Last week, the Gambling Regulators European Forum (GREF) and the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) co-organised a conference on critical issues raised by the gamblification of gaming, which was well attended and received strong attention from the audience.

As part of this workshop, Dr. Simon Planzer first presented the annual GREF lecture, entitled “The Gaming and Gambling Youth – A Holistic Perspective”.  He invited the audience to take a holistic perspective on the issue by considering various empirical factors that are often not discussed in the media and in politics, to reach a more global perspective on gambling, video gaming, addiction – and youth behaviour in general.

Then, a panel discussion about the impact of gamblification of gaming on transition to gambling was moderated by Bill Gantz, a Partner with Duane Morris, with the following panelists :

• Dr. Brett Abarbanel, Ph.D., Executive Director, UNLV International Gaming Institute
• Atle Hamar, Director General, Norwegian Gambling & Foundation Authority
• Charmaine Hogan, Head of Regulatory Affairs, Playtech

They surveyed the dangers presented to youth and adults via the status quo, paths forward for protection, as well as potentially unintended consequences of regulation or prohibition, including raising the legal age for gambling.