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General Information

What is ClubSafe?

Gambling is widely accepted in Australia as a recreational activity. Club patrons often enjoy gambling as part of the entertainment package provided in their club. However, a small number of patrons who engage in gambling may do so destructively, and this may have a harmful impact not only on them, but also on their families and the community.

There is good news for clubs – among gaming machine users, problem gambling is much less common at clubs than at other venues (such as pubs, hotels or casinos) and a high proportion of club patrons are low-risk or non-problem gamblers (Source: AC Nielsen, 2007).

The community has a right to be concerned about new forms of gambling such as sports betting, online poker and online gaming. These forms of gambling encourage credit card gambling, particularly by young men, to which the wider club industry is strongly opposed, given the dangerous non-regulation of the online gambling environment.

ClubSAFE is the club industry's Responsible Conduct of Gambling Program. ClubSAFE, which was initially developed by ClubsNSW with significant input from the Australian Institute for Gambling Research, is a comprehensive program designed to help registered clubs manage responsible gambling operations that exceeds legislative requirements and community expectations.

Responsible gambling best practice goes beyond simple compliance with legislation and regulation. It can be defined as decisions and actions taken by the club industry that are consistent with the values and objectives of the community. Responsible gambling management practices seek to prevent or minimise the harm that may occur as a result of problem gambling.

ClubSAFE provides clubs with specific tools designed to minimise the harm experienced by a minority of gaming machine players. Harm minimisation seeks to reduce the prevalence of problem gambling in the interests of maintaining local community wellbeing. The measure of achievement is not an ideal gambling level or situation, but whether the likelihood of damaging consequences has been reduced by the preventative measures. ClubSAFE provides guidance for patrons who seek assistance to deal with gambling problems.

Clubs make a significant economic and social contribution to the community. Clubs employ more than 43,000 people, inject $5.6b into the state’s economy every year and have a social contribution estimated by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) of $811m per annum.

For more information on ClubSAFE contact Member Enquiries Centre on 1300 730 001 or enquiries@clubsnsw.com.au

The club will ensure that complaints mechanisms; harm minimising financial procedures; responsible advertising and promotional standards are in place.

ClubSafe members have a Self Exclusion Scheme available to patrons, and have information on how to deal with approaches from patrons to self-exclude. The program has a referral mechanism in place to link patrons who feel they may need gambling counselling assistance with an appropriate counselling service, via a comprehensive counselling service directory.

The program devotes energy into continual research and development of new products and services in response to changing needs and responsible gambling progressions.

In response to these factors, ClubsNSW opened discussions in 2001 with several counselling organisations to develop a formal relationship network.
The result is a new program currently in development- the ClubSafe Community Liaison Networks

What are the Community Liaison Networks?

The idea behind the Community Liaison Networks is to formalise links already in place in the ClubSafe program and go a step beyond.

The networks are founded on the belief that a co-ordinated and co-operative approach to problem gambling by local gambling operators and local gambling counselling support services will deliver the best outcomes for all parties. The idea for the program commenced well before the introduction of similar measures in the newly introduced Gaming Machine Act, however ClubsNSW are gratified that the new legislation supports this initiative.

The vision for the Community Liaison Networks goes beyond legislative requirements for clubs to have arrangements with counselling services.

Rather than just providing a link, the networks will provide opportunities for clubs to regularly meet with problem gambling counselling services and community groups supporting problem gamblers and their families. It is hoped that through this process, clubs will gain a greater understanding of community expectations to problem gambling, while building trust and communication between clubs and problem gambling counselling services.

At the same time the promotion of local problem gambling counselling services will also become more prominent in clubs. While the finer points of this arrangement are still in negotiation it is hoped to be up and running mid year. Look out for more information, which will be sent direct to your organisation, in the coming months.

THINK! ABOUT YOUR LOCAL CHOICES

If you think you have a problem with gambling, call the toll-free

ClubSAFE COUNSELLING SERVICE
1800 99 77 66
clubsafe@clubsnsw.com.au
24hrs, 7 DAYS

By calling the clubsafe counselling service, you are choosing to control your gambling and .....
CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Free confidential gambling counselling is available.

Take the first step and call the ClubSAFE counselling service.

As a ClubSAFE venue, this club supports the provision of a
responsible gambling environment for all patrons.