Before considering such interventions it is important to understand the behaviour of a problem gambler. After all, they are the people that these harm minimisation strategies are targeting, aren’t they?

Therefore, is the answer to remove a percentage of poker machines, to remove ATM’s from gaming venues, to reduce the denomination of money that a gambler can insert into a machine, to ban smoking in gaming venues? Do drug users stop taking drugs when their drug dealer stops supplying them drugs or when the price of drugs goes because the police intercept a large shipment of illegal drugs? NO.

If the amount of money (denomination) that a gambler can insert into a gaming machine is reduced – or if notes can no longer be inserted into gambling machines – problem gamblers will sit there for however long is required to insert the same amount of money – recreational gamblers cannot be bothered sitting there for that long to insert the money.

If a venue shuts at 3am because of the mandatory shut down, problem gamblers will gamble faster before the venue closes, go to Star City (open 24 hours) or gamble at an online casino.

So how can gaming venues and government help reduce the effects of problem gambling on the individual and the other 5-10 people they affect? They can provide practical restrictions and assistance to gamblers and their families. Problem gambling will always exist as long as blackjack, poker machines, TAB, Keno, etc remain legal.

Currently NSW legislation does not require gaming venues to ban a patron if they advise a member of staff that they have a gambling problem. This means that if I approach a gaming attendant in most NSW clubs or pubs, advise them that I have a gambling problem, by law they can allow me to continue gambling at the venue. The legislation should be amended to require all gaming venues to involuntarily exclude a patron if they admit to having a gambling problem.

In Australia, online bookmakers are offering free cash as an inducement to sign up new customers. In March 2008, BetFair successfully sued the Western Australian government, overcoming restrictions on interstate advertising. This means that bookmakers licensed in Tasmania and the Northern Territory can advertise their services in the major States. This has resulted in an unprecedented advertising blitz by bookmakers and sports betting operators, all offering attractive inducements to sign up. For example, Sportingbet offers $100 credit when you open a new account and deposit $30.

Registered clubs and hotels are prohibited from offering free credits to gamble on machines and totalisators also have restrictions on providing free credit. So why is it that bookmakers are allowed to offer free cash?

Essentially, the provision of credit by bookmakers is an historical anachronism, from the days when racing was the sport of kings and gentleman who considered it inconvenient to cart a large amount of cash to the races. Instead, gambling debts were paid in a gentlemanly fashion on “settling day”. Failure to pay was considered disgraceful and would typically result in the punter being spurned by all the bookmakers at the track.

Internationally, the prevalence of problem gambling is 3 to 4 times higher in Internet gamblers compared to non-internet gamblers. It is likely that the provision of free cash is the biggest attraction in getting problem gamblers to start on the internet. Of course, you don’t get something for nothing, so what the internet bookmakers and casinos give to get people started, they will recoup later.