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UNiTAB Responsible Gambling Policy
Introduction
UNiTAB Limited (UNiTAB) has developed the Responsible Gambling Policy to minimize the potential harm associated with gambling.In developing the Policy, UNiTAB has realistically taken into account:
- community concerns on potential harm associated with gambling.
- role of UNiTAB in providing a responsible gambling environment.
- rights and responsibilities of customers who may have a gambling-related problem.
Policy goals
The goals of the Responsible Gambling Policy are to:- manage potential harm associated with gambling by creating a responsible gambling environment.
- educate and inform employees, customers and the community about potential harm associated with gambling.
- create awareness of significant benefits that will arise where employees, customers and the community assist UNiTAB in its endeavours to minimize potential harm associated with gambling.
- ensure compliance with the Queensland Responsible Gambling Code of Practice.
Mission Statement
"UNiTAB Limited is committed to promoting the socially responsible use of its wagering services as a recreational and entertainment activity, and to minimising the potential harm associated with problem gambling."
What is problem gambling?
Problem gambling exists when gambling activity results in a range of adverse consequences where:- the safety and/or well-being of gambling customers and/or their families and friends are placed at risk; and
- negative impacts extend to the broader community.
Potential harmful effects of problem gambling
Some potential harmful effects of problem gambling on individual and the community are:- personal - stress, depression and anxiety, poor health, suicide.
- work and study - job loss, absenteeism, poor performance.
- financial - financial hardshiups, debts, asset losses, bankruptcy.
- legal - theft, fraud, scams.
- interpersonal - family neglect, domestic violence, relationship breakdown.
- community services - pressure on charities and public purses.
What is responsible gambling?
Responsible gambling occurs in an environment where people make informed decisions about their participation in gambling.Responsible gambling occurs as a result of the collective actions and shared ownership by individuals, communities, the gambling industry and the Government, to achieve outcomes that are socially responsible and responsive to community concerns.
Harm Minimization Strategies
UNiTAB has a responsibility to ensure that the Wagering Act 1998, the Wagering Rule 1999 and the Queensland Responsible Gambling Code of Practice are strictly adhered to and will implement strategies to minimize the potential harm associated with gambling.The strategies are as follows:
- Provision of information
- Responsible gambling information
- UNiTAB and its Agents will make available responsible gambling information, the Responsible Gambling Mission Statement of UNiTAB, signage on potential harm associated with gambling and brochures on where to get help for problem gambling, for information of customers.
- Interaction with customers and community
- Community liaison
- UNiTAB will appoint a Responsible Gambling Customer Liaison Officer to liaise with the community by facilitating discussion and establishing networks between UNiTAB and community support agencies on responsible gambling issues.
- Customer liaison
- The Customer Liaison Officer's role is to provide support to customers and UNiTAB staff dealing with problem gambling issues and to maintain UNiTAB's responsible gambling Complaint/Issues Register. The CLO will assist customers to make contact with skilled counselling through the Queensland Gambling Help Services.
- Customer complaints
- UNiTAB will inform customers about its responsible gambling complaints mechanism through the display on the 'Where to get help' poster and its Responsible Gambling brochure. UNiTAB will strive to deal with customer complaints in a timely manner. Where the outcomes are not to the satisfaction of the complainant, UNiTAB will inform the complainant of other avenues of redress, in particular Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation.
- Training and skills development
- UNiTAB will ensure that gambling-related service staff receive appropriate information and training in the responsible provision of gambling and gambling products. UNiTAB will also provided appropriate training to Managers regarding the Responsible Gambling Policy.
- Exclusion provisions
- Self-exclusion
- UNiTAB will provide self-exclusion as an option to assist people who perceive they may have a problem with gambling to control their gambling habits and will make customers aware of the existence of self-exlusion provisions by displaying signage within agencies. UNiTAB and Agents will encourage people who choose to exclude themselves from their Agency and to also exclude themselves from other gambling venues in the area. UNiTAB will undertake regular reviews of self-exclusion provisions to assess its effectiveness.
- Third party exclusion
- Following an approach from a third party (for example family members or professional/welfare groups), UNiTAB will suggest to any third party approach that self-exclusion documents and procedures are available, provide a copy of the Application for Self-exclusion to the third party and encourage the third party to discuss the options with the person believed to have a problem with gambling.
- Physical Environment
- Minors
- UNiTAB will prohibit all persons under the age of 18 from participating in gambling.
- Physical environment
- UNiTAB will ensure a pleasant environment for customers. UNiTAB will display the time of day within agencies to make customers aware of the passage of time.
- Gratuities
- Agents and Staff are not to encourage customers to give them gratiuities.
- Confidentiality
- UNiTAB and Agents will ensure that all activities relating to gambling engaged in by customers shall remain confidential and shall not be discussed with other customers or members of the community.
- Financial Transactions
- Financial transactions policy
- UNiTAB and Agents will not extend credit for the purpose of gambling under any circumstances. A maximum cash limit of $10,000.00 applies for payouts. If the winning is greater than this limit either the whole amount can be paid by cheque or paid partly in cash to the maximum limit with the balance of the payout paid by cheque. Cheques for winnings issued by the Agent will not be cashed by the Agent until the next trading day.
- Advertising and promotions
- Advertising and Promotions Code of Practice
- UNiTAB will ensure that any advertising or promotion:
- complies with the Advertising Code of Ethics as adopted by the Australian Association of National Advertisers;
- is not false, misleading or deceptive;
- does not implicitly or explicitly misrepresent the probability of winning a prize;
- does not give the impression that gambling is a reasonable strategy for financial betterment;
- does not include misleading statements about odds, prizes or chances of winning;
- does not offend prevailing community standards;
- is not implicitly or explicitly directed at minors or vulnerable or disadvantaged groups;
- does not involve any external signs advising of winnings paid; and
- does not involve any irresponsible trading practicies.