Risk and protective factors relating to gambling by employees of gaming venues

This paper examines how the work environment in gaming venues can influence employee gambling behaviour and how gaming venues can further discourage problem gambling by their staff. Interviews with 86 staff and 73 managers of clubs, hotels and casinos, and with 32 gambling counsellors and six problem gamblers who work in gaming venues revealed numerous workplace factors that can encourage, discourage or have no influence on employee gambling. These are synthesised into a theoretical framework and risk, moderating and protective factors and interventions relating to propensity to gamble, gambling products and services, and gambling outcomes and consequences for gaming venue staff are identified.