Australian Agency Created to Curb Problem Gambling
In what it describes as its “most significant project ever undertaken” to address problem gambling, the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) announced the creation of an Early Intervention Agency “designed to identify problem gamblers before they lose control.”
The new agency will appoint several responsible gaming officers (RGOs), who will be charged with identifying problem gamblers, approaching patrons who have been identified as problem gamblers to offer counseling and related assistance, and assisting with self-exclusion programs. Additionally, RGOs will perform policy-related tasks, such as encouraging relationships between gaming operators and compulsive gambler advocacy groups, auditing gaming venues for compliance, and developing new compulsive gambling policies.
Each RGO will be responsible for one of seven south Australian “zones” where hotels operate gaming machines. According to the AHA, the seven RGOs will begin work in July.
The local hotel industry is expected to contribute more than $500,000 annually to cover the costs of the new agency.
Reactions to the Early Intervention Agency have been mixed. Some hotel managers expressed concern that gaming operators and RGOs will be unable to agree on the definition of a problem gambler, while others argue that the AHA initiative will demonstrate to the public and government regulators that the industry is serious about helping problem gamblers.
