Responsible Gambling Fund

The Office of Responsible Gambling sits within the NSW Department of Customer Service and leads the development of responsible gambling strategy and public policy advice to the NSW Government. It supports and manages the Responsible Gambling Fund, Clubgrants Category 3 and Community Development Fund.

The Office supports the RGF to ensure Trustees are best positioned to provide advice and guidance to the Minister on funding responsible gambling initiatives consistent with their strategic direction, objectives and associated governance arrangements. The Office develops and implements programs and initiatives, as part of a strategic approach that supports responsible gambling and prevents and minimises the risk of gambling related harm in the community.

Broad program areas include:

• Research
• Community education & awareness
• Intervention, support and treatment services
• Public policy investigation & development

The RGF is administered by nine Trustees who bring expertise across fields including public health, law, government, academia, business and social research. The Trustees meet a minimum of six times a year to provide expert advice to the Minister on appropriate allocation of funds and on gambling policy matters where an arm's length and expert view is requested. The Trustees are:

• John Dalzell (Chair) - chair of Dentons' global litigation and dispute resolution group
• Dr. Clive Allcock - experienced psychiatrist and founding member of the National Association for Gambling Studies
• Professor Paul Delfabbro - internationally renowned gambling researcher and a lecturer in Psychology at the University of Adelaide
• Dr. Greg Hugh - experienced psychiatrist and clinical director of Dubbo Hospital's mental health inpatient unit
• Elizabeth Lyne - experienced accountant and auditor in public practice and commercial accounting
• Mark McCrindle - social researcher and founder of McCrindle Research
• Janett Milligan - senior executive with experience in leadership positions within NSW Government
• Professor Joel Negin - head of the University of Sydney's School of Public Health
• Paul Newson - senior executive with extensive experience within NSW Government, formerly the Deputy Secretary of Liquor, Gaming & Racing

In 2018/19, $30 million was committed from the RGF to support responsible gambling in NSW. Funded projects include activities and services which enable a person to make informed decisions about participating in gambling, minimise the potential for harm associated with gambling and to reduce the incidence and prevalence of problem gambling.

The Responsible Gambling Fund priority areas for 2018 - 2021 are:

• A comprehensive research agenda to better inform the development of innovative responsible gambling policy and initiatives
• Investing in community education to support informed gambling choices, responsible gambling behaviour and encourage members of the community to seek help when they need it
• Actively providing support and counselling services for people experiencing gambling issues and their family members and friends
• Assisting the regulator to develop sensible gambling policy

The Responsible Gambling Fund also funds Gambling Help NSW which provides free, confidential support and advice for anyone experiencing problems with gambling, including support for family members and friends. Gambling Help NSW offers a range of free and confidential services including:

• Phone counselling available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Face-to-face gambling counselling available in 270 locations across NSW
• Online chat with a gambling counsellor via live online chat or email 24/7
• Specific support services for women, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons or people from multicultural communities
• Financial counselling and legal hep
• Information and helpful tools relating to gambling

• 2018, 2019 - "Responsible Gambling Awareness Week" 16–22 September 2019: An annual initiative to increase awareness of gambling and gambling harm in the NSW community.[1]
• 2017, 2018, 2019 - "Show some Betiquette": An advertising campaign designed to demonstrate responsible gambling to young males aged 18–35, considered at risk of developing a gambling problem in the context of online sports betting.[2]
• 2014 - "Talkward": A social media campaign encouraging problem gamblers and family and friends of problem gamblers to address gambling issues, provide support to one another and share information about gambling support and resources available in NSW.[3]
• 2014, 2015, 2016 - "Stronger Than You Think": The Responsible Gambling Fund contracted advertising agency Loud to produce a campaign promoting seeking help for problem gambling as a strength rather than weakness.[4][5][6]
• 2012 - "What's gambling really costing you?": The Responsible Gambling Fund contracted Why Documentaries to produce a campaign for Multicultural Health Communication Services.[7][8]
• 2008 - "Gambling Hangover": The Responsible Gambling Fund contracted The Campaign Palace to develop a campaign aimed at males between the ages of 18-24. The campaign focused on the "morning after" experience of a problem gambler.[9]