In an unprecedented move an Australian casino has boldly decided to encourage gamblers to spend less money. Now there’s radical thinking for you that goes against common garden market greed.
The Crown Casino is actively getting punters to set a limit on how much time and money they are prepared to spend at poker machines over twenty-four hours. All you have to do is sign up on their “Play Safe” program and you’re money is guaranteed. If you go over your target on the machine it rudely beeps and flashes at you. As those machines routinely make all sorts of noises anyway when you’re playing it’s fortunate that the Crown has a gone a little further.
Yes, indeed, as an added incentive to get you off the accursed money eater you lose loyalty bonuses as you keep playing. And they go even further. If you repeatedly ignore your cut-off point a large unfriendly man in a towel nips out and burps an opera at you until you get embarrassed and leave of your own accord. Well, alright no he doesn’t, but you do get a trip to the casino’s support centre for problem gamblers for a tea and biscuit.
Play Safe is apparently the first program of it’s kind in the world. Cynics might say it’s a smashing way to identify addicts, get them together in one big barrel and start shooting, however, others, such as John Dalziel, a spokesman for the Salvation Army, are pleased with the news: 'Anything we can do to make it easy for people to stop gambling more than they can afford to lose has got to be encouraged.'
In a stunningly good sense PR move Crown even spent real money consulting with various community groups, including the Salvation Army and Gambler’s Help, when they came up with the idea. The innovative scheme is already getting interest from the likes of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. This isn’t the first time Crown Casino have introduced a new way of helping addicts. Only last year they were the first casino in the world to offer twenty-four hour gambling counselling. As Rowen Craigie, Crown’s chief executive, says coming up with Play Safe as well: “Establishes Crown as one of the world leaders in tackling problem gambling.'
I’ve heard of casinos that let problem gamblers voluntarily ban themselves before, but I’ve also heard of problem gamblers that are banned suing for being let in anyway to send themselves bankrupt. That an idea like this has only just been put in place somewhere in the world is simply shocking. About time. Honestly, there’s no point fleecing your most reliable customers. Keep them ticking over and you’ll have their custom for life.
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The Crown Casino is actively getting punters to set a limit on how much time and money they are prepared to spend at poker machines over twenty-four hours. All you have to do is sign up on their “Play Safe” program and you’re money is guaranteed. If you go over your target on the machine it rudely beeps and flashes at you. As those machines routinely make all sorts of noises anyway when you’re playing it’s fortunate that the Crown has a gone a little further.
Yes, indeed, as an added incentive to get you off the accursed money eater you lose loyalty bonuses as you keep playing. And they go even further. If you repeatedly ignore your cut-off point a large unfriendly man in a towel nips out and burps an opera at you until you get embarrassed and leave of your own accord. Well, alright no he doesn’t, but you do get a trip to the casino’s support centre for problem gamblers for a tea and biscuit.
Play Safe is apparently the first program of it’s kind in the world. Cynics might say it’s a smashing way to identify addicts, get them together in one big barrel and start shooting, however, others, such as John Dalziel, a spokesman for the Salvation Army, are pleased with the news: 'Anything we can do to make it easy for people to stop gambling more than they can afford to lose has got to be encouraged.'
In a stunningly good sense PR move Crown even spent real money consulting with various community groups, including the Salvation Army and Gambler’s Help, when they came up with the idea. The innovative scheme is already getting interest from the likes of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. This isn’t the first time Crown Casino have introduced a new way of helping addicts. Only last year they were the first casino in the world to offer twenty-four hour gambling counselling. As Rowen Craigie, Crown’s chief executive, says coming up with Play Safe as well: “Establishes Crown as one of the world leaders in tackling problem gambling.'
I’ve heard of casinos that let problem gamblers voluntarily ban themselves before, but I’ve also heard of problem gamblers that are banned suing for being let in anyway to send themselves bankrupt. That an idea like this has only just been put in place somewhere in the world is simply shocking. About time. Honestly, there’s no point fleecing your most reliable customers. Keep them ticking over and you’ll have their custom for life.
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