1. Preventing gambling harm in the ACT: A public health approach
David Snowden
Chief Executive Officer, ACT Gambling and Racing Commission
International Association of Gambling Regulators Conference
September 2018

3. Public health approach
Focuses on improving the wellbeing
of communities
Theories and models help to:
frame thinking around prevention of harm
take a population approach
Social institutions
Social norms
Culture
Social practices
Health economics
Epidemiology
Social capital
Social determinants of health
Socio-ecological model
Theories of change
Systems theory
Complexity theory
Behavioural economics
Public health impact model
Population health
Health inequality

4. Harm reduction Risky behaviour is the result of interactions between:
Physical environment
Economic environment
Cultural environment
Social environment
Harmful product
Risky behaviour is the result of interactions between:
Harm
Therefore, will only have impact at preventing harm if all these addressed

5. Gambling Harm in ACT This is close to 16% of the adult population!
2014 Survey on Gambling, Health and Wellbeing in ACT
0.4% experience high levels of gambling harm
1.1% are moderate risk gamblers
3.9% are low risk gamblers
5.4% of the population experience some level of gambling harm
43,000 Canberrans have had a family member who has experienced harm from gambling. 
This is close to 16% of the adult population!

6. Share of self-reported losses ($ million) by level of reported harm in the ACT, 2014
ACT Prevalence Study 2014

7. Challenges to preventing gambling harm in the ACT
Shifting the paradigm from focusing on ‘problem gambling’ to recognising ‘gambling harm’ - shift in thinking from the individual to the collective
Diverse stakeholders with different agendas
Raising awareness and literacy while reducing stigma and shame

8. Harm prevention strategies in the ACT
Universal
Indicated
Selective
Multiple targeted initiatives
Universal: Target everyone, eg. Community awareness campaigns
Selective: Target those at heightened risk, e.g. Information kits for venue staff
Indicated: Those already experiencing heighted harm, e.g. self- exclusion procedures, counselling and relapse prevention
Tailored initiatives
Initiatives need to be appropriate and acceptable for the target group

9. What does this look like so far?
In 2016:
Gambling Harm Awareness Week
A broad - universal approach - raising community awareness
In 2017:
Don’t Play It Down: A selective approach - Gambling Harm Prevention In-venue Kit

10. Gambling venues must:
Keep a record of anyone displaying signs of gambling harm
Take reasonable steps to discuss the possible gambling problem
Provide information about getting help
Prevent a person gambling at their venue if it poses a serious risk of harm

11. Compliance and enforcement
Aims
Ensure community safety through regulation and licensing
Safeguard the integrity of the industry, and minimise burden on business
How
Engagement, education and enforcement
Risk based approach
Direct resources where they are needed most
A comprehensive compliance program: Audits, Information exchange and investigation
Take action when required

12. Recent Court Case
Complaint: Highly educated female lost $230,000 on gaming machines over 18 months. Many signs of low level gambling harm.
Complainant claimed it should have been obvious and acted upon by venue staff.
Investigation: No incidents were recorded in the incident gambling register
Venue’s defence: Aware of previous exclusion but did not link current and past behaviour
Pleasant, not distressed, highly educated, financial difficulties not evident
Only required to offer assistance if thought of as ‘problem gambler’
Case outcome: Breached the law - failed to record gambling incidents
$60,000 donation to gambling harm related charity
Procedures and training in recording gambling incidents to be
externally audited

13. Where to from here?
The ACT Gambling and Racing Commission has engaged with government on reform.
Cross-jurisdictional partnership:
2018 Gambling Harm Awareness Week
Paradigm shift from
problem gambling on an individual level
to gambling harm at a societal level.
Behavioural change supported by legislation

14. The Commission’s vision is of a Canberra free of gambling harm.