The Future of Responsible Gambling

In this course, Dr. Anastasia Hronis (B Psych, M Clin Psych, AMusA, LMusA, Ph.D.), Founder of the Australian Institute for Human Wellness, Honorary Associate at the University of Technology Sydney, gives a snapshot of gambling in Australia and globally, including an identification of types of harm from gambling. Noting that the term “responsible gambling” has not been effective at engendering safer gambling, she offers a definition that she and her colleagues developed after a literature and website review and expert consultation, and lists 51 behavioural indicators of responsible consumption of gambling. The Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines she shares are useful in their specificity. Hronis proposes moving to a stepped care model of interventions, such as is available for mental health concerns, which would help meet people where they’re at, with the right intervention at the right time. The issue of gambling advertising is addressed, as well as the question of “Where to from here?”.