Minimising Gambling Harm

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11 September 2006

Finding Common Ground Best Way To Minimise Gambling Harm

Minimising the harm associated with problem gambling depends upon constructive industry collaboration to develop effective, real-world approaches, according to SKYCITY’s Manager - Harm Minimisation, Debbie Edwards.

“The responsibility to prevent and minimise gambling harm is shared by gambling operators like SKYCITY with central and local government, service providers, researchers, and communities. This is a complex and still-evolving area: it is critical we find common ground and ways of working effectively together to develop our approaches.“ Debbie Edwards says.

To facilitate this, SKYCITY is sponsoring and participating in an industry-wide ‘Think Tank’ on gaming issues, where international specialists will debate policy, international best practice and research into harm minimisation. The Think Tank will be held on September 11-12, preceding an International Gambling Conference to be held in Auckland

“New Zealand and South Australia are at the forefront of considering problem gambling as a public health issue and developing harm minimisation legislation globally. SKYCITY has a significant role to play in this: we are probably the first gambling operator in the world to explicitly include a collaborative, public-health approach into our Harm Minimisation policies.” Debbie Edwards says.

“SKYCITY takes the view that it is possible to be socially responsible and to enhance business sustainability, but we can’t do this alone. The fact is that effective public health has to occur in real settings: families, iwi, communities, and places like casinos. It’s through collaborating with others who share obligations to prevent and minimise gambling harm that the best results can be achieved. “

The third annual Think Tank, on the subject of Presenting Populations and First Contact, is hosted on 11-12 September by the Gambling Research Centre, Auckland University of Technology, and the Gambling Helpline New Zealand. The International Conference, Gambling and its Impacts: Policy, Practice and Research Perspectives, will be held on 13-15 September, at the AUT University North Shore Campus. Both conference events bring together researchers from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the United States.

“We welcome our colleagues from around the world,” says David Kennedy, General Manager Public Policy for SKYCITY. “We look forward to sharing insights on latest international best practice and initiatives to further enhance our own programmes and policies.”

ENDS

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