RG Check is a responsible gambling accreditation program developed by the Responsible Gambling Council, Ontario, Canada. It assesses individual gambling venues on hundreds of criteria based on existing responsible gambling standards and codes of practice. Here, "responsible gambling" refers to efforts made by the gambling venue operator to prevent or reduce gambling-related harm.
The assessment evaluates 361 venue features linked to responsible gambling. These variables are divided into eight categories:
- Responsible Gambling Policies
- Employee Training
- Self-Exclusion
- Assisting Patrons
- Informed Decision Making
- Advertising and Promotion
- Access to Money
- Venue/Game Features
Numeric scores are calculated for each of the eight categories, then converted to a final weighted score. Data are collected through site visits, and from voluntary, anonymous surveys of employees and patrons. There is no identifying information for any survey participant.
This dataset represents all RG Check evaluations from the time of the program launch in 2012 through to 2019. RG Check Accreditation is valid for three years, after which a venue can apply to be reassessed. The dataset contains data from 152 assessments of 75 different venues. Data included in the masterfile are anonymized. Each venue is assigned a number only, and no key is available to match the number to the casino name. Venue characteristic information that is collected includes: Ontario vs. non-Ontario venue; rural vs. small, medium, and large urban location; and venue size (based on number of slot machines). A list of participating venues is available on the RG Check website's Accredited Sites page.
