THE AWARE PROGRAM (Always WAger REsponsibly)

OVERVIEW

AWARE is TVG’s responsible wagering program. TVG is the leader in combining the excitement and beauty of horse racing with interactive technology and in-home wagering. Just as we are a leader in interactive home wagering, TVG is playing a leadership role in Responsible Wagering in our industry through the AWARE Program. This innovative program was among the first of its kind and is designed to promote responsible wagering on horse racing by adults only, through TVG’s wagering systems. TVG’s commitment is that its subscribers wager on the sport of horse racing in a responsible, lawful, adult manner. Through AWARE, we emphasize awareness, education and support of responsible wagering behavior among our subscribers and employees.

MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT
The AWARE Program prohibits acceptance of wagers from anyone under the age of 21. To implement this policy, TVG has a contract with a national, independent, individual reference service company that performs a comprehensive identity and age verification before any wagering account application is accepted or activated. This verification system ensures that only adults, at least twenty-one years old, are able to open a personal wagering account.

ACCOUNT ACCESS
The AWARE Program employs a thorough identification system involving a unique account number and a confidential Personal Identification Number (PIN) to ensure that only the account holder of record can access his or her account.

SELF-EXCLUSION/COOLING OFF PERIOD
All TVG subscribers have the option to block use of credit cards on their wagering accounts. Once blocked, subscribers must contact our customer relations department and wait 24 hours before the block can be removed.

AWARENESS
TVG’s website features information on the AWARE Program and problem gambling resources in our wagering states. Additionally, programming content and advertising on the TVG Network promote the AWARE Program and its policies to encourage responsible wagering. All TVG Customer Relations Representatives receive educational material and awareness training in the area of problem gambling.

EXPERT CONSULTATION
TVG retains a nationally recognized expert in the field of problem gambling for advice and recommendations on changes and enhancements to the AWARE Program. TVG’s customer relations’ staff receives annual, recurrent training and educational material regarding problem gambling.

COMMITMENT
TVG is committed to minimizing problem gambling and actively supports the Winners Federation, a national non-profit program that serves as a clearinghouse for organizations that specifically provide education, assessment, and treatment services, through credentialed counselors for the resolution of gambling disorders.
  
RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING
Responsible gambling, which fundamentally reflects individual choices, occurs in a regulated environment where the potential for harm is minimized as much as practicable and where people are expected to be capable of making responsible decisions about participation in any available gaming entertainment. In order to wager responsibly, patrons need to have ample, trustworthy, information, which is readily available, and can be used in making personal decisions. Therefore, the main thrust of responsible gaming programs, such as

AWARE, is educational. Where prevention techniques are applicable, or required by regulators, those techniques are folded into responsible gaming programs, i.e., The AWARE Program of TVG.

The small portion of the population that is afflicted by gambling disorders is a problem that concerns us all. We know that problem gambling can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or social and economic background. Therefore, we must view every patron as, potentially, a problem gambler even though the odds of our being correct in that regard are very small. Our AWARE Program, and all such programs, face the fact that problem gamblers are much more difficult to identify than substance abusers. No outward physical signs of gambling addiction are present and no blood or urine test will reveal those who are, or are not, problem gamblers.
Nevertheless, there are some behavioral indicators of problem gambling, including:
            Losing time from work or family due to gambling,
            Repeated failed attempts to stop or control gambling,
            Borrowing money to gamble or pay gambling debts,
            Gambling to escape worry or trouble,
            Neglecting the care of one’s self or family in order to gamble,
            Lying about the amount of time and money spent on gambling,
            Gambling more money in an attempt to win back losses (chasing),
            Selling or pawning personal possessions to get money to gamble,
            Feelings of hopelessness, depression, or suicide as a result of gambling,
            A sudden need for money/loans, and
            Secrecy and avoidance when questioned about time and money.
While most individuals are able to participate in wagering activities in a benign, socially acceptable manner, it is important to develop and implement programs, such as TVG’s AWARE Program, for that small, but important, percentage of people who have problems with wagering.
  
REPORTING PROBLEM GAMBLING
If you suspect that you or someone you know may have a problem related to gambling, or for additional information, please call the National Problem Gambling Hotline at: 1-800-522-4700 or visit their website at www.ncpgambling.org.
For additional information regarding gambling issues, you may also contact the following organizations in states where TVG provides services.
  
CaliforniaCouncil on Problem Gambling      
Helpline: 800-522-4700
www.calproblemgambling.org

Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling
Helpline: 888-236-4848
www.gamblinghelp.org

Idaho
Idaho has no Council on Problem Gambling. For assistance contact:
Idaho Lottery
208-334-2600

Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling     
Helpline: 800-426-2537                                    

Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling
Helpline: 877-770-7867
www.laprobgam.org

Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling
Helpline: 800-426-1234
www.masscompulsivegambling.org

Maryland Council on Problem Gambling
Helpline: 800-522-4700           
Email: ncpgambling@aol.com                       
 
New York Council on Problem Gambling
1-800-437-1611.
www.nyproblemgambling.org

North Dakota Council on Compulsive Gambling
Helpline: 800-522-4700
Email: ccgnd@btinet.net                                                      
                               
Ohio Council on Problem Gambling                         
Helpline: 800-589-9966            
                               
Oregon Gambling Addiction Treatment Foundation            
Helpline: 800-233-8479
www.gamblingaddiction.org

Virginia
Virginia has no statewide agency, contact the National Council on Problem Gambling
1-800/522-4700
E-mail: ncpg@ncpgambling.org

Washington State Council on Problem Gambling
Helpline: 800-547-6133
www.wscpg.org

Wyoming
Wyoming has no statewide agency that is responsible, specifically, for prevention and treatment of gambling disorders. For assistance contact:
Department of Mental Health
Division on Substance Abuse
Phone: 307-777-7094