The Ivory Coast Gambling Regulatory Authority (ARJH) and the National Centre for Study and Research in Applied Psychology (CIERPA) have signed a partnership agreement to strengthen gambling harm prevention.
The two will collaborate to detect risky behaviour better and provide psychological support to players with problematic gambling.
This agreement aims to create a structured framework that combines the regulatory authority's experience with CIERPA's scientific and psychological expertise. The latter will provide support to players referred by ARJH and monitor situations requiring specialised intervention.
Additionally, the partnership will cover developing a player profiling system and establishing mechanisms for earlier detection of gambling addiction. The two organisations will collaborate on scientific research, including studies on gambling addiction in Ivory Coast.
They will also combine their expertise to organise public awareness campaigns promoting responsible gambling tools. Furthermore, CIERPA will help the regulator establish its own psychological support unit.
Through this partnership, the two organisations seek to improve the identification of at-risk individuals, expand access to psychological support and strengthen prevention efforts.
Earlier this year, Ivory Coast formally documented the creation of its Gambling Sector Monitoring Unit. The unit will support the gambling regulator by monitoring, controlling and securing gambling sites. It will have broad powers to investigate, enforce and report gambling-related offences across the country.
Stricter controls on access to online sites are also expected to improve protection for minors and vulnerable individuals, alongside tougher penalties for offending operators.
At the time of reporting, Global Gaming Insider has been unable to verify whether the unit has commenced operations independently.
The new monitoring unit will include sworn officers, security forces and regulatory representatives, with powers to investigate and enforce gambling-related offences
