NorthStar Gaming (Ontario) Inc.
Responsible Gaming and Self-Exclusion Policy
Introduction
We, NorthStar Gaming (Ontario) Inc. (“NorthStar Gaming” or “we” or “our”) provide gaming products (“Gaming”) to you and other players (“Players”) on our websites and apps (collectively our “ Site”) solely for entertainment purposes. We operate our Sites on behalf of and as agent for a provincial government entity named iGaming Ontario (“IGO”). We are conscious of and approve of the Government’s public policy objective to ensure that players have a safe and responsible place to play games in a provincially regulated market.
Responsible gaming is very important to us but it also requires your active participation. This document (that is, our “Responsible Gaming and Self-Exclusion Policy” or this “Policy”) provides you with information about the tools that we make available to players to monitor and limit their gambling activities so that they remain entertainment and don’t become a problem. The Policy also describes our Responsible Gambling (“RG”) program and the features available to Players who have opened an account with us on our Site. This Policy forms part of the Player Agreement – Terms and Conditions for Use. While we may periodically update this Policy and will notify you of any changes we make to it, every Player is ultimately responsible for remaining familiar with the terms of the Policy.
Problem Gambling
Gambling problems share many similarities with other addictive behaviours, but do not have the same visible signs or physical changes that may indicate a gambling problem. Rather, there are common behavioural, emotional, financial and health signs that may indicate someone has a problem with gambling. These signs include the following:
Behavioural Signs
The individual:
- stops doing things that the individual previously enjoyed
- misses family events
- changes patterns of sleep, eating or sex
- ignores self-care, work, school or family tasks
- has conflicts with other people over money
- uses alcohol or other drugs more often
- leaves children alone, seems less concerned about who looks after them, neglects their basic care
- think about gambling all the time
- is less willing to spend money on things other than gambling
- cheats or steals to get the money to gamble or pay debts
- is often later for work or school
- organizes staff pools
- is gone for long, unexplained periods of time.
Emotional Signs
The individual:
- withdraws from family and friends
- seems far away or anxious, or has difficulty paying attention
- has mood swings and sudden outbursts of anger
- complaints of boredom or restlessness
- seems depressed or suicidal.
Financial Signs
The individual:
- frequently borrows money or asks for salary advances
- takes s second job without a change in finances
- cashes in savings accounts, RRSPs, TFSAs or insurance plans
- alternates between being broke and flashing money
- has family members who complain that valuables and appliances are disappearing or that money is missing from a bank account or wallet.
Health Signs
The individual complains of stress-related health problems, such as headaches, stomach and bowel problems, difficulty sleeping, overeating or loss of appetite.
There are many reasons why a gambling problem may develop, such as when someone attempts to win back money that was lost or because the individual likes “the action”. Others may have life stresses and consider gambling a relief from those stresses. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health provides a self-assessment tool – a tool that is anonymous – that may be used by players to assess, based on their individual risks, the likelihood of developing a problem with gambling. This anonymous tool is available at https://www.problemgambling.ca/gambling-help/ This very useful webpage provides other self-help tools that players may want to explore.
We encourage any of our Players who are concerned about whether they have a problem with gambling to consider not using our Site – or that of other operators – and to seek assistance from health care providers and others. While there are a number of sources of information and assistance the following are two resources available to people in Ontario:
1. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – CAMH is funded by the Government of Ontario and has programs and services related to problem gambling:
a) Problem Gambling and Technology Use Support Groups - Support groups for family members of individuals experiencing a gambling problem or excessive gaming and internet use - https://www.camh.ca/en/your-care/programs-and-services/problem-gambling-support-groups
b) Problem Gambling and Technology Use Treatment Services - This service offers support for people whose gambling or technology use is problematic, leading to difficulties in other parts of their lives - https://www.camh.ca/en/your-care/programs-and-services/problem-gambling--technology-use-treatment
2. Responsible Gambling Council of Ontario – RGC provides information to the public about problem gambling and has established good practices for iGaming operators to adopt - https://www.responsiblegambling.org/for-the-public
Another service that is available for Ontarians is the Connex Ontario Help Line 1-866-531-2600. We encourage our Players and their family and friends to access these services to prevent problem gambling or to address any issues or concerns.
Our Responsible Gambling Program
Our Responsible Gambling Program has two objectives:
- Prevent gambling-related risks and harm;
- Mitigate gambling-related risks and harm.
In order to assist in achieving those objectives, we provide you with access to resources and tools on our Site. It is your decision as a Player whether or not to use the tools that we provide on the Site. At the end of the day, the choice whether or not to gamble ultimately rests with you. Our RG program is based on the premise that attempts by others to “control” you will be less successful than providing you with the tools to monitor and control your own behaviour.
Our RG tools (“Tools”) allow you to, for example, limit the amount of your deposits, limit your losses, take breaks from play and, if desired, self-exclude from our Site. Links to the Tools are found at www.northstarbets.ca/responsible-gaming. If you choose to use one of our Tools, you can subsequently further restrict your play (e.g., by lowering the amounts further or by extending the time periods) but you cannot make other changes for at least one week. This one-week cooling-off period applies to Breaks, Loss Limits and Deposit Limits. Note however that you cannot reduce the period of self-exclusion.
We encourage you to review the information in your Player Account on a regular basis. You may find that on occasion your review of your account suggests that you would benefit from use of one or more of our Tools. We may also periodically review your transactions to ensure that that you are not struggling with gambling problems. While we aren’t able to determine definitively whether you have gambling problem, our review may identify certain behaviours that may give rise to concerns. If we do have concerns, we may, as a result, send a message or otherwise communicate with you to encourage you to consider using one or more of our Tools but as always, the choice remains yours.
POLICY EFFECTIVE DATE: April 4, 2022