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Decreasing Problem Gambling |
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| Posted by editor (editor) on Jul 22 2010 |
| 2010 >> |
Asked on 14 April 2010 MR WENDT ASKED THE MINISTER FOR TOURISM AND FAIR TRADING (MR LAWLOR) — QUESTION: Will the Minister advise what steps the Government has taken to decrease problem gambling? ANSWER: The Government is committed to reducing problem gambling and its impacts, having introduced and supported a range of initiatives in this area. Since April 2008 a raft of enhanced gambling harm minimisation initiatives have been implemented. These initiatives include a ban on pre-10am machine gaming in hotels and clubs, a State-wide cap on club gaming machine numbers with an associated reallocation scheme and a moratorium on the release of government operating authorities for hotel gaming machines (which has recently been extended to April 2012). Additional measures also included introducing mandatory responsible service of gambling training for hotel and club staff who perform gambling roles (which is to commence October this year); carrying out an evaluation of the Queensland Responsible Gambling Strategy; and creating new offence provisions for operators who direct promotional materials to excluded persons. In 2009 the Government approved a voluntary roll-out of two card-based precommitment systems to clubs and hotels following successful trials carried out at the Sandgate and Redcliffe RSLs. Pre-commitment technologies enable the setting of limits on time and money spent gambling and have been identified by the Productivity Commission in its draft gambling inquiry report as a potentially important harm minimisation strategy. Uptake of the pre-commitment systems in Queensland has been positive. The report – Evaluation of the Queensland Responsible Gambling Strategy is the first evaluation since the Government launched the strategy in 2002. The evaluation highlights the effective partnership between community, industry and government that has resulted in the implementation of a wide range of prevention, protection and treatment activities. Under new funding arrangements for support services for problem gamblers, approximately $4.9 million is provided annually to fund: 14 face-to-face Gambling Help services operating from over 30 sites, a residential treatment program, a 24 hour Gambling Helpline and a Gambling Help network. New Gambling Help services opened in Bundaberg and Longreach in July 2009. Last year the Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding to participate in a national, 24 hour, 7 day a week online gambling counselling service which commenced operation on 31 August 2009 and was officially launched on 8 October 2009. Ensuring gambling environments are safe and supportive has also been a continued focus of the Government’s strategy, particularly through the Queensland Responsible Gambling Code of Practice. The Code of Practice was launched in 2002 and is a voluntary, whole-of-industry approach to the implementation of venue-based practices that contribute to responsible gambling environments. The Government also funds a range of communication activities targeted at recreational gamblers as well as people at risk or affected by problem gambling. The Responsible Gambling Community Awareness Campaign aims to increase awareness about responsible gambling protective measures and seeks to develop the ability of regular gamblers to engage in responsible gambling habits and behaviours. The Wanna Bet series, which is primarily an in-venue campaign, continues to be the main vehicle for targeting problem gamblers. In addition, the Player Information Project, Odds of Winning, was launched on 17 November 2009 and resources were sent to venues in December 2009. The Queensland Responsible Gambling Research Grants Program focuses on funding research that will provide an evidence base to assist the Queensland Government to develop further gambling harm minimisation policies in partnership with industry and the community. The Government also conducts the Queensland Household Gambling Survey, one of the largest surveys of its type nationally and internationally. The Productivity Commission, in its draft gambling inquiry report, states the data from this survey shows a steady fall in problem gambling prevalence rates in Queensland from 0.83 per cent in 2001, to 0.55 per cent in 2003-04, and to 0.47 per cent in 2006-07. The latest survey conducted in 2008-09 shows a further reduction to 0.37 per cent. The Government is committed to reducing problem gambling and its impacts, having introduced and supported a range of initiatives in this area. Since April 2008 a raft of enhanced gambling harm minimisation initiatives have been implemented. These initiatives include a ban on pre-10am machine gaming in hotels and clubs, a State-wide cap on club gaming machine numbers with an associated reallocation scheme and a moratorium on the release of government operating authorities for hotel gaming machines (which has recently been extended to April 2012). Additional measures also included introducing mandatory responsible service of gambling training for hotel and club staff who perform gambling roles (which is to commence October this year); carrying out an evaluation of the Queensland Responsible Gambling Strategy; and creating new offence provisions for operators who direct promotional materials to excluded persons. In 2009 the Government approved a voluntary roll-out of two card-based precommitment systems to clubs and hotels following successful trials carried out at the Sandgate and Redcliffe RSLs. Pre-commitment technologies enable the setting of limits on time and money spent gambling and have been identified by the Productivity Commission in its draft gambling inquiry report as a potentially important harm minimisation strategy. Uptake of the pre-commitment systems in Queensland has been positive. The report – Evaluation of the Queensland Responsible Gambling Strategy is the first evaluation since the Government launched the strategy in 2002. The evaluation highlights the effective partnership between community, industry and government that has resulted in the implementation of a wide range of prevention, protection and treatment activities. Under new funding arrangements for support services for problem gamblers, approximately $4.9 million is provided annually to fund: 14 face-to-face Gambling Help services operating from over 30 sites, a residential treatment program, a 24 hour Gambling Helpline and a Gambling Help network. New Gambling Help services opened in Bundaberg and Longreach in July 2009. Last year the Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding to participate in a national, 24 hour, 7 day a week online gambling counselling service which commenced operation on 31 August 2009 and was officially launched on 8 October 2009. Ensuring gambling environments are safe and supportive has also been a continued focus of the Government’s strategy, particularly through the Queensland Responsible Gambling Code of Practice. The Code of Practice was launched in 2002 and is a voluntary, whole-of-industry approach to the implementation of venue-based practices that contribute to responsible gambling environments. The Government also funds a range of communication activities targeted at recreational gamblers as well as people at risk or affected by problem gambling. The Responsible Gambling Community Awareness Campaign aims to increase awareness about responsible gambling protective measures and seeks to develop the ability of regular gamblers to engage in responsible gambling habits and behaviours. The Wanna Bet series, which is primarily an in-venue campaign, continues to be the main vehicle for targeting problem gamblers. In addition, the Player Information Project, Odds of Winning, was launched on 17 November 2009 and resources were sent to venues in December 2009. The Queensland Responsible Gambling Research Grants Program focuses on funding research that will provide an evidence base to assist the Queensland Government to develop further gambling harm minimisation policies in partnership with industry and the community. The Government also conducts the Queensland Household Gambling Survey, one of the largest surveys of its type nationally and internationally. The Productivity Commission, in its draft gambling inquiry report, states the data from this survey shows a steady fall in problem gambling prevalence rates in Queensland from 0.83 per cent in 2001, to 0.55 per cent in 2003-04, and to 0.47 per cent in 2006-07. The latest survey conducted in 2008-09 shows a further reduction to 0.37 per cent. Last changed: Jul 22 2010 at 11:56 AM
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