Inside AGE 2022

austgamingexpo.com | #1 AUG 2022 | INSIDE AGE | 51 They’ve been caught out and pun i shed seve re l y fo r not walking the talk. So we think it is critical that clubs – and we genuinely think we are the most responsible because there are no individuals profiting from the performance of gaming in the venue – we have to walk the talk. That’s why we have recent l y announced a new responsible gambling Code of Practice that we will apply to all clubs in NSW that will address a range of AML concerns as well. long period of time to see how that person is going. The result of that interaction would then be written in a gambling incident register, whether they were okay or not okay, and if they are not okay we can then provide support and treatment. We will look to ensure that there is also advanced staff training to assist staff in how to have those conversations with players and what to do if there is an issue. This would include training managers and boards in what they should be seeing during this process to make sure they are compliant, even though it is above legal requirements. We will also facilitate third party interventions such as if someone’s family believes they are gambling too much. We will create a process that will allow for some investigation of that allegation. There will be some clear examples where we will need to act, such as where someone’s mother or grandmother has dementia and does not know what they are doing. There is an absolute expectation that we should step in there. At the other extreme we understand there will be some cases where someone may just want to inherit her money and doesn’t want her spending any of it. That instance will not be acceptable for us to intervene, so we will have an independent panel to adjudicate these cases and they will have to ask some difficult questions at times around people’s finances and responsibilities. If they are found to be causing harm to themselves or others, we will implement a mandatory third party exclusion from NSW clubs. It’s important that we don’t just say that we are different from casinos but practice it as well. BB: Can you talk us through this Code of Practice? JL: The Responsible Gambling Code of Practice that we’ve announced has a range of features. From a responsible gambling perspective, what it would require from clubs for the first time would be a welfare check on any individual that has been sitting at a machine for a