The Queensland administration has unveiled a fresh four-year strategy designed to hinder and lessen the detrimental effects of wagering within the state.
The strategy was introduced during Queensland’s Responsible Wagering Awareness Week (RGAW) in 2021 and outlines the shared duty of the government, the industry, and local communities in mitigating wagering-related harm in Queensland.
Spanning from 2021 to 2025, the strategy aims to ensure the industry offers safer products and services, empowers, safeguards, and supports consumers, while also guaranteeing the state possesses an effective and dependable regulatory framework.
The strategy estimates that 70% of Queensland’s populace engages in wagering, while most do so for amusement, 0.5% of the state’s adults are categorized as problematic gamblers.
Lotteries are regarded as the most favored form of wagering, with 54.9% of gamblers participating, while only 24.9% of consumers play electronic gaming machines (EGMs), over 70% of gamblers report issues with these devices.
Its our collective duty to assist Queensland residents in engaging in gambling responsibly,” stated the Attorney-General, Minister for Women, and Minister for Domestic and Family Violence Prevention, Shannon Fentiman.
Gambling-related difficulties represent a multifaceted social issue that impacts not only the individual gambler but also their families, professional environments, and the broader community. This detrimental impact can have cascading consequences on all facets of life, encompassing relationships, mental well-being, and financial stability.
With an increasing number of interstate and international gambling operators providing online services, digital technology and advertising are exposing Queenslanders to gambling from a tender age. It is imperative that we ensure Queenslanders have access to the necessary support to seek assistance and recognize the indicators of problematic gambling.
To attain its primary objectives, the plan will be structured around four strategic pillars: Leadership and Culture, Technology and Environment, Public Health Approach, and Regulatory Framework.
Initially, Leadership and Culture will concentrate on establishing robust empowerment, fostering leadership and grassroots participation, and reinforcing governance frameworks to better comprehend and address gambling-related harms. This includes taking preventative and proactive measures to address products and environments, and ensuring consumers can make informed decisions.
This strategy will concentrate on examining how new technologies can bolster the marketplace, crafting safeguards for consumers across all market segments, comprehending and reacting to emerging online marketplaces, and transitioning to a secure cashless environment while promoting knowledge exchange between participants in the technology and environmental sectors.
In terms of public health strategies, the plan will prioritize gaining a deeper understanding of the detrimental effects of gambling to guide policy interventions, enhancing cross-sectoral cooperation, developing interventions tailored to the specific needs of “high-risk” populations, coordinating prevention and awareness initiatives, and implementing best-practice gambling assistance and self-support models.
Regarding the regulatory framework, the plan will encompass strengthening harm minimization controls, adopting a dual local and national regulatory approach, engaging stakeholders in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the plan, establishing a more comprehensive data picture and evidence base, and increasing transparency in decision-making and policy development.
Victorian Alcohol and Gambling Commissioner Thomson stated, “We must expand our focus beyond ‘problem gamblers’ and concentrate on identifying ‘high-risk’ groups and intervening early to prevent harm from occurring.”
Were transitioning our strategy from “responsible gambling” to “safer gambling.” This acknowledges that there are secure levels of gambling and methods the industry can implement to foster a safer environment.
This change necessitates collaboration among all stakeholders – government, establishments, and gambling support services. We must collectively construct a safer setting.
Queensland has already taken significant steps to prevent and mitigate gambling-related harm. However, by concentrating on emerging trends and technologies, and collaborating as a united front, we can further enhance our efforts to safeguard individuals.
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