Atlantic Lottery Eyes Interactive TV Betting
Canada's Atlantic Lottery Corp is reportedly looking at new cutting edge interactive television technology as a potential new and convenient method for Canadians to place their bets.
The technology exists for gamblers to wager with the click of the remote on a wide range of televised events and the Atlantic Lottery Corp is looking at ways of using this technology to boost their revenues.
According to an Atlantic Lottery Corp statement, "Seizing the right technology solution is critical, not only for sales growth but more importantly for player attraction and engagement.
"Could Atlantic Lottery create new games and line extensions of our current products that could be specific to sporting events, reality TV shows and games that involve a degree of skill?"
A spokesperson for Atlantic Lottery, Jennifer Lawlor has stated that the information has been requested purely for research purposes.
"It's about us doing due diligence because of the emerging trend in the technology world. Computers and television are moving together and there's different offerings with both," she said.
Interactive TV Betting Raises Concerns
Nigel Turner from the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health based in Toronto has argued that the connection between television and betting could result in problems, based on his research into psychological risk factors linked to pathological gambling.
"You can't get more maxed out, more available than gambling on the Internet, your TV or your mobile phone, so that's a concern," noted Turner.
"But that's weighed against, to some extent, the fact it's less intensive, exciting, thrilling to win in that context because it removes the social reinforcement."
According to Turner, problem gamblers tend not to use new media, but that is changing and it is on an upward trend.
"There's a lag with gambling. You don't see problems immediately. They take time to develop."
Mark Griffiths is a professor at Nottingham-Trent University in the area of gambling studies. He shares Turner's concerns over the risks that interactive television betting will have for vulnerable gamblers.
"Interactive television, like the internet, provides a 24/7 access and if you're vulnerable or susceptible?with the new media this is where I do have concerns."
While the uptake of interactive television betting has been low to this point, Griffiths argues that it is only a matter of time for the new technology to become popular.
At this point, Atlantic Lottery has guaranteed that they will not make any deals or sign any contracts based on the information they received in their recent request.
