The responsible gambling code in Queensland: implementation and venue assessment

Queensland introduced its Responsible Gambling Code of Practice in May 2002. The Code was based on six practice areas related to the provision of information, interaction with customers and community, exclusion provisions, physical environments, financial transactions, and advertising and promotions. The practices were developed from the Productivity Commission’s (1999) recommendations for harm minimisation and extensive stakeholder consultation. This paper reports on a study investigating the level of implementation of the Code's practices in casinos, hotels and licensed clubs in three regions within Queensland. The study also examined the perceptions of managers and employees about the Code's adequacy. The study was undertaken in Longreach, Townsville and southeast Queensland and involved on-site inspections of 30 venues and qualitative data gathered from semi-structured interviews with their managers and staff. The investigation established that some practices had a higher likelihood of being implemented than others. In addition, the level of implementation varied considerably between venues. For example, a small number of venues had implemented most practices, a small number had implemented very few, while most had implemented between 40 and 60 percent of the practices. It appears that the number of gaming machines in a venue, the type of venue, regional location and management attitudes to the Code may influence the level of compliance with the Code. Managers’ perceptions of the adequacy of practices included in the Code varied considerably. Some practices, such as physical layout, were considered more effective by most venue managers than others, such as the provision of information and signage.