Recent World Health Organisation (WHO) initiatives in relation to gaming and gambling and gaming-gambling convergence
Session Title
Session 2-3-A: Problem Gambling and Emerging Technology
Presentation Type
Event
Location
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Start Date
29-5-2019 1:45 PM
End Date
29-5-2019 3:10 PM
Abstract
The inaugural WHO Global Forum on Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours (Geneva, 26-28 June 2017) for the first time included behavioural addictions alongside alcohol and other forms of substance misuse. Two behavioural addictions (gambling disorder and gaming disorder) are included in the recently released update of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 11). Gambling disorder has been in the ICD since 1975. The addition of gaming disorder, while strongly endorsed by clinical and public health organisations, is opposed by gaming industry and some other parties. During the past five years WHO has convened annual meetings on the public health implications of behavioural addictions, most recently in Istanbul (29 Nov-1 Dec 2017) and Changsha (22-24 Nov 2018). The author gave invited presentations and wrote background papers for the Global Forum and Istanbul and Changsha meetings. One of these papers is being extended as a WHO report on the convergence of gambling and gaming. Meeting outcomes included a working group to develop diagnostic and screening measures of gaming and gambling disorder. This presentation will provide an overview of the new ICD 11 gambling and gaming disorder diagnostic criteria, WHO and related initiatives to get gambling and gaming onto public health agendas and implications of the fast moving gaming-gambling convergence. This convergence includes the migration of gambling elements into gaming and gaming elements into gambling. Substantial clinical, public health, legal, regulatory and other ramifications are considered.
Recent World Health Organisation (WHO) initiatives in relation to gaming and gambling and gaming-gambling convergence
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
The inaugural WHO Global Forum on Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours (Geneva, 26-28 June 2017) for the first time included behavioural addictions alongside alcohol and other forms of substance misuse. Two behavioural addictions (gambling disorder and gaming disorder) are included in the recently released update of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 11). Gambling disorder has been in the ICD since 1975. The addition of gaming disorder, while strongly endorsed by clinical and public health organisations, is opposed by gaming industry and some other parties. During the past five years WHO has convened annual meetings on the public health implications of behavioural addictions, most recently in Istanbul (29 Nov-1 Dec 2017) and Changsha (22-24 Nov 2018). The author gave invited presentations and wrote background papers for the Global Forum and Istanbul and Changsha meetings. One of these papers is being extended as a WHO report on the convergence of gambling and gaming. Meeting outcomes included a working group to develop diagnostic and screening measures of gaming and gambling disorder. This presentation will provide an overview of the new ICD 11 gambling and gaming disorder diagnostic criteria, WHO and related initiatives to get gambling and gaming onto public health agendas and implications of the fast moving gaming-gambling convergence. This convergence includes the migration of gambling elements into gaming and gaming elements into gambling. Substantial clinical, public health, legal, regulatory and other ramifications are considered.