Gambling addiction prevention device, gambling addiction prevention method, and computer program

Abstract

A gambling addiction countermeasure device according to the present invention comprises an acquisition unit, a determination unit, a output unit, and a notification unit in order to provide, to a countermeasure subject who is considered to be in need of a gambling addiction countermeasure for recovering from the state of being addicted to gambling, a technique that enables the countermeasure subject to become self-aware of his or her addiction to gambling. The acquisition unit acquires subject information from an information source that outputs subject information pertaining to the subject including behavior information indicating the behavior of the subject. The determination unit uses a machine learning-based determination model to determine the necessity of a gambling addiction countermeasure for the subject and generates evidence information indicating evidence for the determination thereof. The output unit outputs the evidence information to a confirmation terminal. When designated information is received as a reply from the confirmation terminal, the notification unit notifies the countermeasure subject determined to be in need of a countermeasure that it was determined that a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary, the notification including an explanation of the evidence indicated in the designated information.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for assisting recovery from gambling addiction. [Background technology]

[0002] In Japan, gambling is prohibited under the Criminal Code, but publicly managed sports events are held by public institutions in the hope of generating economic benefits. Publicly managed sports events include horse racing, bicycle racing, boat racing, and auto racing.

[0003] There is no problem with enjoying publicly managed gambling as a healthy form of entertainment, but some people develop gambling addiction (also known as pathological gambling or gambling disorder). Gambling addiction is a mental illness in which people become so obsessed with gambling that they lose control and it interferes with their daily and social lives.

[0004] Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication No. 2019-180886) discloses a technology that sends images of a target person playing gaming machines such as pachinko machines or slot machines to a supporter, and sends a notification to the supporter when the target person's spending amount reaches a limit.

[0005] Patent Document 2 (JP 2020-135366 A) discloses a technology that acquires and analyzes a gambling user's gambling history and biometric information to provide advice tailored to the user's psychological state. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-180886 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-135366 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Gambling addiction is a mental illness that is difficult for individuals to recognize, and recovery through their own will alone is difficult. For this reason, in order to recover from gambling addiction, it is first necessary for those who have developed a gambling addiction, or who are considered to be at risk of developing a gambling addiction, to recognize that they are addicted to gambling.

[0008] The main object of the present invention is to provide a method for making people who are believed to need measures to deal with gambling addiction in order to recover from their gambling addiction aware that they are in a state of gambling addiction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the gambling addiction prevention device according to the present invention is: an acquisition unit that acquires subject information from an information source that outputs subject information related to the subject, the subject information including behavior information representing the behavior of the subject; a judgment unit that uses the subject information as an input and determines whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject using a judgment model that outputs information indicating whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject and the basis for that determination, and generates basis information indicating the basis for that determination; an output unit that outputs the basis information to a confirmation terminal that is set in advance as an output destination; a notification unit that notifies the person who is the person who is determined to need the gambling addiction countermeasure, including an explanation of the grounds that are expressed in the grounds expressed in the grounds information and that are to be presented to the person who is the person who is determined to need the gambling addiction countermeasure, the information being information that is received from the confirmation terminal; and Equipped with.

[0010] In addition, one aspect of the gambling addiction countermeasure method according to the present invention is as follows: By computer, acquire subject information from an information source that outputs subject information about the subject, the subject information including behavioral information representing the behavior of the subject; Using a judgment model that receives the subject information as input and outputs information indicating whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject and the basis for that determination, the judgment model determines whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject, and generates basis information indicating the basis for that determination; outputting the basis information to a confirmation terminal that is set as an output destination in advance; The person to be targeted for countermeasures, who is the subject to countermeasures who has been determined to require gambling addiction countermeasures, is notified of the fact that it has been determined that the gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary, including an explanation of the basis represented in the designated information, which is information received from the confirmation terminal and which represents the basis represented in the basis information to be presented to the subject to countermeasures who has been determined to require gambling addiction countermeasures.

[0011] Furthermore, in one aspect, the program storage medium according to the present invention comprises: A process of acquiring subject information from an information source that outputs subject information regarding the subject, the subject information including behavioral information representing the behavior of the subject; a process of determining whether or not gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary for the subject, and generating evidence information indicating the grounds for such determination, using a determination model that receives the subject information as input and outputs information indicating the grounds for such determination; a process of outputting the basis information to a confirmation terminal that is set in advance as an output destination; a process of notifying the person who is the person who is determined to need the gambling addiction countermeasure, including an explanation of the grounds indicated in the designation information, which is information indicating the grounds to be presented to the person who is the person who is determined to need the gambling addiction countermeasure, and which is information received from the confirmation terminal; and The computer program for causing a computer to execute the above is stored. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, a method can be provided to help people who are thought to need measures to combat gambling addiction in order to recover from their gambling addiction to become aware that they are addicted to gambling. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a gambling addiction prevention device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display mode of an explanation of the basis displayed by the confirmation terminal. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for restricting entry into a venue. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the gambling addiction prevention device of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a gambling addiction prevention device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a gambling addiction prevention device according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a gambling addiction countermeasure device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The gambling addiction countermeasure device (hereinafter also referred to as the countermeasure device) 1 of the first embodiment cooperates with an operating system 3 that manages publicly managed sports games and is capable of providing gambling addiction countermeasures that support recovery from gambling addiction. Publicly managed sports games include horse racing, bicycle racing, boat racing, and auto racing, and each type of publicly managed sports game has its own operating system that manages the game. In the first embodiment, the countermeasure device 1 is connected to at least one of these operating systems. It should be noted that even when the countermeasure device 1 is connected to multiple operating systems 3, the types of information exchanged between each operating system 3 and the countermeasure device 1 and the procedures for doing so are assumed to be the same. Therefore, in the following explanation, even when the countermeasure device 1 is connected to multiple operating systems 3, information communication between one operating system 3 and the countermeasure device 1 will be described, and information communication between the other operating systems 3 and the countermeasure device 1 will not be described.

[0016] The management system 3 is equipped with an management device 7, which is a computer device that executes processes such as the sale of betting tickets (horse betting tickets, lottery tickets, and boat tickets) and refunds. The sale of betting tickets, refunds, and other processes are not necessarily executed by a single computer device, but may be executed by multiple devices. It is also conceivable that a computer device is provided for each process. In this way, the management system 3 may be equipped with multiple types and multiple computers, but the computers that execute processes related to the management of the management system 3 will be collectively referred to as the management device 7.

[0017] The operating device 7 is connectable to a terminal device 5. The terminal device 5 is an information device (computer device) operated by a user who connects to a voting site operated by the operating system 3 and votes, and has a communication function and a display control function that controls a display device to display information. The type of terminal device 5 is not limited as long as it is an information device that has a communication function and a display control function, and specific examples include a smartphone, a tablet, and a personal computer (PC). Note that if the terminal device 5 is a smartphone or a tablet, the display device may be integrated with the terminal device 5, and if the terminal device 5 is a PC, the display device may be external.

[0018] The management device 7 has the function of executing processes related to betting tickets, such as purchasing and refunding betting tickets in response to commands such as betting ticket purchase requests transmitted from the terminal device 5. Incidentally, services related to betting tickets, such as purchasing and refunding betting tickets (hereinafter also referred to as betting ticket-related services), are services that involve money. For this reason, the management device 7 provides betting ticket-related services only to users (also referred to as members) who have completed membership registration in advance. That is, the database (not shown) to which the management device 7 is connected stores member registration information registered by users (members). The member registration information includes, for example, name, age, occupation, contact information, information indicating the name and account number of the financial institution used to purchase and refund betting tickets, a member ID (Identification) assigned to the user (member) by the management system 3, and the user's (member's) password.

[0019] When providing betting ticket-related services, the management device 7 confirms that the user receiving the services is a member by referencing the member registration information in the database. The management device 7 then provides the betting ticket-related services to the user by executing processes related to the purchase of betting tickets, including interactions with the financial institution registered by the user. When information from this betting ticket-related service is sent from the management device 7 to the terminal device 5, the terminal device 5 receives the information and presents it to the user on a display device.

[0020] In addition, the management device 7 stores the history of the users who have been provided with betting ticket-related services, such as the dates of the events on which they bet, the purchase amounts, and the refund amounts, in a database as betting history information for each user, and updates it as appropriate.

[0021] The countermeasure device 1 is a computer device and includes an arithmetic unit 10 and a storage device 20. The storage device 20 includes a storage medium for storing data and a computer program (hereinafter also referred to as a program) 21. There are multiple types of storage devices, such as magnetic disk drives and semiconductor memory devices, and there are many types of semiconductor memory devices, such as multiple types of RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). The type of storage device 20 included in the countermeasure device 1 is not limited to one. Computer devices are often equipped with multiple types of storage devices. Here, the types and number of storage devices 20 included in the countermeasure device 1 are not limited, and their description will be omitted. Furthermore, when the countermeasure device 1 is equipped with multiple types of storage devices 20, they will be collectively referred to as the storage device 20. Note that the countermeasure device 1 may be connected to an external storage device (database) 2 and may read and write data to and from the external storage device 2. However, even if data is read and written to and from the external storage device 2, a description of such a case will be omitted here.

[0022] The arithmetic device 10 is configured with a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The arithmetic device 10 can have various functions based on a program 21 by reading and executing the program 21 stored in a storage device 20. Here, the arithmetic device 10 includes an acquisition unit 11, a determination unit 12, a support unit 13, an output unit 14, and a notification unit 15 as functional units that provide measures against gambling addiction.

[0023] The acquisition unit 11 acquires subject information from an information source that outputs subject information related to the subject. The information source here is the operating system 3 to which the countermeasure device 1 is connected. The subject is a member who is registered with the operating system 3 and whose information is acquired by the acquisition unit 11, and is, for example, a member who has agreed to have his / her information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 or a member who desires countermeasures against gambling addiction, and meets predetermined conditions. The subject may be all members who are registered with the operating system 3.

[0024] The subject information is information about the subject, and includes behavioral information about the subject. Specific examples of the subject's behavioral information that the acquisition unit 11 acquires from the operating system 3 include information about the purchase date when the subject purchased a betting ticket and information about the betting method (for example, information about the type of betting ticket purchased and the purchase amount). From the purchase date information, it is possible to calculate information such as the time (number of years) since becoming a member and purchase frequency. Furthermore, from the betting method information, it is possible to calculate information about the subject's relationship with gambling and information about the total purchase amount per unit period.

[0025] Meanwhile, the operating system 3 can conduct a survey and obtain survey responses from members when registering as a member or when conducting a campaign. Therefore, the operating system 3 can include, for example, questions for obtaining information that can be used to combat gambling addiction as survey questions during such a survey. When such a survey is conducted by the operating system 3, the information on the survey responses is stored in a database, for example, in association with the member ID. In such a case, the survey responses may be acquired by the acquisition unit 11 as behavioral information of the subject.

[0026] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the acquisition unit 11 acquires attribute information representing the attributes of the subject as subject information from the operating system 3. The attribute information here includes information representing age and occupation. Furthermore, if information regarding the subject's bank balance can be acquired as subject information, the acquisition unit 11 may acquire the information regarding the subject's bank balance, for example, via the operating system 3.

[0027] The acquisition unit 11 acquires subject information including the above-described behavioral information and attribute information of the subject at each predetermined acquisition timing. The acquired subject information is stored in the storage device 20 in association with, for example, a member ID representing the subject.

[0028] The determination unit 12 uses the subject information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 and a determination model based on AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology to determine whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject, and generates evidence information indicating the basis for the determination. In the first embodiment, the determination model is a so-called explainable AI model that receives subject information as input and outputs information indicating whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject and the basis for the determination. This determination model is generated by machine learning the following training data and stored in the storage device 20 of the countermeasure device 1. The training data is data relating sample information similar to the subject information described above and a determination result made by a gambling addiction expert (e.g., a doctor) as to whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject corresponding to the sample information. The sample information includes behavioral information, and this behavioral information includes behavioral history information. Specific examples of behavioral history information include the frequency of betting ticket purchases and the total purchase amount per unit period (e.g., one month) over the past year.

[0029] The determination unit 12 inputs the subject information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 into the determination model described above at each predetermined determination timing, thereby determining whether or not gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary and generating evidence information representing the basis for the determination. The determination results regarding the necessity of gambling addiction countermeasures and the evidence information are stored in the storage device 20, associated with the date and time of the determination and the member ID for each subject. The determination timing by the determination unit 12 may be set as appropriate, and one example is at predetermined intervals. Another example of the determination timing by the determination unit 12 is when the subject logs in to a betting site operated by the operating system 3 using the terminal device 5. Furthermore, if the subject has registered biometric information such as a facial image as member registration information, the operating system 3 can detect that the subject is attempting to purchase a betting ticket at a betting machine at a public racetrack or an off-track betting station by using the subject's biometric information and surveillance camera footage. Therefore, one example of the determination timing by the determination unit 12 is when it is detected that the subject is attempting to purchase a betting ticket at a betting machine at a public racetrack or an off-track betting station. When the timing at which the subject is about to vote as described above is set as the timing for judgment by the judgment unit 12, information regarding the subject's vote is transmitted from the management device 7 of the management system 3 to the countermeasure device 1.

[0030] Here, a specific example of the basis represented by the basis information generated by the determination unit 12 will be given. For example, the basis for determining that a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary is as follows: · A man in his 20s - Experienced a big win early in gambling -Monthly purchase amounts have been increasing over the past year, and the most recent monthly purchase amount is a high amount exceeding 200,000 yen. There is a tendency for the amount spent on purchasing tickets to be higher the day after a loss. -Heavy smokers An example of an explanation for the reason is that the following points apply:

[0031] The support unit 13 executes a process of implementing gambling addiction countermeasures for a subject (hereinafter also referred to as a countermeasure target) determined by the determination unit 12 to require gambling addiction countermeasures. That is, the support unit 13 first controls the output unit 14 and the notification unit 15 to notify the countermeasure target that it has been determined that gambling addiction countermeasures are required as a countermeasure against gambling addiction. That is, in the first embodiment, as described above, the determination unit 12 generates evidence information based on the output of the determination model. This allows the countermeasure target to be notified that it has been determined that gambling addiction countermeasures are required, along with an explanation of the evidence based on the evidence information. By notifying the determination result together with the explanation of the evidence, it is believed that the countermeasure target will be more likely to understand the determination result that gambling addiction countermeasures are required. However, the explanation of the evidence included in the evidence information based on the output of the determination model may include matters that should not be disclosed to the countermeasure target. In consideration of this, in the first embodiment, the evidence included in the evidence information based on the output of the determination model is confirmed by a gambling addiction expert or the like (hereinafter also referred to as a confirmer), and only the explanation of the evidence that is determined to be acceptable for presentation to the countermeasure target is presented to the countermeasure target. In other words, the support unit 13 controls the output unit 14 and the notification unit 15 as follows in order to send to the person being targeted for countermeasures an explanation of the basis that the verifying person has determined to be acceptable for presentation to the person being targeted for countermeasures, along with the judgment result by the judgment unit 12.

[0032] That is, the support unit 13 causes the output unit 14 to execute output processing. This output processing is processing for outputting the basis information generated by the determination unit 12 to the confirmation terminal 4 that has been set in advance as an output destination. In the first embodiment, the confirmation terminal 4 is a computer device operated by a checker, and is equipped with a communication function for communicating with the countermeasure device 1 and a display control function for controlling the display on the display device. The confirmation terminal 4 displays the basis information received from the countermeasure device 1 on the display device in a predetermined display format.

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a display screen of a display device on which the confirmation terminal 4 displays the basis information. In the first embodiment, the display screen of the basis information on the confirmation terminal 4 displays characters explaining the basis, and also displays a confirmation input unit 25 that prompts the user to input information on whether or not to present the explanation of the basis to the countermeasure target. The form of the confirmation input unit 25 is not limited, but in the example of FIG. 2, the confirmation input unit 25 is in the form of a checkbox. Also, the display screen of the basis information displays a transmission instruction unit 26 that instructs the user to transmit information from the confirmation terminal 4 to the countermeasure device 1. The form of the transmission instruction unit 26 is not limited, but in the example of FIG. 2, the transmission instruction unit 26 is in the form of an icon. Note that, instead of displaying the confirmation input unit 25 or the transmission instruction unit 26, other methods may be employed, such as prompting the user to input a number or code assigned to the explanation of the basis to be presented to the countermeasure target, or to press the Enter key to send the information. Furthermore, all of the explanations of the basis shown in the basis information may be designated as the explanations of the basis to be presented to the countermeasure target.

[0034] When the checker operates the confirmation terminal 4 to instruct the transmission of information, the confirmation terminal 4 transmits designated information to the countermeasure device 1. The designated information is information indicating the grounds that the checker has determined to be acceptable for presentation to the countermeasure target, among the grounds indicated in the grounds information generated by the determination unit 12. To give a specific example using FIG. 2, information indicating that the grounds that the checker has determined to be acceptable for presentation to the countermeasure target, among grounds 1 to 5 indicated in the grounds information generated by the determination unit 12, are grounds 1, 2, and 5, is transmitted to the countermeasure device 1 as designated information.

[0035] Upon receiving the designation information from the confirmation terminal 4, the support unit 13 causes the notification unit 15 to execute a notification process. The notification process is a process of notifying the countermeasure target that it has been determined that a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary, including an explanation of the basis indicated in the designation information. The notification unit 15 outputs, for example, information (hereinafter also referred to as notification information) that associates the member ID of the countermeasure target determined to be necessary for a gambling addiction countermeasure, the determination result that a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary, and the explanation of the basis indicated in the designation information, to the operating system 3. Upon receiving the notification information, the operating device 7 of the operating system 3 notifies the terminal device 5 of the countermeasure target identified by the member ID included in the notification information that it has been determined that a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary, including the explanation of the basis. This notification may include not only information regarding the determination result, but also a message recommending that the target visit a medical institution for treatment of gambling addiction or information introducing the medical institution. Upon receiving the notification information, the terminal device 5 displays the information included in the notification information in a predetermined display format. As a result, the determination result that gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary and an explanation of the basis for that determination are presented to the countermeasure target. Note that it is also possible that designated information indicating that there is no basis for presenting the determination result to the countermeasure target is transmitted from the confirmation terminal 4 to the countermeasure device 1. In this case, the notification information output from the notification unit 15 includes the determination result that gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary, but does not include an explanation of the basis for that determination. Furthermore, if notifications informing the determination that gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary (hereinafter also referred to as determination result notifications) are sent frequently at short intervals, there is a concern that the countermeasure target may find the determination result notifications annoying. For this reason, for example, the notification unit 15 may execute control to suspend the transmission of determination result notifications to the countermeasure target until a predetermined waiting period (e.g., two weeks) has elapsed since the determination result notification was sent (notified) to the countermeasure target.

[0036] In addition to the gambling addiction countermeasure process of notifying the countermeasure target of the determination result as described above, the support unit 13 may also execute the following gambling addiction countermeasure process. For example, one possible countermeasure against gambling addiction is to encourage the countermeasure target to participate in a seminar on gambling addiction. In this case, for example, the support unit 13 outputs information indicating the content of the countermeasure against gambling addiction (hereinafter also referred to as countermeasure information) to the terminal device 5 of the countermeasure target via the operating system 3, including information instructing the countermeasure target to participate in a seminar on gambling addiction and the countermeasure target's membership ID. In this case, for example, when the countermeasure target operates the terminal device 5 to vote using the betting ticket sales service provided by the operating system 3, the terminal device 5 controls the display on the display device in accordance with the instruction information from the support unit 13. That is, the terminal device 5 displays a pop-up message on the display screen encouraging the countermeasure target to participate in the seminar. Furthermore, the message may be displayed in another display format, such as highlighted or flashing, that is easily visible to the countermeasure target, rather than a pop-up display.

[0037] Another possible measure against gambling addiction is restricting entry into publicly managed racetracks. For example, suppose a target person has a facial image registered as member registration information. A flapper gate 30, such as that shown in FIG. 3, is installed at the entrance to the racetrack, and entry into the racetrack can be controlled by opening and closing the flapper gate 30 using an opening / closing device 31 under the control of the management device 7. Furthermore, suppose a photographing device 33 photographs a person 18 approaching the flapper gate 30. In such a case, for example, the support unit 13 outputs, as countermeasure information, information to the management system 3 that includes an instruction to block entry and the member ID of the target person. Furthermore, upon receiving the countermeasure information, the management device 7 of the management system 3 has a function of detecting the target person, whose member ID is included in the countermeasure information, from an image captured by the photographing device 33 using a facial image included in the member registration information and face recognition technology. If the operator device 7 detects a target person whose member ID is included in the received countermeasure information from the image captured by the camera device 33, it controls the opening / closing device 31 to keep the flapper gate 30 closed to prevent the target person from entering the venue. In such a case, since it is expected that the target person will become suspicious when the flapper gate 30 does not open, the operator device 7 may control the display of a display device 34 installed near the flapper gate 30 to display the reason why the flapper gate 30 does not open. Furthermore, the operator device 7 may control the display device 34 to display a message encouraging the target person to participate in a seminar on gambling addiction, as described above. While the above example uses facial recognition technology as a method for restricting entry to publicly managed racing venues, other biometric authentication technologies may also be used to restrict entry to publicly managed racing venues. Examples of biometric authentication technologies other than facial images include fingerprint authentication, palm print authentication, vein authentication, voice authentication, iris authentication, ear authentication, and ear acoustic authentication. The member registration information will include biometric information corresponding to the type of biometric authentication to be adopted. A device for acquiring biometric information corresponding to the type of biometric authentication to be adopted will be installed near the flapper gate 30.

[0038] Another possible measure against gambling addiction is for public racetrack staff to speak to countermeasure targets entering the venue, encouraging them to attend a gambling addiction seminar or refrain from excessive betting. For example, suppose a target has a facial image registered as member registration information, and a photograph of a person entering the venue is taken with a camera. In such a case, the support unit 13 outputs information including instructions to speak to the target and the target's member ID as countermeasure information to the operating system 3. Furthermore, upon receiving countermeasure information, the operating device 7 of the operating system 3 has a function to detect the target person with the member ID included in the information by face recognition technology from images captured by the camera 33 using the facial image included in the member registration. Then, when the operating device 7 detects the target person with the member ID included in the received countermeasure information from images captured with the camera, it instructs the staff to speak to the target person. In other words, the management device 7 controls the display of, for example, a display device to which the management device 7 is connected, to display to the staff a facial image of the person (member) who is the target of measures to be spoken to, the content of the speech to be spoken to, and instructs the staff to speak to them.

[0039] Another possible countermeasure for gambling addiction is to inform pre-registered supporters, such as the target's family, of the fact that the target has voted when the target has voted. In this case, information regarding the target's vote is transmitted from the operating device 7 of the operating system 3 to the countermeasure device 1. The storage device 20 of the countermeasure device 1 stores contact information that associates the member IDs of at least the target targets (e.g., all target targets) with information such as the contact phone numbers and email addresses of supporters who will notify the target targets of information related to their votes. In this case, when the support unit 13 detects that the target targets have voted using the information received from the operating device 7, it extracts the contact information of the supporters associated with the target targets' member ID from the contact information in the storage device 20. The support unit 13 then outputs a notification to the registered supporters as countermeasure information, informing them that the target targets have voted. The notification output to the supporters may include not only information informing them that the target targets have voted, but also information such as the amount of the vote.

[0040] Another possible measure to combat gambling addiction is to stop selling betting tickets until the end of a unit period (e.g., a month) when the total amount of betting ticket purchases reaches a set upper limit. The upper limit is set appropriately with reference to the opinions of gambling addiction experts. The upper limit may also be variably set for each target person depending on the target person's behavioral history information (e.g., purchase frequency), etc.

[0041] In this way, when an upper limit on the purchase amount of betting tickets during a unit period is set, for example, the support unit 13 outputs, as countermeasure information, information to the operating device 7 of the operating system 3, including an instruction to stop sales of betting tickets when the upper limit is reached, information indicating the upper limit, and the member ID of the countermeasure target. The operating device 7 receives the countermeasure information, monitors the purchase amount of betting tickets during the unit period of the countermeasure target whose member ID is included in the countermeasure information, and, when the purchase amount of betting tickets reaches the upper limit, suspends sales of betting tickets to that countermeasure target until the end of the unit period. Furthermore, when the operating device 7 suspends sales of betting tickets in this way, it outputs information explaining the reason to, for example, the terminal device 5 of the countermeasure target via the operating system 3. In this case, too, the operating device 7 may output, to the terminal device 5 of the countermeasure target, an instruction to display a message encouraging the countermeasure target to participate in the aforementioned seminar on gambling addiction.

[0042] Another possible countermeasure for gambling addiction is encouraging target individuals to participate in virtual competitions, rather than real competitions. Virtual competitions are competitions held in virtual space. Virtual competitions include those that involve enjoying competitions displayed on a screen, such as horse racing, bicycle racing, boat racing, and auto racing, as well as those that utilize virtual reality (VR) technology. However, the types and content of these competitions are not limited, and a detailed description of these will be omitted. However, since virtual competitions are intended as a countermeasure for gambling addiction, their primary purpose is to allow for enjoyment without the use of money. It is preferable that these virtual competitions be gambling not with money, but rather with points whose values change based on their value or cards whose types change based on their value. Furthermore, virtual competitions intended as a countermeasure for gambling addiction may have a rule that first-time target individuals are granted a predetermined number of points or cards to use in the competition. Furthermore, in these virtual competitions, target individuals may be able to exchange their acquired points or card types for prizes or services. Furthermore, in this virtual competition, multiple countermeasure target persons may participate in the same competition, and a ranking of participants may be announced based on the number of points acquired in the competition, the type of card, etc. Furthermore, in this virtual competition, participants are not limited to countermeasure target persons, and other people who wish to participate may also participate as general participants. In this case, general participants may acquire points and cards to be used in the virtual competition by purchasing them with real money.

[0043] Such virtual competitions may be run by the operating device 7 of the operating system 3 or by the countermeasure device 1. When such virtual competitions are used as a countermeasure against gambling addiction, for example, the support unit 13 outputs countermeasure information to the operating device 7 of the operating system 3, including the member ID of the countermeasure target and instructions to encourage the target to participate in the virtual competition. The operating device 7 receives the countermeasure information and outputs information encouraging the target to participate in the virtual competition instead of voting in the publicly managed race, to the terminal device 5 of the target whose member ID is included in the countermeasure information. Based on the information, the terminal device 5 that receives this information displays, for example, a pop-up message encouraging the target to participate in the virtual competition on its display device. Furthermore, instead of a pop-up display, the message may be displayed in another display format, such as highlighted or flashing, that is easily visible to the target.

[0044] As described above, various countermeasures against gambling addiction are conceivable. In addition to the countermeasure against gambling addiction of notifying the determination result by the determination unit 12, the support unit 13 may execute processing for a countermeasure against gambling addiction that is appropriately selected from the plurality of countermeasures against gambling addiction described above.

[0045] The countermeasure device 1 is configured as described above. Next, an example of the operation of the countermeasure device 1 in relation to gambling addiction countermeasures for countermeasure targets will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the processing steps of the countermeasure device 1 in relation to gambling addiction countermeasures for countermeasure targets.

[0046] For example, when the acquisition unit 11 detects that it is a predetermined acquisition timing, it acquires target person information from the operating system 3, which is an information source (step 101 in FIG. 4). Here, the target person information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 includes behavioral information and attribute information of the target person. The target person information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 is associated with the target person's member ID and stored in the storage device 20.

[0047] Thereafter, the judgment unit 12 uses the acquired subject information and the judgment model to judge whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject, and generates evidence information representing the basis for the judgment (step 102). The timing of this judgment may be a timing related to the subject's behavior as described above, which may be different for each subject, or may be a timing in which all subjects are judged in turn at predetermined time intervals. The result of the necessity judgment thus judged and information representing the basis for the judgment are associated with, for example, a member ID for each subject and stored in the storage device 20 as judgment history information.

[0048] Thereafter, if it is determined that a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject, the output unit 14 outputs the grounds information generated by the determination unit 12 to the confirmation terminal 4 under the control of the support unit 13 (step 103). As a result, the confirmation terminal 4 displays on the display device the explanation of the grounds indicated in the grounds information. Then, from among the displayed explanations of the grounds, the confirmer designates an explanation of the grounds that is determined to be acceptable for presentation to the subject of countermeasures, and when a transmission instruction is input to the confirmation terminal 4, the designated information is transmitted from the confirmation terminal 4 to the countermeasure device 1. The designated information is information indicating the grounds that is determined to be acceptable for presentation to the subject of countermeasures.

[0049] When the countermeasure device 1 receives the designation information from the confirmation terminal 4 (step 104), the notification unit 15, under the control of the support unit 13, notifies the terminal device 5 of the countermeasure target who has been determined to require countermeasures against gambling addiction of the notification information (step 105). The notification information is information including the determination result that countermeasures against gambling addiction are required and an explanation of the basis indicated in the designation information.

[0050] As described above, the countermeasure device (gambling addiction countermeasure device) 1 of the first embodiment has a function of determining whether or not gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary by using subject information including behavioral information of the subject. Furthermore, the countermeasure device 1 has a function of notifying a countermeasure target determined to require gambling addiction countermeasures of the determination result, including the basis for the determination. By notifying the countermeasure target of the determination result together with an explanation of the basis, it is believed that the countermeasure target will be more likely to understand the determination result that gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary, and the countermeasure device 1 is more likely to be effective in guiding the countermeasure target to take gambling addiction countermeasures. Moreover, because the explanation of the basis has been confirmed by a reviewer such as a gambling addiction expert, the countermeasure device 1 can prevent, for example, a situation in which the countermeasure target is presented with a basis that makes them feel uncomfortable.

[0051] In other words, the countermeasure device 1 can provide a method for making a target person who is thought to need gambling addiction countermeasures to recover from a state of gambling addiction to realize that he or she is in a state of gambling addiction.

[0052] Second Embodiment A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the description of the second embodiment, components with the same names as those used in the description of the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions of the common parts will be omitted.

[0053] The gambling addiction countermeasure device (countermeasure device) 1 of the second embodiment has, in addition to the configuration of the countermeasure device 1 of the first embodiment, a configuration that increases the types of information used in processes such as determining the degree of addiction compared to the first embodiment.

[0054] That is, the subject includes a subject wearing a wearable device. A wearable device is a computer device worn on the wrist, arm, neck, head, etc., and in this case, it is a terminal device equipped with a function for acquiring biometric information, such as the wearer's pulse and body temperature. For example, the acquisition unit 11 acquires the subject's biometric information when voting in a competition from the wearable device worn by the subject via the operating system 3. The acquired biometric information is associated with the member ID and stored in the storage device 20 as behavioral information. By analyzing the subject's biometric information, such as the subject's pulse and body temperature, using emotion analysis technology, it is possible to estimate the subject's emotions at the time the analyzed biometric information was acquired. This makes it possible to estimate the subject's emotions at the time of voting using the biometric information acquired from the subject's wearable device. The subject's emotions at the time of voting are considered to be information that contributes to determining whether or not measures against gambling addiction are necessary.

[0055] As a result, in the second embodiment, the determination model used by the determination unit 12 is generated by machine learning training data that also includes information representing emotions at the time of voting. The determination unit 12 uses the determination model that also reflects such information representing emotions at the time of voting and the subject's biometric information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 to determine whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject, and generates evidence information that indicates the basis for the determination.

[0056] As described above, the countermeasure device 1 of the second embodiment is configured to be able to determine whether or not countermeasures against gambling addiction are necessary by also using information that indicates the subject's emotions. This allows the countermeasure device 1 of the second embodiment to improve the reliability of the determination result by the determination unit 12 as to whether or not countermeasures against gambling addiction are necessary.

[0057] In the above example, information about the subject's emotions at the time of voting is acquired using the subject's biometric information acquired using a wearable device. Alternatively, for example, if a camera is installed at a public racetrack betting machine or an off-track betting booth that can capture the subject's face and behavior when purchasing a betting ticket, information about the subject's emotions at the time of voting may be acquired using images captured by the camera. In other words, in this case, the subject's membership registration information includes information about the subject's facial image. For example, the management device 7 has a function for detecting the subject from the captured image using facial recognition technology using the facial image in the membership registration information. When the management device 7 detects the subject, it transmits the captured image containing the subject to the countermeasure device 1. The acquisition unit 11 of the countermeasure device 1 then acquires the captured image as the subject's behavior information. Furthermore, for example, the determination unit 12 estimates the subject's emotions at the time of voting by analyzing the subject's image in the captured image. The determination unit 12 then performs a determination process that also utilizes information indicating the subject's emotions.

[0058] <Other embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the first or second embodiment and may be embodied in various ways. For example, in addition to the configurations of the first or second embodiment, the acquisition unit 11 may acquire location information of the subject as behavioral information. That is, the acquisition unit 11 may acquire location information, for example, by a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) provided in a mobile device carried by the subject, as behavioral information of the subject from the mobile device as an information source. By using the behavioral information acquired in this manner, the countermeasure device 1 can acquire information on places the subject stops at on the way to a public racecourse or an off-track betting booth or on the way back from the public racecourse or an off-track betting booth. Such information on the places of stopover is considered to include information indicating the state of the subject's gambling addiction. Therefore, by using the information on the places of stopover, it is considered possible to improve the accuracy of determining whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is required for the subject.

[0059] From this, for example, a determination model that reflects information on places visited is generated. The determination unit 12 uses the determination model and the subject information including the subject's location information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 to determine whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject, and generates evidence information that indicates the basis for the determination.

[0060] In the first and second embodiments, the notification unit 15 outputs information to the person being targeted for countermeasures, including a determination result that countermeasures against gambling addiction are necessary and an explanation of the basis based on the designation information from the confirmation terminal 4. In addition, the notification unit 15 may further include the following functions. For example, the designation information output from the confirmation terminal 4 may further include notification substitution instruction information. The notification substitution instruction information is information instructing a supporter to notify the basis on behalf of the person being targeted for countermeasures. For example, a checker (such as a gambling addiction specialist) operates the confirmation terminal 4 to check a checkbox corresponding to "Notify the supporter of the basis on behalf of the person being targeted for countermeasures" displayed on the display device, thereby including the notification substitution instruction information in the designation information. When the notification unit 15 receives designation information including the notification substitution instruction information, the notification unit 15 notifies the person being targeted for countermeasures of the determination that countermeasures against gambling addiction are necessary, but does not notify the person being targeted of the basis. Furthermore, the notification unit 15 notifies a supporter, such as a family member or a doctor, of the determination result and an explanation of the basis on behalf of the person being targeted for countermeasures. In this case, for example, contact information including the telephone number and email address of an emergency contact (that is, a supporter) is registered in the member registration information in association with the member ID.

[0061] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the basis to be presented to the countermeasure target is confirmed by a confirmer, and the designated information is generated. By utilizing the designated information by the confirmer, the countermeasure device 1 can achieve the following further development. That is, assume that a large amount of performance data including at least the basis information output from the determination model (determination unit 12) and the designated information returned from the confirmation terminal 4 in response to the basis information is accumulated. It is considered that the following basis selection model can be generated by machine learning using this accumulated performance data as training data. That is, the basis selection model is a model that receives the basis information output from the determination model (determination unit 12) as input and outputs designated information representing the basis to be presented to the countermeasure target from among the basis information. If such a basis selection model can be generated, the countermeasure device 1 may notify the countermeasure target of the determination that gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary, including the basis represented in the designated information output from the basis selection model. In this case, the countermeasure device 1 can notify the countermeasure target of the determination result, including the basis similar to the basis confirmed by the confirmer, without transmitting the basis information to the confirmation terminal 4 and without receiving the designated information from the confirmation terminal 4.

[0062] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a gambling addiction countermeasure device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The gambling addiction countermeasure device 40 shown in FIG. 5 is, for example, a computer device, and includes an acquisition unit 41, a determination unit 42, an output unit 43, and a notification unit 44, which are implemented by executing a computer program. The acquisition unit 41 acquires subject information from an information source that outputs subject information about the subject, including behavioral information representing the subject's behavior. The determination unit 42 uses a determination model to determine whether or not gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary for the subject, and generates evidence information representing the basis for this determination. The determination model is a model generated by machine learning, which receives subject information as input and outputs information representing whether or not gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary for the subject, and the basis for this determination.

[0063] When the determination unit 42 determines that gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary, the output unit 43 outputs the basis information generated by the determination unit 42 to a confirmation terminal that is preset as an output destination. As a result, when the gambling addiction countermeasure device 40 receives designation information returned from the confirmation terminal, the notification unit 44 executes processing using the designation information. The designation information is information indicating the basis, among the grounds indicated in the basis information, to be presented to the countermeasure target, who is a subject determined to be a subject for whom gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary. The notification unit 44 notifies the countermeasure target that it has been determined that gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary, including an explanation of the basis indicated in the designation information received from the confirmation terminal.

[0064] Next, an example of the operation of the gambling addiction countermeasure device 40 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. For example, the acquisition unit 41 acquires target person information from an information source (step 201). Thereafter, the determination unit 42 uses the determination model to determine whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the target person, and generates evidence information indicating the basis for this determination (step 202). If the determination unit 42 determines that a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary, the output unit 43 outputs the evidence information generated by the determination unit 42 to a confirmation terminal that has been set as a pre-set output destination (step 203). Thereafter, the notification unit 44 notifies the target person that a gambling addiction countermeasure is determined to be necessary, including an explanation of the basis indicated in the designation information received from the confirmation terminal (step 204).

[0065] Since the gambling addiction countermeasure device 40 has the configuration described above, it can provide a method for making a target person who is thought to need gambling addiction countermeasures to recover from a state of gambling addiction to realize that he or she is in a state of gambling addiction.

[0066] The present invention has been described above using the above-described embodiments as exemplary examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. In other words, the present invention can be applied in various aspects that can be understood by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1. Countermeasures 3. Operating System 5 Terminal Devices 11,41 Acquisition Department 12,42 Judgment part 14,43 Output section 15,44 Notification Department 40 Gambling addiction prevention device

Claims

1. an acquisition means for acquiring subject information from an information source that outputs subject information relating to the subject, the subject information including behavioral information representing the behavior of the subject; a judgment means for judging whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject, using a judgment model that receives the subject information as an input and outputs information indicating whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject and the basis for that judgment, and generating basis information indicating the basis for that judgment; an output means for outputting the basis information to a confirmation terminal that is set as an output destination in advance; a notification means for notifying the person who is the person who is determined to need the gambling addiction countermeasure, including an explanation of the grounds indicated in the designation information, which is information received from the confirmation terminal and which indicates the grounds indicated in the grounds information to be presented to the person who is the person who is determined to need the gambling addiction countermeasure; A gambling addiction prevention device comprising:

2. The notification means further notifies the target person of a message recommending that the target person visit a medical institution that treats gambling addiction. The gambling addiction prevention device according to claim 1.

3. The determination of whether or not the gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary uses behavior history information calculated from the behavior information acquired by the acquisition means.

3. The gambling addiction prevention device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The behavioral information included in the target information is information related to betting in publicly managed competitions.

4. A gambling addiction prevention device according to claim 1.

5. the determination means determines whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject at each preset timing; The notification means stops notifying the person to be targeted of the determination that the gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary, including an explanation of the grounds, until a preset waiting period has elapsed, even if the person to be targeted has been determined to be necessary for the gambling addiction countermeasure.

5. A gambling addiction prevention device according to claim 1.

6. By computer, acquire subject information from an information source that outputs subject information about the subject, the subject information including behavioral information representing the behavior of the subject; Using a judgment model that receives the subject information as input and outputs information indicating whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject and the basis for that determination, the judgment model determines whether or not a gambling addiction countermeasure is necessary for the subject, and generates basis information indicating the basis for that determination; outputting the basis information to a confirmation terminal that is set as an output destination in advance; Notifying the person who has been determined to need the gambling addiction countermeasures that it has been determined that the countermeasures are necessary, including an explanation of the grounds expressed in the grounds information to be presented to the person who has been determined to need the countermeasures for gambling addiction, the information being information that expresses the grounds expressed in the grounds information and is received from the confirmation terminal. How to combat gambling addiction.

7. A process of acquiring subject information from an information source that outputs subject information regarding the subject, the subject information including behavioral information representing the behavior of the subject; a process of determining whether or not gambling addiction countermeasures are necessary for the subject, and generating evidence information indicating the grounds for such determination, using a determination model that receives the subject information as input and outputs information indicating the grounds for such determination; a process of outputting the basis information to a confirmation terminal that is set in advance as an output destination; a process of notifying the person who is the person who is determined to need the gambling addiction countermeasure, including an explanation of the grounds indicated in the designation information, which is information indicating the grounds to be presented to the person who is the person who is determined to need the gambling addiction countermeasure, and which is information received from the confirmation terminal; and A computer program for causing a computer to execute the above.

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