Self-Exclusion Effective For Problem Gamblers

Self-Exclusion Effective For Problem Gamblers

7 November 2007,

Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand

Self-exclusion, where problem gamblers make themselves known to venues and request to be denied access to gambling machines, is surprisingly effective for many of the people who use it.

Dr Philip Townshend of the Problem Gambling Foundation told the combined Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) and Cutting Edge Addiction Conference in Auckland today that under the Gambling Act 2003, venues must monitor their gambling areas and refuse access to anyone who has made such a request.

"Essentially, pokies are like vending machines that dispense addictive gambling highs. They can be used quietly for hours on end with no warning signs sent out that someone is getting themselves in too deep, or gambling away needed money for groceries.

"When such an exclusion request is made, the venue is required by law to issue and police an exclusion order barring the person from their gambling areas. It's a way a problem gambler can help protect themselves, and it tends to work in many cases."

Presenting with Dr Townshend was Brenda McQuillan, one of the first in New Zealand to use the self exclusion system when her gambling got out of control in the early 1990s. She said self exclusion tends to be a last resort, as it's a difficult thing to bring oneself to do.

"It's very public in that you have to send a photo of yourself and a letter to every venue in town that says, 'I am a problem gambler,' which involves a significant embarrassment and shame factor.

"The surprising thing, though, is that is did help me gain back some self control. I knew I'd face the humiliation of being barred if I entered a gaming area, and that helped me get over my overwhelming urges to gamble, and made me able to function again." The pair have called for mandatory warnings similar to those on tobacco products to be placed on all gambling machines, to remind gamblers of their addictive nature. Dr Townshend said that by 2009, all pokies will be required to have auto-interrupt features regularly informing users of their time spent and amounts lost gambling. He would like to see mandatory and specific warnings included to make them think about what they are potentially losing.

He also suggests reducing typical maximum prizes from $1000 to just $250, which would reduce some of the allure of pokies, and a pre-commitment card based system for all machines which would allow gamblers to impose limits on their 24 hour gambling spend before they get caught up in a session. --

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: In June 2007, a problem gambler identified herself to all 174 gambling venues in her area and requested an exclusion order. Though all were required to respond by law, only 80 (46%) did Two refused to issue a ban stating it was “against their policy” and instead issues trespass notices against the person

Three requested the client agree to exempt them from legal consequences under the gambling act, which amounted to an attempt to contract out of their legal responsibilities Several venues attempted to complicate the exclusion process by requiring extra steps not required under the act, such as requiring extra documentation or original photos Only 48 venues (28%) got their responses completely right.

Dr Townshend said both the gambling industry and the regulator, the Department of Internal Affairs, are aware of these results and have made a commitment to improving the responses from venues to self exclusion requests.

ENDS

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