Problem Gambling and Harm - Are They the Same Thing?
Iain Corby, Deputy Chief Executive, GambleAware
Sean Hughes, Group General Counsel, Tabcorp Holdings
Iain joined GambleAware as Director of Operations and Development in September 2015 and became Deputy Chief Executive in March 2017. His previous experience includes working in consulting as a senior manager, specialising in programme management at Deloitte, and managing a 20 strong policy research team in Westminster. Immediately prior to his appointment, he worked as Operations Director for a social enterprise which inspires young people around the world to volunteer with local charities.
In Great Britain, we have been focused on the wider issue of gambling-related harm, rather than just problem gambling for many years now. We have commissioned a major research project to provide a working definition of gambling-related harms and situate this within a new framework for policy, and drawing on this definition, outline a range of measures and metrics which relate to these harms and identify which could robustly be built into a framework for measuring the social costs of gambling-related harms. Tis focuses on resources, relationships and health, where negative impacts can be discerned by many gamblers, not only those considered to be problem gamblers.
To minimise harm, we are working to identify best practice for interventions across all sectors of the industry, on and off-line. These are developing general messaging, better product information, and improved training
To minimise harm, we are working to identify best practice for interventions across all sectors of the industry, on and off-line. Tese are developing general messaging, better product information, and improved staff training around delivering preventative advice. Each is being piloted and independently evaluated over the course of 2018.
And GambleAware is designing a national advertising campaign, recently announced in Parliament, and funded by both the gambling industry and commercial broadcasters. Tis is targeting higher risk demographic groups, but not problem gamblers because if we were to do so, our analysis is that other gamblers would not consider the messages of any relevance. So we will use other channels and different messages to reach problem gamblers, and ensure our Safer Gambling Campaign is seen by, and perceived as applying to, a far wider population.
Sean is the Group General Counsel of Tabcorp Holdings Limited in Australia, having joined in July 2017. As Group General Counsel he leads Tabcorp’s Legal, Regulatory and Company Secretariat functions. Tabcorp is a world-class diversified gambling entertainment group and an ASX50 company with more than 5,000 employees. In December 2017 Tabcorp combined with Tatts Group. Tabcorp now operates the iconic brands Tatts, TAB, NSW Lotteries, Golden Casket, SA Lotteries, Keno, Sky Racing and Sky Sports Radio.
Many Australians regard gambling as a leisure activity, as well as one which generates significant taxation and other revenue for governments and racing bodies. In fact, adult participation rates in Australia exceed 80 per cent. However, we also know that some gamblers are unable to keep their activity effectively under control, which can generate significant harm for themselves and others. Researchers, social scientists, legislators, regulators and the gambling industry have all tried to adopt a common definitional approach as a first step to address the harms which might flow from problematic gambling. One such description is:
“Te situation when a person's gambling activity gives rise to harm to the individual player and/or to his or her family, and may extend to the community.”
We are all different in our temperaments and financial circumstances. So, it is impossible to have a simple test for “problem gambling” such as the amount of money or time spent gambling. Some people have lots of money and time and may not have a gambling problem even if they might seem to gamble a lot. Others may have a problem even if they are only gambling relatively infrequently or for seemingly modest amounts.
Te tipping point at which someone is no longer managing their risk of problem gambling appropriately for their own circumstances, and when their activity becomes harmful, may be characterised by red flags such as lying or secretive behaviour, depression, anger, ignoring other responsibilities and unrealistic expectations around winning. However, these traits may not be apparent in every problem gambler.
For this reason, responsible gambling programmes are an essential safety net aimed at supporting gamblers to play safely within their own parameters, while avoiding unnecessary intrusion into the freedom and choice of the vast majority of adults who do gamble appropriately.
Events
IAGA SUMMIT Macau 2018
For too long, responsible gambling programmes have focused primarily on issues surrounding problem gambling and addiction. Tis approach tends to alienate the more than 90 per cent of players who gamble responsibly and as a result, paints the gaming industry with a negative brush that it does more harm than good in the areas where casinos are available. But, by normalising the conversation about responsible gambling, casinos are able to engage a greater number of their customers in conversations about the principles of positive play, the importance of setting a gambling budget and time limit, and only gambling what you can afford to lose. Panelists Sean Hughes and Iain Corby outline their views ahead of their panel session in Macau
Responsible gambling
programs are an essential safety net aimed at
supporting gamblers to play safely within their own
parameters, while avoiding unnecessary intrusion into their freedom and choice
IAGA
The International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) will hold its 37th annual International Gaming Summit May 14 - 16 at the Four Seasons Macao in Macau, China.
NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE /MARKET DATA P97
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150
