Author: Ryan D. Jaeger
Established as a charity in the United Kingdom in 2002, the GREaT Foundation
was formerly known as the Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RIGT), with the
express objective of solving problem gambling through multi channels, including
education, research and treatment.
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In mid 2009, the Jerry Sutcliffe, Minister of Sports, applied a condition to the
continuation of the Foundation - that the gambling industry would continue to
fund a minimum of €5 million for the next three years, per annum.
In September 2009, the title RIGT was changed to GREaT, which stands for
(Fundraising for) Gambling Research, Education and Treatment (of problem
gambling), and is funded by gambling operators and other interested parties in
the industry.
Upon changing the name of the charity, it was stated that the foundation would
be responsible for providing research into the degree and causes of problem
gambling; to fund programs of education in order to promote problem gambling;
and to pay for the treatment of problem gamblers.
While the government believes that the gambling industry will continue to
contribute, it also seeks donations from other industries who make an income
from gambling. These include the media, banks, and professional advisors, to
name just a few.
The government also focuses on those organizations on whom it claims "shirks
their social responsibilities" by not supporting the fund or making a donation
that is less that it should be compared to the revenues that they generate. The
government works together with the UK Gambling Commission to ensure that all
gambling operators full their License Conditions and Codes of Practice
regulation on the demonstration of social responsibility.
Literally hundreds of companies and organizations support GREaT financially,
including some of the biggest names in the UK gambling industry. Among there are
Astra Games Ltd., Betfair, Gala Leisure, Genting UK, NetPlay TV Services, Paddy
Power, Stan James, Stanleybet and Victor Chandler International.
In 2009, nearly 370 companies contributed to the fund. Donors are classified as
Great, Greater or Greatest. According to the foundation, these classifications
are not dependent on the actual amount donated "but on the generosity of the
donations against the size of the donors' operation."
The GREat Founation uses a number of annual gambling conferences to promote and
acknowledge the work undertaken by the industry to help care for the relatively
small percentage of people in the country who are problem gamblers.
An awards ceremony is being planned for 2010, which will seek to recognize those
gaming organizations that have made donations to the fund and to award those who
have exceeded 'reasonable expectations'. Gold and silver medals will be awarded
to those companies who made donations between April and November 2009.
