A group of gambling addicts complains that player protection is too weak in Austria. Casinos Austria and politicians have little interest in really helping them. One of those affected, Christoph Holubar, reported at a press conference on Wednesday of cases where branch managers had called gambling addicts who had blocked themselves. The casinos deny the allegations and believe they know Holubar’s real motivation.
Holubar, who himself lost a lot of money in the casino, said that it was important to him and the other members of the “Spielerhilfe” association that other gambling addicts and their relatives were spared the experiences they had made themselves. Many people would perish from their gambling addiction and entire families would be robbed of their livelihoods.
Holubar provided records of three players showing how much money they have lost in the casino over the years. On the other hand, he provided the player logs that Casinos Austria kept and that those concerned had queried by means of data protection requests. While the gamblers themselves stated that they had gambled away around 70,000 euros and in one case even over 250,000 euros, the casino records show winnings of 43,800, 65,200 and 423,000 euros, respectively. “The recording of profits and losses is far too imprecise and often wrong,” criticizes Holubar.
Holubar complains that Casinos Austria does not take player protection seriously enough because it would damage business. Gambling addicts are an important source of income, according to Holubar, who fears that due to the austerity measures triggered by the corona crisis, player protection will be further undermined. The government also has a conflict of interests due to the high tax revenues from gambling and the involvement in the casinos.
Casinos Austria rejects the allegations as false, misleading and distorting. “Mr. Holubar is conducting a legal dispute against Casinos Austria and is demanding an amount worth millions,” said Casinos press spokesman Patrick Minar to the APA. From the company’s point of view, Holubar’s media work serves to improve his legal position in court by attempting to discredit Casinos Austria AG (Casag).