GAME BRAiN PROGRAM
GAME BRAiN is an interactive, educational, and entertaining 45-minute program, whose aim is to inform students aged 15-18 on the potential dangers of gambling through a series of interactive games. The program was developed by the Responsible Gambling Council of Canada and since 2014 it has been presented more than 130 times, reaching more than 50.000 students in Ontario, Canada.
The National Betting Authority launched GAME BRAiN in Cyprus, which has been assessed and approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth for all public and private secondary schools in Cyprus. The aim of this program is the protection of young people and the prevention of problem gambling behavior, as well as the education and awareness of the school community.
GAME BRAiN consists of 5 different games, each of which conveys a specific message: realities of gambling, potential losses of gambling, understanding the odds, warning signs of a gambling problem, as well as ways to get help and support.
The program was first presented in private schools in Nicosia, as part of the 2nd Responsible Gaming Awareness Week in October 2019, receiving positive feedback from both students and teachers. By March 2020, 18 performances took place in 12 public and private schools with the participation of over 700 students.
The program has received positive feedback from students and teachers alike. Answering an evaluation questionnaire, the majority of participants agree that it is a good and engaging way to raise awareness for problem gambling, while at the same time found it informative and entertaining.
Specifically, among 742 students, over 85% of the participants found the program informative and entertaining, 77% consider it an interactive game and a good way to inform someone about problem gambling and over 80% thought it is a good way to raise awareness of problem gambling. GAME BRAiN was also the first source of information on problem gambling for 55% of participants.
Finally, after an evaluation questionnaire for teachers, 100% found the program informative and entertaining, 96% found it to be an interactive game and a good way to inform someone about problem gambling, as well as 100% states that it is a good way to raise awareness about problem gambling. It is also worth noting that GAME BRAiN was the first source of information on problem gambling for 49% of participants.
Due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictive measures taken from the Ministry of Health to safeguard public health since March 2020, GAME BRAiN scheduled performances in Cyprus schools have been postponed. The goal of the National Betting Authority is to continue the GAME BRAiN performances in schools, as soon as the conditions of the pandemic allow it.
