Responsible Gambling Essentials for NSW Hotel Workers
Do you work at a licensed pub in NSW? Chances are your venue has poker machines as well as other gambling services for patrons. In today’s blog, we’re looking at eleven (11) essentials from the Responsible Conduct of Gambling course (RCG) that all NSW hotel workers should know.
Even if you don’t work directly in the gaming room you are still likely to encounter customers who play the pokies or participate in gambling activities. This blog will help you serve your customers in accordance with the law and reduce the likelihood of problem gambling at the venue.
1. Impacts
For some people, gambling can be addictive and problem gambling can affect the mental health and wellbeing of a player as well as their families, their workplaces, and the general community.
Apart from significant financial impacts, problem gambling can also lead to family breakdowns, domestic violence, relationship problems, emotional distress, even suicide.
The NSW government has laws in place to reduce the harm caused by problem gambling and as a hotel worker, you must abide by your venue’s responsible gambling house policy and harm minimisation procedures.
2. Self-Exclusions
All licensed premises in NSW that have poker machines or other gambling services must offer an exclusion program to their customers. This means that a patron can voluntarily ban (or self-exclude) themselves from the gaming room, or the entire hotel.
A gambling exclusion is legally binding and once in place must be upheld by hotel staff. Your venue will have a house policy and procedures for dealing with excluded patrons, but no matter where you work, always ensure that your customers are treated with dignity and their privacy is upheld at all times.
3. Alcohol
You would know from your RSA course that serving alcohol to a customer who is intoxicated is against the law. But you should also prevent intoxicated patrons from playing poker machines and gambling.
Alcohol can impair a person’s judgment, causing them to bet higher than they normally would, gamble for longer than planned, or become aggressive if they lose money.
Check with your duty manager if you are unsure of your venue’s house policy regarding gaming patrons and RSA.
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