Hubert Sacy, Executive Director of Éduc’alcool, has been elected president. Andrée Demers, Director of the Health and Prevention Social Research Group at the Université de Montréal, is serving as vice-president. The position of treasurer has been filled by Louis L. Roquet, former president and chief operating officer of Dejardins Venture Capital, who was recently mandated to oversee the water-meter dossier for the City of Montreal. Michel Chartrand, President and CEO of Proxim, is acting as secretary. The other positions have been filled by Suzanne Sauvage, Nurun’s Executive Vice-president and Chief Strategy Officer; Julie Bernier, Senior Partner of eRing Solutions and member of Loto-Québec’s Board; and Marcel Croux, Senior Vice-President of Corporate Affairs at Loto-Québec.
Our colleagues at the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation have joined efforts to create an informative video. Developed and assessed scientifically, this video presents two scenarios about how slot machines work. One explains how they actually work, while the other illustrates a popular myth. Can you tell myth from reality?
We are closely involved in the design and planning of the "Taking risks is no game" training tours. This training for owners and staff of establishments with video lottery terminals is intended to raise awareness about the problems associated with compulsive gambling. It also teaches a personal approach to handling customers who may appear to be at risk.
Following its inaugural tour in 2001-2002, the program was updated and expanded province-wide in 2006. Since being launched, the program has reached some 13 000 people.
In April 2003, this program received a Citation of Excellence from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) during the Gold Quill Awards event. In 2004, the Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions’ weekly research publication "THE WAGER" hailed the program as innovative.
Since June 2008, retailers and their employers have been able to take the training online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The "Taking risks is no game" program is the result of years of experience, consultations with the scientific community, research conducted by a number of universities and our commitment to creating a healthy gaming environment for the public.
Since 2002, we’ve launched a number of initiatives aimed at promoting healthy gaming behaviour among Quebecers. One such initiative was the enormously successful 2006 awareness campaign that drew attention to the existence of the 1 866 SOS-JEUX help line. Ninety-four percent of adults who had seen the messages about the help line remembered it later. In 2007, we repeated the exercise, while focusing on the fact that help was easy to get. This year, we’ve launched our third campaign with the slogan: There’s help. Bet on yourself.
This campaign, launched October 26, 2008, runs until January 5, 2009. The spokespeople for the English version of the campaign are actors Ellen David and Harry Standjofski, while Mireille Deyglun and Denis Bouchard are their Francophone counterparts. Their messages will appear on television, in the dailies, some local weeklies, and on a selection of Web sites, such as Canoë and Cyberpresse.
Take a look at the advertising campaign with Ellen David and Harry Standjofski.
Loto-Québec distinguished itself at the first World Lottery Association (WLA) Responsible Gaming award ceremony by winning the Best Player Education Program prize. Awarded during the WLA 2008 Convention and Trade Show that took place in Greece at the end of October, this prize acknowledges the quality of the initiatives put forward by the Corporation in the field of responsible gaming.
Consult the press release [PDF Format, 20.6 KB, Help].
In the usual order: Nicole Beaulieu, Managing Director, Fondation Mise sur toi, Alain Cousineau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Loto-Québec and Lynne Roiter, Corporate Secretary and Vice-President, Legal Affairs.
Following the adoption of the Law prohibiting the sale of lottery products to minors, Loto-Québec implemented a program entitled "Here, we card!" Launched in 2002, this "mystery shopper" program helps ensure that retailers obey the law.
In June 2006, Loto-Québec bolstered its program by adopting a new directive that obliges retailers to ask any potential lottery customer who looks younger than 25 years old to present a piece of photo ID.
For its part, Fondation Mise sur toi supports Loto-Québec’s program by reminding retailers not to sell lottery products to minors.
Over the past six fiscal years, Loto-Québec has handed over a total of $117 million to the Government of Québec's ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.
These funds are used to finance prevention activities, treatment services, research programs and awareness campaigns designed to help pathological gamblers.
Moreover, Loto-Québec also funds Fondation Mise sur toi, a foundation whose goals include implementing prevention programs within all of the public corporation's various areas of activity.
Looking for a help centre in your area? View our interactive map. It features over a hundred centres in Québec, whose mission is to provide free help to compulsive gamblers. Start by selecting your region, followed by your town or city. A list of centres and their contact information will be displayed.
You may also call 1-866-SOS-JEUX (1-866-767-5389).
