Pedro Romero in SGT with Šimon Vincze: “I’d like an additional treatment option to be available.”

In the latest episode of Safer Gambling Talks, Casino Guru's Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling, Šimon Vincze, sits down with Pedro Romero, Chief of Strategic Partnerships at BetBlocker, who tells his story of how he got started in the industry, the rocky path he followed earlier in his life, and how it helped him be of service to others.

Pedro has dedicated his time and efforts to spearhead actionable research into gambling-related harm and help protect players no matter where they are. A big part of his research has to do with alternative treatments for problem gambling, including the potential use of psilocybin.

Romero is a trained psychologist and has hands-on experience in treatment and diagnosing problem gambling and gambling-related issues, although his involvement in the gambling industry was mostly down to chance.

Pedro’s first job that had to do specifically with helping problem gamblers get better was at the Gordon Moody Association, where he brought his clinical training to strengthen internal processes and create an environment that helped struggling gamblers get better.

Romero continued with what purpose he served within the organization, the valuable experience he brought along, and how it translated into healthier interactions between people looking for help and the people ready to offer that help.

He continued his career in the private sector, joining GiG next, followed by stints at William Hill, 888 Holdings, before becoming a Safer Gambling Consultant at iGamingCoach and stepping into his current position as Chief of Safer Gambling Partnerships at BetBlocker.

Romero addresses the good companies can do as well, before a person is classified as a gambling addict, by engaging players and helping them use responsible gambling tools, proactively setting up limits on the time and money they spend on a website. This, argues Romero, is an important rapport to build between the operator and its players.

Yet, operators have a fine balance to strike, as they have to make players trust them, and not appear as invasive or noisy, and inadvertently reinforce any lingering stigma. Similarly, operators need to gauge what the player feels comfortable talking about and what they wish not to discuss.

Romero similarly emphasizes the need to communicate why therapy, responsible gambling tools, and reaching out in general can be impactful and, far more importantly, why players may doubt their effectiveness. Communication here is key, as it helps players understand the good that can come out of such interactions.

Communication is important, and that is why BetBlocker is scaling its reach, with a particular focus on increased accessibility. The company has been translating the solution into more languages and has been paying particular attention to those markets where help for people struggling with gambling addiction has been lacking.

This and other insights are available in the full episode of Safer Gambling Talks with Pedro Romero, Chief of Strategic Partnerships at BetBlocker. Make sure not to miss it!

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