Introduction
Responsible gambling and harm minimisation measures have been introduced across all forms of gambling to help address the individual and social impacts of problem gambling. However, these have been incremental, inconsistent and variably enforced (Banks, 2007). Gambling Harm-Minimisation Measures Post 1999.
The Southern Trust has developed a harm minimisation policy which includes information on identifying problem gamblers. Venue managers are required to use the policy to identify actual or potential problem gamblers, approach any person identified, and offer information or advice to the person. A copy of the can be downloaded here:
- Smith adds that operators could also tailor their harm minimisation tools. 'It is important for the gambling industry to be able to recognise markers of harm for different groups, including women, so that interventions can be targeted appropriately.'.
- Taskforce on Gambling in advocating for harm minimisation approaches and improved community awareness of gambling harms. Where possible, integrating gambling harm prevention into other City of Ballarat policies. Advocate. Maintaining membership with the Alliance for Gambling Reform and support campaigns for.
- Harm minimisation campaigns are informed by gaming research, including the Queensland household gambling survey. This survey identifies changes in gambling behaviours, at risk demographics, and assesses impacts in the broader gambling regulatory environment at a community level.
Indicators
It is recognised that problem gamblers may exhibit behaviours that indicate they are experiencing gambling problems. Indicators may be witnessed first-hand by the venue manager or their staff or may be observed by other patrons and brought to the attention of venue staff. It is generally only reasonable to believe that a person may be experiencing a problem if several indicators are apparent over an extended period.
Staff at the venue will approach patrons who display the indicators and will offer information regarding problem gambling. Patrons are encouraged to monitor their own behaviour regarding the listed indicators.
General Signs
Length of play
- Gambles for long periods (three or more hours) without taking a break
- Gambles most days
- Finds it difficult to stop at closing time
Social behaviour
- Becomes angry at or stands over other players
- Rude to other gamblers or staff
- Complains to staff about losing
Money
- Puts large wins straight back into the machine
- Tries to withdraw money two or more times
- EFTPOS repeatedly declined
- Leaves venue to find more money to gamble
Behaviour during play
- Tries to play two or more machines
- Plays intensely without reacting to what's going on around them
- Plays very fast (high spend per line)
- Shows frustration (grunting/groaning, playing roughly)
- Shows some signs of distress (looks depressed, sweating, nervous/edgy)
- Has gambling rituals or superstitions (rubbing, talking to machine)
Strong signs
- Gambler tells staff that gambling is causing them problems
- Shows obvious signs of distress (crying, holding head in hands, shaking)
- Has an angry outburst towards staff, customer or machine (shouting/swearing, kicking/hitting the machine)
- Appearance or hygiene deteriorates significantly
- Tries to borrow money from customers or staff
- Gambles from opening to closing
- Leaves children in car while gambling
- Friends or family raise concerns about the gambler
- Goes out of their way to avoid being seen at the venue (including asking staff to not let others know they are there)
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.
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.
Can you advertise gambling on facebook. 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. Best casino in west midlands united kingdom.
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
Harm Minimisation Gambling Rules
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
Harm Minimisation Gambling Definition
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.
Harm Minimisation Gambling Meaning
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.
Harm Minimisation Problem Gambling
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. Best casino in west midlands united kingdom.
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
Harm Minimisation Gambling Rules
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
Harm Minimisation Gambling Definition
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.
Harm Minimisation Gambling Meaning
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.
Harm Minimisation Problem Gambling
