How Can Gambling Venues Encourage Responsible Gambling Amongst Employees?

A summary of “Gambling Amongst Gaming Venue Employees: Counsellors’ Perspectives on Risk and Protective Factors in the Workplace” by Nerilee Hing and Helen Breen from Southern Cross University, Lismore. The article was published in 2005 in Gambling Research, 17(2), p.24-46. Summarised by Julie Roberts, Intern Psychologist

There has been little research done on the gambling behaviour of gambling venue employees. What we do know is that environmental factors such as the availability of gaming machines, level of exposure to gambling and social climate influence the level that people become involved in gambling.

Three North American studies suggest that employees in gaming venues may be at higher risk of developing gambling problems than the general population. This study by Hing and Breen is the first of its kind in Australia and was funded by the Queensland government.

Final recommendations made by the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) in 2004 were that informed choice about gambling should be promoted; that gamblers should be protested from risky behaviour that may have negative consequences; and to improve problem gambling treatment services.

Blaszczynski, Sharp and Walker (2001) suggest that harm minimisation should include the following. Prevent gambling problems from developing; reduce the number of people with gambling problems in the community; reduce the negative consequences for social gamblers; maintain enjoyment of recreational gamblers; and ensure the livelihood of gaming industry workers is not unnecessarily compromised.

In light of the above recommendations Hing and Breen have taken a public health promotion stance. They have studied both the risk factors and the protective factors effecting venue workers in their working environment and have identified strategies that venues can use to encourage responsible gambling in the workplace. Hing and Breen interviewed 32 Queensland Gambling Counsellors. The interviews were semi structured and lasted for 30 – 60 minutes. Their findings follow:

Risk Factors affecting venue workers

Close interaction with gamblers

• Distorted views of winning
• Caught up in the excitement of wins
• Hearing about gambling
• Identifying with gamblers
• Wanting a Piece of the action.

Frequent exposure to gambling

• Access to gambling
• Lights, music, atmosphere
• Surrounded by gambling
• Familiar, comforting environment
• Normalises gambling
• Normalises heavy gambling
• Perceived insider knowledge

Effects of shiftwork on gambling

• Social isolation
• Need to find solitary leisure activities
• Lack of alternative leisure activities after work
• Shiftwork leads to stress
• Filling in time between shifts

Encouragement to gamble from work colleagues

• Staff gambling together
• Gambling to gain acceptance into the workgroup
• General acceptance of gambling
• Staff introduce them to gambling
• Industry attracts gamblers
• Industry attracts outgoing people
• Managers gambling
• Fear of job loss
• Intolerance in the industry
• Difficulties in self excluding
• Limits work opportunities
• Time to access help services

Gambling to cope with difficult aspects of the job

• Stress about problem gamblers
• Stress from emotional labour
• Stress from heavy workloads
• Job dissatisfaction/ boredom
• Low pay
• Access to cash
• A drinking culture

Reluctance to expose their own gambling problems and seek help

• Fear of job loss
• Intolerance in the industry
• Difficulties in self excluding
• Limits work opportunities
• Time to access help services

Frequent exposure to gambling marketing and promotions

• Acts as a trigger
• Feeds erroneous thinking
• Worsens existing problems
• Caught up in excitement of promotions

Protective Factors

Exposed to the negatives and realities of gambling

• See gamblers with problems
• Can trigger problem recognition
• Gambling seen as boring
• Aware of poor odds of winning
• More immune to advertising and promotions

Support from work colleagues not to gamble

• Support/ advice to stop gambling
• Supportive work culture
• Rule of no staff gambling in the workplace

Staff training in responsible gambling

• Raises awareness of problem gambling
• Raises awareness of effects of problem gambling
• Destigmatises problem gambling
• Raises awareness of ways that gambling works
• Can trigger help seeking

Venue-based responsible gambling measures

• Signage raises awareness
• Signage can trigger help seeking (but may be in denial or desensitised)

Strategies to encourage responsible gambling

Prohibit gambling in the workplace

• Lessens gambling problems
• Should apply to all staff
• Prevents staff from spending wages at venue

Raise staff awareness of and access to counselling

• Information on local counselling services
• Liaison with local counselling services
• Venue based counselling/ assistance

More approachable and flexible employers

• Remove fear of job loss
• Provide support for staff with gambling problems
• Provide alternative jobs in the venue
• Staff training and education about gambling
• Provide information on risk for staff
• All staff trained in responsible gambling ( re signs and symptoms of gambling problems)

More relevant responsible gambling training

• Promote a stronger culture of responsible gambling
• Encourage staff wellbeing

Hing and Breen’s research tells us that people who work in gambling venues may be at high risk for developing gambling problems. It tells us that according to problem gambling counsellors in Queensland there are various factors contributing to that risk and also factors that minimise that risk. Most importantly it tells us that there are strategies that venues can use to encourage responsible gambling amongst their employees.

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