Assessing responsible gambling strategies: a case study in Queensland

In reviewing potential harm minimisation and consumer protection measures for gambling, the Productivity Commission (1999) noted that informational strategies such as awareness raising, education, consumer information, changes to venue design and gambling technologies assist consumers in making choices with informed consent and reduce the risk of some people experiencing gambling-related problems. The Productivity Commission (1999) floated a range of harm minimisation strategies for use in gambling operations. However, scant attention has been paid to investigating the actual implementation of such strategies or their potential effectiveness. This research gap prompted the current project that examines the extent to which the Queensland Responsible Gambling Code of Practice has been implemented in casinos, hotels and licensed clubs and the attitudes of managers and employees towards various aspects of the Code. This paper reports on initial findings from the project. It draws on qualitative data gathered from semi-structured interviews with managers and staff in four venues in Longreach. The investigation found that the managers and staff generally had a poor understanding of the Code, except for its legislative components. Whilst showing genuine concern for their customers, managers and staff believe that most of the strategies in the Code are unlikely to have a major effect on encouraging responsible gambling.