In a significant move to address gambling harm in New South Wales (NSW), the state government has pledged $100 million in funding for initiatives and services to reduce the industry’s harmful effects on communities. This commitment is a part of the first Minns Labor Government Budget, reflecting their long-term dedication to combating money laundering, implementing gaming reforms, and mitigating the social consequences of gambling.

The $100 million injection will encompass various areas, covering the most pressing issues. The 2024-25 financial year will see gambling harm minimization initiatives and reforms receive $21.7 million annually for three years. The recently introduced gambling reform panel will select worthy initiatives and distribute these funds accordingly.

The second most substantial portion of the funding, $10 million, will bolster the Responsible Gambling Fund through the Office of Responsible Gambling. The extra capital will support GambleAware’s counseling and support services, awareness and education campaigns, initiatives like “Reclaim the Game,” and cutting-edge gambling research. These will hopefully provide long-term reductions in problem gambling rates.

An additional $6.4 million will enhance self-exclusion programs and introduce third-party exclusions in pubs and clubs, providing individuals with more tools to control their gambling habits. The remaining $3.4 million will help facilitate the upcoming 12-month cashless gaming trial at select venues, paving the way for broader reforms.

These Initiatives Form a Broader Agenda

Since its election in March, the Minns Labor Government has undertaken several significant steps to address gambling-related issues in NSW. These efforts include banning political donations from clubs involved in gaming, launching an independent panel to oversee a comprehensive cashless gaming trial, reducing cash input limits for new poker machines, reducing gaming machine entitlements, and banning external gambling-related signage.

This extra funding was possible due to the substantial fines imposed on Star Casino by the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC). The financial boon to select initiatives should hopefully lead to a safer, more sustainable industry, offsetting the damage by the problematic operator. Such actions perfectly align with NSW’s rising focus on gambling harm prevention and will form the foundation for future changes.

This government has a clear focus and is committed to evidence-based reform.

David Harris, Minister for Gaming and Racing

Despite the NSW government’s efforts, years of ineffective regulations and lack of enforcement have caused significant gaming-related issues as gambling harm rates remain high. Remedying such deficiencies will be long and arduous, but recent initiatives show substantial promise. If the government remains steadfast with its planned reforms, it should achieve noticeable improvements.

The post New South Wales Government Allocates $100M to Combat Gambling Harm appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Denmark has a concerning gambling problem. The country, which has a population of 5.85 million, has a whopping 500,000 people suffering from gambling problems. This figure was reported by Rambøll last year, as commissioned by the Gambling Authority.

The harm rates have more than doubled since 2016, sparking concerns about the future of the country. Luckily, many people now realize the dangers of gambling addiction, prompting active efforts to reduce it.

As a result, the Danish government has now agreed to set aside DKK 10 million (around $1.47 million) for treating gambling harm each year from 2023 to 2025. The project will see this money invested in various initiatives.

A Breakthrough of How the Money Will Be Used

The Danish government officialized its plans for 2023, sharing details on how the money will be used.

DKK 5 million will be used for the research of gambling addiction. Research groups can apply for a grant by contacting the Ministry of the Interior and Health. The main purpose of this research would be to find ways to treat problem gambling.

Another DKK 2.5 million will be provided to the local regulator, which will run a new information campaign. The authority will target people of all ages and will try to convey how dangerous irresponsible gambling can be.

Furthermore, DKK 1.5 million has been set aside for the development of a national information platform where people can find educational materials on gambling addiction.

Lastly, a million will be used by the regulator to begin a study of gambling addiction in Nordic countries. The study, however, would depend on the other Nordic countries’ willingness to collaborate. If they fail to allocate funds for the project, the Danish regulator will simply move the funds to its national campaign.

Bruus Praised the Funding

Jeppe Bruus Christensen, Denmark’s Minister for Taxation, described the recent developments in gaming as “very worrying.” He emphasized that problem gambling can cause long-term damage to the lives of those who suffer from it.

Bruus said that Denmark has an obligation to protect vulnerable groups from harm, which is why the country needs to reinforce its efforts against problem gambling.

Therefore, we need to both strengthen information efforts towards children and young people and research into gambling addiction.

Jeppe Bruus Christensen, Minister for Taxation, Denmark

Bruus concluded that he is very happy that more funding has now been allocated for this cause.

A month ago, on the other hand, Denmark introduced player registrations for land-based gaming. This will hopefully help the country mitigate gambling fraud while protecting at-risk players.

The post Denmark Allocates Funds for Combating Gambling Harm appeared first on Keno Wizard.