2025 Playsponsible Academy – Learning From the Best
We’re constantly rethinking our responsibilities: at the 2025 Playsponsible Academy last Thursday, the Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries Group welcomed Alexander Wurz, a speaker who had a lot to say on the topic of responsibility in connection with risk.
Absent responsible behaviour, gaming can become a risk. That’s why we need stakeholders who are committed to going beyond the requirements defined by law. The Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries Group has been doing this for Austria for many decades. In addition to fair gaming conditions and correct and secure game processing, the protection of players is also important. The Playsponsible Academy, which took place at the Casino Baden on April 3, once again emphasised that the training and further education of employees plays a crucial role in this.
Right at the beginning of the event, CEO Erwin van Lambaart got straight to the point: "For us, gaming first and foremost goes hand in hand with a responsibility that we take very seriously. It’s in our best interest for gaming to remain a positive, enjoyable experience for everyone. With the Playsponsible Academy, we’ve created an event that is unique in the industry, with an international panel. That’s why it – in line with our responsibility towards Austria – is a part of our continuous investment and innovation in the context of optimal protection for all customers and guests.”
The afternoon started with Ute Andorfer, clinical psychologist at the Anton Proksch Institute, and was dedicated to the training and further education of the Group’s employees. Andorfer explained the importance of including those affected in such prevention training and elaborated on the significance of the early detection of problematic gaming behaviour in addiction prevention – a circumstance in which she also emphasised the many years of good cooperation with the licensed gaming industry in Austria.
The next speaker, long-standing Formula 1 driver and racing expert Alexander Wurz, provided extremely fascinating insights into the topic of risk and responsibility in Formula 1 racing. It quickly became clear that a responsible implementation of the entire Formula 1 circus would not be feasible without highly trained employees. According to Wurz, who contributed his technical expertise as well as his extensive knowledge of safety in motor racing as president of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association and as a race track designer, continuous adaptations and improvements are the reasons why a safety net that is always adapted to the risk can be developed.
The Academy – an internationally acclaimed event for knowledge transfer and further education
The annual Playsponsible Academy, which was initiated by the Casinos Austria Group, focuses on the international exchange of knowledge and research results in the fields of player protection, psychiatry, psychology, social sciences and neurology. These regular exchanges ensure that the latest developments and scientific findings are always incorporated into player protection measures. The Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries Group is proud of the fact that it continues to set new standards in the industry. The Playsponsible Academy offers the Group’s employees as well as representatives of regulatory authorities and advisory organisations an opportunity to obtain comprehensive information on the latest developments in the field of player protection and gaming addiction prevention and to exchange ideas.