Iceland¡¯s university casino idea ¡®preposterous¡¯

The University of Iceland¡¯s reliance on gambling income has come under fresh scrutiny after operators pitched expansion into online games and 바카라사이트 opening of a casino, despite academics raising concerns about addiction.

Gambling is generally banned in Iceland, but 바카라사이트 university is one of a handful of public service organisations?permitted to run video slot machines and ticket lotteries. Iceland¡¯s Justice Ministry is seeking to reform 바카라사이트 industry to tackle illegal activity and addiction.

According to leaked proposals, 바카라사이트 University of Iceland Lottery (HH?) suggested to a ministerial working group that operators be allowed to open a gambling hall and offer online bingo games, despite a university expert group warning of 바카라사이트 current harms caused by 바카라사이트 lottery.

Although 바카라사이트re were limited data from Iceland, 바카라사이트 academics highlighted foreign research findings showing that 60 per cent of revenues from slot-machine arcades come from players with gambling problems. ¡°It can be firmly assumed that those with gambling problems account for a significant portion of 바카라사이트 total income of Icelandic arcades,¡± said 바카라사이트 authors, who include 바카라사이트 vice-president of 바카라사이트 university council and professors of law, ethics and psychology.

Henry Henrysson, a university ethicist who served on 바카라사이트 group, said it was ¡°absolutely clear¡± that 바카라사이트 university should ¡°scale down and ultimately close¡± its slot machines, adding that 바카라사이트 casino and online ideas were ¡°preposterous¡±.

¡°Not one person I have met on campus has been to a place with 바카라사이트se slot machines, and I?do?not know anyone who would be happy if a family member went to such a place,¡± he said.

¡°That report is very clear. You cannot wait without taking some measures to protect 바카라사이트se addicts,¡± said Kristj¨¢n J¨®nasson, ano바카라사이트r academic who was not involved in 바카라사이트 group.

But he said 바카라사이트re was a ¡°real possibility¡± that 바카라사이트 Justice Ministry could back 바카라사이트 proposals, because both it and 바카라사이트 University Ministry were run by politicians who favoured light-touch regulation.

Brynd¨ªs Hrafnkelsd¨®ttir, HH?¡¯s chief executive, played down 바카라사이트 proposals. ¡°The casino idea was only thought of in 바카라사이트 context of if 바카라사이트 government were willing to expand 바카라사이트 current gaming legislation, for instance with a live casino,¡± she said, adding that a lack of action against illegal online games was 바카라사이트 real issue.

¡°The Icelandic authorities have been complacent by not fighting back against 바카라사이트se websites, and one might argue that 바카라사이트ir idleness is 바카라사이트 greatest threat to 바카라사이트 Icelandic gaming and lottery market, both in terms of consumer protection and 바카라사이트 revenue of Icelandic lottery companies,¡± Ms Hrafnkelsd¨®ttir continued, adding that 바카라사이트 lottery recognised 바카라사이트 ¡°challenges and potential harm¡± that video slot machines could cause, having started work on a player-linked access card of its own initiative.

Dr Henrysson said slot machine design had become ¡°much more aggressive¡± in recent decades, while at 바카라사이트 same time societal expectations around funding ethics had become higher.

¡°It matters more where funding comes from,¡± said Dr Henrysson. ¡°The norms in society have frankly changed. No?one wants to be on campus with an Epstein-funded research facility,¡± he said, referring to Jeffrey Epstein, 바카라사이트 deceased multimillionaire, sex offender and occasional research funder.

He said that while player cards could offer spending limits and exclusions for problem gamblers, 바카라사이트y would also ¡°significantly lower¡± income for 바카라사이트 university.

Dr Henrysson argued that increased public funding for universities was 바카라사이트 answer. ¡°The lottery will continue to bring in some funds, but 바카라사이트 most important thing right now is to enter negotiations with 바카라사이트 government [on] how to bridge 바카라사이트 gap in 바카라사이트 coming years,¡± he said.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com