Gambling amongst gaming venue employees: counsellors’ perspectives on risk and protective factors in the workplace

This paper reports on Stage One of a project examining the gambling behaviour of employees in Queensland gaming venues and how aspects of their workplace might influence that behaviour, to identify how gaming venues can provide a work environment that encourages responsible gambling amongst employees. From interviews with 32 gambling counsellors, 40 risk factors for gambling problems, 15 protective factors against gambling problems and 14 venue strategies for encouraging responsible gambling amongst employees were identified. A number of broad conclusions can be reached. First, staff who work in gaming venues appear an at-risk group for problem gambling. Second, this risk stems from a variety of factors relating to working in a gambling environment. Third, numerous workplace factors also protect some staff by deterring them from gambling, by minimising harmful behaviours and by improving informed consent. Finally, there are strategies venues can implement to better encourage responsible gambling amongst their staff.