Self-rehabilitation from gambling

SGGP 14/04/2023 12:01

According to official statistics cited by Australia's SBS channel, Australians lose approximately US$25 billion annually to legal gambling, the highest per capita gambling loss in the world .

Last March, the Australian Institute for Family Studies published a report highlighting the harmful effects of gambling in Australia. According to the report, three-quarters of Australians have gambled in the past year, while two-fifths gamble weekly. Of those who gamble, 46% are considered at risk of harm from gambling. Men aged 18-34 are considered the highest risk group… Online gambling is the fastest-growing segment of the gambling industry.

In response to this situation, the Australian government is accelerating the implementation of a plan to create a nationwide self-banning gambling registry (BetStop). This plan is expected to launch soon and is hoped to help Australians overcome their gambling addiction. Taking a step ahead of the authorities, some banks in Australia have already offered customers self-banning gambling options. To gamble online, players are required to have a bank account to conduct transactions with the "bookmaker" (the betting service provider). Therefore, most self-banning gambling programs run by banks are quite similar: customers cannot reinstate their gambling rights without notifying the bank at least 48 hours in advance. This period is considered a "break time" for customers and can help them gradually quit gambling.

Anna Bligh, CEO of the Australian Bankers Association, said that since offering the service, banks have recorded more than half a million Australians requesting banks to temporarily "ban" them from gambling. "When I conducted an audit about six months ago, I was surprised by the large number of people using the service, because there hasn't been a national advertising campaign about self-banning from gambling," Ms. Bligh said.

In addition to solutions to help people "quit" gambling on their own, the Australian Parliament is also conducting an investigation into the impact of online gambling stemming from betting advertisements during sporting events. Parliament has heard testimony regarding the Australian Football League (AFL) receiving a portion of betting revenue on each matchday, exceeding its usual sponsorship level. Both the AFL and the National Rugby League (NRL) will face scrutiny over the prevalence of betting advertisements during matches.

Refuting the view that betting advertisements have a negative impact, AFL Chief Executive Gill McLachlan argued that betting would still occur regardless of whether or not it was advertised. According to McLachlan, the AFL has imposed limits on betting advertisements per broadcast (2 minutes per match). In addition, the AFL has implemented several restrictions, including banning odds advertising on its website, to minimize harm. McLachlan even suggested that advertising deals offer positive aspects, allowing the AFL to reinvest in grassroots sports. Furthermore, collaborating with betting companies helps the AFL detect illegal betting practices that undermine legitimate forms of betting.

However, Labour MP Peta Murphy reminded McLachlan of the results of a survey showing that a large majority of respondents wanted gambling advertising to be banned at AFL establishments.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tu-cai-nghien-co-bac-post685752.html