Self Exclusion Technology Introduced in NSW Clubs

Thursday 16 February, 2012 18:20

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135 clubs across New South Wales have been provided with technology to combat problem gambling. The technology will be offered free of charge to all clubs across the state over the coming 12 months. Local club staff and gambling counselors have received training in how to use the technology.

The system is unique in Australia and it is hoped that this new technology will help to combat problem gambling around the nation. It is an online system that will allow problem gamblers to complete a legally binding exclusion document, witnessed by a gambling counselor or trained facilitator that will ban them from their local clubs.

Clubs and hotels in NSW introduced a similar sort of self exclusion in 2000; however the individual was required to visit each club individually to complete the document. The new technology will allow the individual to complete the document at their local club and will offer them a number of options - exclusion from the club or exclusion from any area of the club with poker machines or other gambling facilities.

The technology has been under development for the past 18 months, including a six month trial in 51 clubs in Broken Hill and the Central Coast.

Anthony Ball, CEO of ClubsNSW who developed the technology said, "This scheme provides an option for problem gamblers to avoid gaming venues altogether by completing the procedure at the office of a certified gambling counselor."

Self Exclusion Trial Period Proved Successful

During the six month trial period, 136 problem gamblers excluded themselves from a total of 569 clubs in the area.

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"Under the previous system, it could have taken weeks or even months for a problem gambler to visit each of those clubs and inform the staff they wanted to be banned from gambling. For some people, the time, effort and emotional investment needed to make multiple visits to a club is overwhelming or just too difficult to go through."

Past studies have shown that up to 90 percent of problem gamblers would prefer to ban themselves from multiple venues in one go.

"This technology allows that to occur as well as providing them with the choice of deciding if they want the counselor to notify nominated family of their gambling addiction."

Rowan Cameron, ClubSAFE manager and gambling counselor said that while self-exclusion will not cure problem gambling it is expected to be an affective tool in offering a deterrent to re-entering a gambling environment. Used in conjunction with counseling, it is hoped to reduce problem gambling.

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