Gambling in Victoria, AustraliaPhilip TownshendHead Gambler’s Help Services

Victorian Responsible Gambling FoundationI acknowledge the team I work with at the Victorian Responsible Gambling

Foundation

Gambling In Australia

• 2012-13 there were 197199 EGM’s operating in Australia

• Net expenditure that is gambler losses were $10.9b• Taxes collected were $3.1b

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Victoria

• Population 5,354,039, Wales 3,063,456

• Area 237,629 km2

• (Wales 20,761 km2, Vic is the

same land area as the UK

• Smallest mainland state.

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Gambling in Victoria• 520 Club and Pub venues• Up to 105 EGM’s per venue• $5 Max bet• Linked Jackpots• Spin rate 2.14 seconds• RTPR 85%• Expected losses $840 per hour (max bets)• Note acceptors (no $100 notes)• No ATM’s

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Participation in gambling in Victoria

• Around 73% of Victorian adults gambled in the past 12 months • Around 41% of Victorian adults gambled monthly and 23%

gambled weekly• For the major forms of gambling, regular gambling participation

– (once a month of more) 30 %– once a week or more less than 13 per cent

2009 Victorian gambling study

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EGM Gambling in Gambling in Victoria and Wales

Wales VictoriaEGM’s Total 1,500* 30,000

EGM’s per Adult 1:2,000 1:156

Total Losses £51.5M* £1,283.8m

Losses per Adult per year £44* £800

EGM’s per venue 4 Casino 2500Pub/Club 105

* FOBT onlyPage 6

Machine Gambling- the Australian Problem

• The scale of the Australian EGM problem is unparalleled in any other jurisdiction

– More EGM’s in NSW than slots in Nevada• As a result the responses to the problem have been intensive • The following are gambling responses, some of which are unique

to Victoria

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Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation

• An independent statutory authority

– Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation Act 2011.

• Funding £75m over 4 years

• Aims to reduce the prevalence and harms of problem gambling and to help those who choose to gamble, to do so responsibly.

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Vision and Mission

• Vision – A Victoria free from gambling-related harm.

• Mission– To provide education, research, treatment and support

services to all Victorians to foster responsible gambling, reduce gambling-related harm and provide help where needed.

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Professional Development Centre

• Training:– For treatment practitioners to become exemplary providers of

Gamblers Help services.– Increase awareness of gambling related mental health services– Ensure evidence lead practice and practice lead research

• Inform the VRGF research agenda on clinical research issues

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Mainstream Clinical Services• State Wide Gambling Helpline-

– 24/7 – 10,000 calls per year

• State Wide Peer Telephone service– English and two Chinese languages

• Therapeutic Counselling– 130 FTE counsellors, 40,000 hours of counselling per year

• Financial Counselling-– 16 FTE, 17000 hours of service

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Services for at Risk Populations

• Aboriginal Services– 2 Melbourne 2 regional services

• Chinese Language Services– In Cantonese and Mandarin languages

• Two Vietnamese Services• Two Arabic Services

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Responsible Service of Gambling

• In all State and Territories• All staff in the gambling area of a EGM venue must complete a

RSG– Within six months of starting work– Refresher every three years

• This has been rewritten into a two module format– Module one: Two hour online training -knowledge– Module Two: Two hour face to face training in venues- skills

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Signs to look for:• A customer who is experiencing gambling-related harm is likely to

display a number of signs and behaviours. These have been categorised in terms of severity and how likely they are to be directly related to gambling problems.

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• Tries obsessively to win on one machine • Asks to change large note at venue before gambling • Rummages around in purse or wallet for additional money • Rushes from one machine to another • Significant increase in spending pattern

YELLOW - Early warning signs

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These behaviours are twice as likely to be seen in high risk gamblers compared to those at low risk.

ORANGE - Signs of possible problems

• Starts gambling when the venue is open / only stops when the venue is closing • Has run out of all money when they leave the venue • Spends $300 or more in a session • Bets $3 or more per spin most of the time • Gambles on two or more machines at a time • Gambles most days • Complains to staff about losing, or blames venue or machines for losing • Conducts rituals or superstitious behaviour such as rubbing belly of machine or screen,

talking to machine or using lucky charms • Stays on to gamble when friends leave the venue

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These behaviours are at least twice as likely to be seen in people

experiencing issues with their gambling.

RED - Signs of probable gambling problems

• Gambles through normal meal times • Finds it difficult to stop gambling at closing time • Gets cash out of EFTPOS on two or more occasions • Puts large wins back into the machine and keeps playing • Leaves venues to find money to continue gambling • Often gambles for long periods (3+ hours) without a proper break • Plays very fast • Gambles intensely without reacting to what’s going around them • Shows signs of distress after gambling (looks sad/depressed, crying, holding head in hands, nervous/edgy, shaking,

sweating) • Gets angry while gambling (kicking, hitting machines, swearing, playing aggressively) • Becomes angry or stands over others if someone takes their favoured machine • Avoids contact or conversation with others

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More common, likely to be demonstrated by people experiencing issues with their gambling.

PURPLE - Signs of likely gambling problems

• Witnessed or heard trying to borrow money from another customer or asking for credit from the venue

• Is rude or impolite to staff (about gambling) • Generally poor hygiene or significant decline in personal grooming or

appearance • Conceals their presence at the venue (not answering phone calls or

taking calls outside, asking staff not to let others know they are there)

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These are uncommon but, if seen, they are likely to indicate an issue with gambling.

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Self-Exclusion

• Under one of 6 Industry Codes.• Min 6 months. • Max Pub/Club 2 years or Casino Lifetime• Gambler nominates venues • Signs an agreement not to enter these gambling areas at these

premises.• Venues can remove the person.

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Unique to Victoria

• Recovery Assistance Program:– Available to GH clients (gamblers or affected others)– Objective is to support recovery from gambling based harm– Eligibility is based on use of services:

• the gambler must be self-excluded– Paid via vouchers or directly to the merchant for food, clothing,

utilities, housing, medical, transport or dependent care– Maximum available in a given year is $2500 for an individual or

$3500 per couple with children

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Venue Support Workers

• 23 venue support workers across Victoria.

• Visit venues and provide training for venue staff

• Involved with Responsible Service of Gambling.

• Voluntary- 90% of venues participate

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Venue Support Program

• Provides training and support in responsible gambling for gaming venue staff to:– Identify behaviours that may be associated with problem

gambling– Respond appropriately to these patrons.

• The program raises staff awareness of:– State-wide and local Gambler’s Help Services– Self-Exclusion programs– Other support services issues.

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Victorian Pre-commitment

• A Pre-commitment scheme EGMs by the end of 2015:– Will be voluntary for players– Can set time and/or monetary limits– All gaming machines in Victoria (including Crown Casino)

must have pre-commitment capability– All gaming venues must provide facilities for players to join

pre-commitment scheme– Players will use loyalty card to operate pre-commitment

scheme.

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