Harm Minimisation Gambling
The 2016 Foundation-funded study Assessing gambling-related harm in Victoria identified seven types of harm experienced by people who gamble and those close to them.
These harms can be experienced on a spectrum that extends from no harm through to very severe harm. They can range from minor negative experiences to crisis point, which is often when people consider seeking professional help for their gambling. Severe harm can sometimes have a lasting impact, known as legacy harm, which can even transfer to the next generation.
Relationship harm is the most common type of harm from gambling. It is a quarter of all gambling harm experienced by Victorians. Relationship harm includes neglect of responsibilities, conflict, threats to end a relationship and the actual ending of a relationship. 1 September 2019 Gaming machine harm minimisation There are laws in place to promote a culture of responsible gambling and protect people from problems associated with excessive gambling. Read: Gaming Machines Act 2001.
Issues to the regulator. Is this a good way to encourage venues to comply with gambling harm minimisation rules? Laws that help minimise gambling harm – Survey questions September 2020 4 Yes. Gambling cards would be more effective, as long as they are designed to be linked to age and identification. The Office of Responsible Gambling and ACWA are piloting a 3 hour online workshop on Gambling Harm Minimisation, which will provide you with strategies for working with these clients. The workshop is targeted at social workers, counsellors and other community sector workers. An Australian overview with particular reference to the Northern Territory Abstract. The purpose of the paper is to present an overview of the gambling harm-minimisation measures that are implemented across Australia with a view towards identifying those demonstrably effective measures that may be appropriate to the Northern Territory (NT) context.
In general, harm increases as the risk of problem gambling increases, so we see it more frequently in moderate-risk than low-risk gambling, and it is most prominent in people experiencing problem gambling.
The seven types of gambling harm identified are:
- relationship difficulties
- health problems
- emotional or psychological distress
- financial problems
- issues with work or study
- cultural problems
- criminal activity.
Relationship difficulties
Relationship harm is the most common type of harm from gambling. It is a quarter of all gambling harm experienced by Victorians.
Relationship harm includes neglect of responsibilities, conflict, threats to end a relationship and the actual ending of a relationship.
People affected by someone else’s gambling are more likely than those who gamble to report conflict or tension in the relationship as a harm from gambling.
25%
Health problems
Health problems account for one-fifth of gambling harm in Victoria. They include stress, reduced sleep due to worry, depression and anxiety disorders.
Increased use of health services because of issues exacerbated by gambling is a strong sign of harm among people who gamble and those close to them.
People experiencing problem gambling are more likely to be diagnosed with depression (41.9 per cent) compared to moderate-risk gamblers (24.1 per cent). They are also twice as likely (39.5 per cent) as moderate-risk gamblers (20 per cent) to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders. Around one in 10 low-risk gamblers report experiencing depression or anxiety disorders.
21%
24%
of moderate-risk gamblers have been diagnosed with depression.
of moderate-risk gamblers have been diagnosed with depression.
42%
of people experiencing problem gambling have been diagnosed with depression.
of people experiencing problem gambling have been diagnosed with depression.
Emotional or psychological distress
Emotional or psychological distress accounts for 18.6 per cent of gambling harm in Victoria.
Regret is an early sign of harm for people who gamble, while feelings of anger and hopelessness are early signs for people affected by someone else’s gambling.
Feelings of failure, vulnerability, worthlessness and extreme distress are experienced by people who gamble as well as those close to them. This implies those affected by someone else’s gambling are emotionally sharing the impact of gambling harm.
Financial problems
Financial problems account for 15.6 per cent of gambling harm in Victoria.
Reduced spending on other recreational activities is the least severe financial harm and an early sign of harm for people who gamble and those close to them.
Reduced spending on essentials like food, medication, and education is a strong sign of harm that increases with the severity of gambling problems. Accumulating credit debt and selling items to fund gambling are other signs that increase with risk of problem gambling. Bankruptcy is the most severe financial harm.
Issues with work or study
Issues with work or study account for 8.6 per cent of gambling harm in Victoria.
An early sign of harm is absenteeism among people who gamble and those close to them – this can also relate to other types of harm, such as emotional or psychological harm.
Reduced performance because of tiredness or distraction is a strong sign of harm often related to problem gambling. The most severe harms related to work or study are exclusion from study, loss of job and conflict at work.
Cultural problems
Cultural harm is often connected with relationship harm because of the strong links between family and culture.
Cultural harm can include the personal conflict of gambling when it is against cultural beliefs, reduced ability to participate in cultural practices or meet community expectations, and reduced connection to the cultural community. It can result in shame, emotional distress and social isolation, and contribute to feelings of lost identity.
Given the important role of family, cultural harm can be felt intensely by those affected by someone else’s gambling. As the notion of shame is particularly strong in some cultural groups, gambling harm can have long-term effects (for example, damage to the family name), that can even have implications for the next generation.
Criminal activity
Criminal activity is more associated with problem gambling than less severe levels of risk.
The three main types of criminal activity connected with gambling harm are crimes of negligence such as child neglect (for example, leaving children unattended in venue car parks), crimes such as drug trafficking or prostitution to repay debts, and crimes of opportunity such as theft and fraud to fund gambling.
Criminal activity can result in considerable long-term harm, including shame and stigma, a criminal record and the consequences of a prison sentence.
Victims of criminal activity can also be profoundly affected by this form of gambling harm.
Tuesday 6 October 2020 @ 2.53 p.m. Legal Research
On 25 September 2020, the NSW Government released the draft Gaming Machines Amendment (Gambling Harm Minimisation) Bill 2020 (NSW) (“the draft Bill”) for public consultation. The draft Bill proposes amendments to the Gaming Machines Act 2001 (NSW ) (“the Act”) in order to minimize gambling harm, and provide active support to gaming machine players. The amendments under the draft Bill follow other reforms since 2017, which were part of the government commitment to reducing gambling harm.
The Draft Bill
The draft Bill seeks to increase the level of responsibility that registered clubs and hotels have in managing gambling related harms. The amendments put forward by the draft Bill will require active identification and assistance of gaming machine players who display problematic gambling behaviours. Currently, gambling venues only provide support to individuals when they have asked for help.
The draft Bill proposes a number of new measures that aims to implement active intervention and better internal management practices in gambling venues order to minimise harmful gambling behaviours. One of the changes suggested is the new requirement of a designated Gambling Contact Officer (“Officer”), who must be on duty whenever gaming machines in venues are being used. The Officer must complete the advanced Responsible Conduct of Gambling training, and will be required to engage with members who are showing problematic gambling behaviour. The Officer is to refer them to support and counselling services, and provide them with the opportunity to self-exclude.
The amendments under the draft Bill also seeks to put more responsibilities on venues in maintaining a gambling incident register. Staff will be required to actively monitor behaviour of gambling patrons, and record details of incidents where problematic behaviours are. The Officer is also to be notified of these incidents. The draft Bill also seeks to give venues the power to issue an exclusion order to involuntarily ban members from the venue, if the person is seen to continually be experiencing gambling-related harm, but does not wish to self-exclude or seek help.
The draft Bill additionally seeks to introduce a new exclusion scheme, which will allow family members to a venue to ban someone for their problematic gambling behaviours. Under the proposed scheme, the family member will be able to apply to the venue to request the ban, or ask a gambling counsellor to apply on their behalf. Venues will be required to refer the family member to gambling counselling services prior to application. If the family member seeks to pursue an application for an involuntary exclusion order, the venue is to ensure strict confidentiality at application and assess the application. Prior to issuing the order, the venue must offer the gambler support, and if the gambler chooses not to self-exclude, the venue must assess whether or not to issue a venue exclusion order. The venue will also be required to inform both the family member and gambler of the decision of the application within 21 days of submission. Either the gambler and family member will be able to appeal the venue’s decision to the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority within 14 days of the venue’s decision.
Some of the other changes proposed under the draft Bill include:
Harm Minimisation Gambling Addiction
- Allowing self-exclusion through an online portal
- Introduction of a state-wide exclusion register in order to consolidate all exclusions into one database
- New whistle-blower protections for staff members
Consultation Process
Some of the survey questions posed for feedback include:
“Q2. We want to ensure club and hotel staff have the right skills and training to help gamblers, by introducing a second, higher level of Responsible Conduct of Gambling training for more senior staff. Is this a good way to support venue staff to minimise gambling harm?
Q4 . We want to introduce a requirement for there to be a Gambling Contact Officer (i.e. someone with advanced Responsible Conduct of Gambling training) on duty at all times in clubs and hotels. Is this a good way to make it easier for gamblers to get support in venues, and help venues meet their responsibilities?
Q7. Most Australian states and territories penalise clubs and hotels that fail to keep excluded people out of their venue or gaming areas. Do you think we should do this in NSW?”
Harm Minimisation Problem Gambling
Consultation on the draft Bill is currently open. Further details on the survey and the progress of the consultation can be found on the NSW Government website.
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Sources:
[Draft] Gaming Machines Amendment (Gambling Harm Minimisation) Bill 2020 (NSW) and regulatory impact statement available from TimeBase’s LawOne Service