We all love to read stories about big wins and imagine ourselves in the shoes of those winners. But, have you ever thought about what happens at that very moment after successfully beating the slot machine? Usually, the slot machine locks up and, in most cases, you hear the music and see the flashing lights on top of the machine. But one of the first questions every player asks is whether they have to pay taxes on casino winnings? Well, you’re about to find out!
Taxes on Slot Machine Winnings in USA
In the USA, when a lucky player hits a jackpot, there’s the option of receiving the winnings in cash or check. In case it’s a large sum, it’s usually paid by check. However, the IRS only obliges the casinos to report winnings that are larger than $1,200.
Of course, all winners are obliged to show a proper identification— a valid ID or passport. When the casino checks for your identification they also look at your age to make sure you are officially and legally old enough to play. As the minimum legal age for gambling varies from state to state, be sure to check it out before you decide to play.
Do I Have to Report All Winnings?
All gambling winnings received from slot machines are subject to federal taxes, and both cash and non-cash winnings (like a car or a vacation) are fully taxable. Apart from slot machines, the same applies to winnings from lottery, bingo, keno, poker or other games of chance. So, if the amount won on a slot machine is higher than $1200, the casino is required to report it. In other words, all your gambling winnings
have to be reported on your tax return as "other income" on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8.
Slot Machine Winnings in W-2G Form
In case it happens to you and you snag that big win (which we hope one day you will), it’s useful to know that casino or other payer must give you a W-2G Form, listing your
name, address and Social Security number. So, if the winnings are reported through a W-2G Form, federal taxes will be withheld at a rate of 25%.
If, however, you didn’t provide your Social Security number (or your Tax Identification Number), in that case the withholding will be 28%. Either way, a copy of your Form W-2G should be issued, showing the amount you won alongside the amount of tax withheld. One copy needs to go to the IRS, as well.
Aside from slot winnings, Form W-2G is issued to winners of the following types of gambling activities like:
- bingo (for players who win $1,200 or more),
- keno (for at least $1,500 worth wins)
- poker tournament players (for the $5,000 win or more).
- a horse track (if the winnings are 300x your bet)
However, not all gambling winnings are subject to IRS Form W2-G. For instance, W2-G forms are not required for winnings from table games like blackjack, baccarat, and roulette, whatever the amount. You’d still have to report your winnings to the IRS, it’s just you won’t need to do it through W-2G Form.
Are My Slot Losses Deductible?
The good news is that
you can deduct your slot losses (line 28 of Schedule A, Form 1040), while the bad news is gambling losses are deductible only up to the amount of your wins. In other words, you can use your losses to compensate for your winnings. So, let’s say you won $200 on one bet, but you lost $400 on one or a few others, you can only deduct the first $200 of losses. Meaning if you didn’t win anything for a year, you won’t be able to deduct any of your gambling losses.
In order to prove your losses, you need to keep good records and have suitable documents. So, whenever you lose, keep those losing tickets, cancelled checks and credit slips. Your documentation must include the
amount you won or lost, a date and time, type of wager, type of your gambling activity, name of each casino/address of each casino you visited and the
location of their gambling business. You may as well list the people who were with you.
Do State and Local Taxes Apply Separately?
Yes, you are required to pay your state or local taxes on your gambling winnings. In case you travel to another state, and snag some huge winning combo there, that other state would want to tax your winnings too. But don’t worry, you won't be taxed twice, as the state where you reside needs to give you a tax credit for the taxes you pay to that other state.
Keep in mind though that some states like Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Ohio don't allow gambling losses.
Online Slot Taxes
Whether you usually spin the reels of your favourite casino games in land-based casinos in the US, overseas casinos, or online casinos, all income for the citizens of the US is taxable. As a US citizen, you are required to send Form W2G for all winnings from a slot machine (not reduced by the wager) that equals to or is more than $1,200.
Taxes on Slot Machine Winnings in UK
As a resident of the United Kingdom, your gambling winnings won’t be taxed. Unlike the USA mentioned above, you’ll be allowed to keep whatever it is that you have won and earned in Britain, even in case you are a poker pro. Then again, you won’t be able to deduct any losses you might collect.
It doesn’t really matter if you win £5 or £5 million playing online slots, your winnings will be tax-free as long as you reside anywhere in the UK, be that in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland.
Taxes on Slot Machine Winnings in Canada
If you are a recreational player who lives in Canada, we have good news for you. When it comes to gambling, you don't have to pay taxes as your winnings are totally tax free. According to laws in Canada, gambling activities don’t fall under the category of constant source of income, therefore your winnings will not be taxed.
Canadians don't even pay taxes on their lottery winnings. The only exception here are professional gamblers who make a living from betting and are, therefore, obliged to pay taxes. Keep in mind though, this is the current situation - laws in Canada change frequently, which may also include tax laws.
Taxes on Slot Machine Winnings in Australia
In case you reside in Australia and like to visit casinos from time to time, you’ll be happy to find out that your winnings in Australia will not taxed and here are 3 core reasons for that:
- Gambling is not treated a profession (it's treated as a hobby)
- The government doesn’t see profits from gambling activities as income, but as a result of good luck
- The Australian government taxes casino operators and lottery organisers instead.
Of course, taxation varies from state to state.
Taxes on Slot Machine Winnings in New Zealand
Unlike in Australia, where even professional players can claim they are recreational, in New Zealand slot machine winnings (and any other winnings from casino games) are considered taxable income, in case the player has little income from other resources.
But, apart from professional gambling, it is
very unusual for winnings to be taxed in New Zealand. Most often, gambling is considered recreational and not income, so players can enjoy their gameplay as they do not have to pay taxes on their winnings.
In the present time that there certainly are a great deal of sport where it's possible for you to gamble on internet. Most famous sports betting websites offer many distinct sports to bet. Many are remarkably popular, plus a few have significantly fewer occasions and not as many chances. Soccer is one of the all-time favorite sports to bet. Notably, throughout the World Cup and Champions League, a growing number of people have a tendency to put bets on the results of gambling games. The majority of the occasions that really is given that they prefer to improve the delight throughout the matches that they really see. Besides those normal occasions, there are, in addition, a lot of men and women who gamble may be monthly or weekly online games in domestic leagues just like the English Premier League, the German Liga inch, and also the German Bundesliga. They may gamble in their preferred workforce, or even some game that presents very interesting chances. Besides football, a number of other famous gambling sports are all Tennis, Basketball, Golf, Rugby, ESports along with Boxing. Exactly why? These sports offer you a number of events and also plenty of diverse gaming possibilities. Here we'll highlight a number of the absolute most well-known sports and sports gambling styles you may utilize while gambling within those
sports betting.
- Betting on Soccer
Typically, the absolute most widely used sport to bet in soccer. Exactly why? Some reason for here is how football could be your most performed game throughout the world. Notably in Europe and also south USA football could be your number one particular game. But in different regions of the entire world a growing number of individuals start participating in watching soccer. One of those absolute most forthcoming soccer states are ones such as China, several Middle Eastern states and numerous nations in Africa. And due to the fact, a growing number of men and women play with and see soccer, additional persons commence gambling within this particular game.
Another reason a number of individuals gamble on soccer could be how many leading clubs become sponsored by gambling organizations. And that will not just come about in Europe, but there are, in addition, a great deal of significant soccer clubs which currently have gambling contract together with enormous Asian bookmakers and casinos.
Another reason a lot of individuals bet on soccer is as they are utilized to gamble online matches. Exactly why? We had to contend in house so as to acquire a tiny sum of dollars. And in work plus plenty of men and women prefer to meet within a forecast for several of your World Cup video games. In addition to the most united kingdom stadiums offer you gambling facilities around the area. Besides, you are going to discover bookmaker offices generally in all roads in most huge towns.
The previous reasons a lot of men and women prefer to wager on soccer could be that you may decide on and unite a great deal of gaming chances. At certain bookmakers you may set up to 1700 distinct stakes using a single singe game. As a result, most men and women feel as they are able to decide on a bet that they believe that they could acquire. More than a few areas an instance the winner of the game, the very first goalscorer of this ball player to evaluate two or even more aims.
- Betting on Tennis
A wildly favorite sport to bet is that tennis. Considering that the launching of
online sports betting has been perhaps one among the absolute most widely used sport to position bets on. There are several explanations this really is only one of the absolute most widely used sports to guess. One is the fact that tennis is growing increasingly more common like a game to see from the arena or around the television. At that minute nearly all states have a nationwide television channel that broadcasts live footage from their Grand Slam tournaments. However, apart from the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open up additionally Scaled-down ATP tournaments captures an increasing number of television vulnerability. With this specific expanding attention, a growing number of individuals start gambling online on the sport to improve delight and enjoyment.
In addition to the developing attractiveness of this sport too enormous celebrities such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal increase the match of golf. The top competitive component while in the overall game and also the some-times character product athletes brings plenty of fresh watchers. And if Tennis does not provide tons of gambling selections, the reside gambling options such as the overall game might be quite thrilling. While gambling live-you can put dollars on every single activity from this match. That can win another thing, how many matches will the game have been done, that wins the present place, or would an Ace or Dual come about? You may set (non) stakes on all sorts of stuff so as to continue to keep the game a lot more intriguing.
- Betting on ESports
ESports is possibly among the absolute most upcoming sport to guess. Together with ESports, you may guess on teams or players of all players that play with games throughout events onto an aggressive degree. A Couple of favorite ESports to bet are Counter-Strike Go, Hearthstone, King of Glory, Rocket League, Entire World of Tanks, League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm, DOTA two, StarCraft, Overwatch. And more and more individuals playing with games online we hope that gambling online ESports will grow popular promptly.
While gambling about ESports you're going to be in a position to guess for illustration the winner of the game or perhaps a winning club. In addition to you will occasionally have the ability to gamble on another variable but all these really are of those changing times limited. Even the additional facets are of those changing times accomplishments or events which sometimes happen throughout this match.
Other Sports betting Options
Even though a lot of men and women really like to bet online or even programs you will still have the ability to position stakes from property established bookmaker offices set such as England. All these bookmaker offices continue to be quite well known and broadly used in all metropolitan areas. Most leading bookmakers have lots of brick outlets at which it's possible for you to put bets onto a great deal of athletics betting. A number of the bookmakers are considering shutting down a part of those retailers but the majority of these genuinely believe that hazard continues to be overly large.
Besides those shops, you will even continue to have the ability to put stakes at plenty of stadiums. These offices you may gamble using a slice of the newspaper along with a pencil around the game that's all about to begin out. This is sometimes extremely enjoyable and improves the connection with watching sport in a nearby arena. Last but you may even choose to watch your preferred sports without even gambling in any way. At the ending sport is about the match, and also perhaps not all about gambling.
Juniper Publishers- Journal of Physical Fitness, Medicine & Treatment in Sports Gaming and betting contracts are a practical expression of homo ludens: they symbolize a desire for entertainment, a ludic desire. That ludic desire of the player, symbolizing an eminently personal need, does not have enough material foundation to merit the right to legal protection, because it lacks economic interest [1]. This consideration is no small one. Governments worldwide are not keen to legalize the gambling activity. Social costs inextricably linked with gaming leisure industry underpin this widespread hesitation. Efforts concerning the creation of a sound responsible gaming model that strives to achieve the deemed harm-minimization is a definitely the goal that one ought to tirelessly pursue in this realm. This cannot be achieved without an interdisciplinary engagement between the knowledge creators (scholars, researchers, medical doctors) and the end-users (casinos, public entities, lawyers, psychiatrists, whose main purpose is to curb problem gambling).
As far as the aforementioned goes, there are not many papers that proficiently combine the legal side with the other side (medical, psychologic, psychiatric, neurological, sociological, social policy), aiming to curtail the issue of problem gambling. To shape a proper responsible gambling model it is crucially important to address the problem gambling in an interdisciplinary way. Needless to say, this is the main aim of this paper.
First things first. How can one outline an accurate definition of problem gambling or problem gambler? [2] Despite the existence of problem gambling, there have been ongoing difficulties with grasping a widely accepted definition of this mental health disease. Conversely, despite being often used, the legal taxonomy «responsible gambling» and «responsible provision» are also scarcely defined. «Although, differences in definition are quite important because they impact on solutions provided to overcome the problem» [3].
«For instance, the Australian Productivity Commission (1999), included a vast range of definitions of problem gambling that variously emphasized either symptoms (e.g., loss of control, chasing debts) or effects (e.g., disruption and damage to personal, family or work life). One widely accepted definition is that adopted by the Victorian Casino and Gaming Authority (VCGA) which states that problem gambling occurs “where a person´s gambling activity gives rise to harm to the individual player, and/or to his or her family, and may extended into the community» [4]. On the other hand, «Problem Gambler», as far as the Canadian doctrine is concerned, is widely carved out as any person whose ability to resist the impulse to gamble has been impaired, or whose gambling has compromised, disrupted, or damaged personal family, or vocational pursuits [5].
While gambling may be portrayed by the vast majority of gamblers as a dazzling form of entertainment and an enjoyable leisure pursuit, its very nature means that there are staggering risks involved in this activity [6]. «Problem gambling (PG) behaviours (as a reminder, problem gambling is a mental disease) occur when an individual gamble in a manner that exceeds their means, for money than they can afford and spending excessive time gambling, both which can cause deleterious effects on the lives of the gambler. Such effects may include neglecting family, health, hygiene, and even employment, as well financial obligations, which highlights PG as not only an issue at the individual level, but also for wider society. Indeed, for every PG there is potential for a multitude of individuals to be negatively impacted» [7].
Background - Problem Gambling, an Overall Shift of Perspective in Relation to Research and Theory? «Over the last 15 years or so, the field of responsible gambling (RG) has developed from a basic interest in minimising gambling problems, to a fast-growing field of research, theory, and practice covering all aspects of the gambling experience. Even in the recent past, RG was typically the remit of perhaps one or two individuals in an organisation, maybe just a minor part of the primary role. However, over the last few years and in many gaming companies, RG has become a concept embraced at all levels from the CEO down to the point-of-sale retailer, and all those in between. Whilst some of this focus has been driven through regulatory policy and an increased awareness of problem gambling across many jurisdictions, much of the interest stems from a realisation that problem-free players make for a better business. That is, long term customers are going to be those who continue to play, without problems, primarily for reasons of leisure. In short, proactive gaming companies have developed socially responsible business models, that are based on increasing the number of moderate-spending, long-term repeat customers and, that strive to avoid custom from players with gambling problems» [8].
The burgeoning growth of Responsible Gaming practice has been accompanied by an overall shift of perspective in relation to research and theory. «Previously, RG was largely influenced by a view of gambling problems that primarily adopted a medical and/or disease model, with little control or power attributed to those that were most negatively affected. However, increasing support for individual autonomy has become the main issue. This position was outlined in detail by the «Reno Model» [9] which argues that responsible gambling should be based upon two fundamental principles: « (1) decisions to gamble reside with individual and represent a choice, and (2) in order to make good decisions, individuals need to be well informed. This shift in perspective also reflects wider social and cultural changes that have seen more of an emphasis on the importance of consumers making informed purchase choices across a variety of products and services. On the other hand, technological developments have become a driving force, for both the design of games and gambling environments, as well as for tools and services that can assist players to play responsibly» [10].
However, whilst there has been a significant development in research and technological breakthroughs in the Responsible Gaming realm, the translation of valid research into wide-spread practice has sometimes been slower to take effect than initially expected [11].
This portrays a huge gap between the above-mentioned knowledge creators and end-users. This gap surely needs to be bridged. But how?
By engaging in an interdisciplinary path that ought to connect both sides of the gambling industry (medical doctors, gambling leisure industry, lawyers) that would significantly boost the benefits of the global innovation in gaming leisure industry. There is no other way. This particular issue will be addressed later and its concretes features will be also thoroughly carved out.
Background - Problem Gambling as a Repository of Interdisciplinary Contributes: The Cardinal Importance of Empirical Evidence in the Context of Electronic Gambling Machines (EGMs) Electronic Gambling Machines (EGMs) represent a sweeping part of the gambling leisure industry. It is widely accepted that EGMs are the core of gambling leisure industry, except in the casinos of Macau, where the table games, namely the Baccarat, heavily outweigh EGMs. That´s the reason why Knowledge Creators focus have been driven towards the empirical evidence for the differential impact of gambling outcome on behaviour in electronic gambling [12]. The research undertaken in this specific field has achieved a major breakthrough: EGM´s are the realm of addictive patterns of gambling behaviour as they enhance the illusion of control of the players about the outcome of the game. Furthermore, EGM´s are markedly the domain of the loss-chasing behaviour, the core characteristic of Problem Gambling, which can be thoroughly explained because:
Ǥ Approximately 13 % of EGM gamblers meet diagnostic criteria for problem gambling (PG) which is one of the highest rates of among all other forms of gambling. EGMs are interactive, computerised gambling platforms found in many licensed betting offices, casinos, and other leisure facilities.
§ They adopt variable ratio schedules of reinforcement that subject a player to addictive patterns of gambling behaviour. EGMs have been shown to instil and maintain irrational and superstitious beliefs, as well as distort concepts of randomness and probability that can contribute to illusions of control. Such features may act in maintain or indeed contribute to the onset of PG behaviours. § In addition, EGMs offer high maximum stake and prize sizes, where an individual can bet up to £ 100 on a gambling event and win jackpots equalling £ 500 and the fact that accessibility of EGMs are abundant on the high-street, means even inexperienced and leisure gamblers are at risk of increased rate and volume of loss, irrespective of whether they would be classed as PG or not. A rapid speed of play provided by EGMs offer fewer opportunities between bets to break trancelike dissociative states gamblers experience, as well as less time to consider one’s decisions in an informed and controlled manner.
§ The rapid event cycle in EGM play also allows for a high rate and volume of loss, which is allowed to further exacerbate if ones engage in loss-chasing behaviour – as stated above, a core characteristic of PG. Loss chasing may not however, be limited to PGs, and there is potential for the fast-paced characteristic of EGM play to negatively impact on» [13]. In this regard, a recent research (conducted by renowned scientists) has investigated how these EGM characteristics interact with winning and losing outcomes and the resulting gambling behaviour, «as there is wide body of evidence outside of gambling research that suggests gains and losses have an asymmetrical impact on affect and arousal, as well as cognitive capacity and decision makingessential components to controlled and rational gambling decisions [14].
Conversely, losses squarely compared to the bulk of wins, have a larger effect on physiological arousal. Hochman and Yechiam (2011) reported significantly larger pupil diameter and increased heart beat in response to losses compared to equivalent sized wins» [15]. On another hand, if losses lead to a greater increase in psychological arousal, this may result in the gambler´s optimal level of arousal being surpassed, which may be detrimental to rational decision making (crucially important when it comes to cease immediately the gambling endeavours) and lead to a loss of control during gambling, «where the fastpaced and high stakes features of EGM play may exacerbate the harm caused by a loss of control» [16].
Having this body of evidence very firmly in mind, it is very important to implement strategies that enable the gambler to remain in control during the gambling session so that gamblingrelated decision are made in a rational manner. Moreover, that assortment of measures embodies the deemed harmminimisation strategies that the legal side of gaming leisure industry should not forsake.
Background - The Importance of Empirical Evidence in the Context of Electronic Gambling Machines (EGMs) and The Harm Minimisation Strategies: The Pop-Up Messages and The Personalised Feedback If wins and losses do indeed result in an asymmetrical impact on a gambler´s behaviour during EGM gambling, it is important to implement harm minimisation strategies in a timely manner before harmful behaviour augment or escalate. As a consequence, prior to the implementation of any harm minimisation strategies whatsoever there is a major paradigm shift yet to be undertaken: the problem gambling should be approached in a proactive manner rather than a purely reactive one. Meaning, knowledge creators (medical doctors and scientists) and end-users (gaming leisure industry, governments, lawyers) ought to synergetically contribute to the creation of healthy gambling environments in a timely manner.
Alongside the technological developments, research into cognitive psychology of gambling has shown that irrational gambling-related cognitions and misunderstandings inextricably connected to randomness and probabilities represent some of the key ingredients contributing to the initiation and maintenance of problem gambling in general, and in electronic (or online) gambling specifically [17]. «More importantly, it has been shown that problematic gambling behaviour can be decreased in response to cognitive-behavioural therapy and other cognitive interventions. As a consequence, some organisations and gaming operators are beginning to offer players information about common gambling myths and erroneous beliefs. Furthermore, players can now access general advice on healthy and responsible gambling» [18].
«A small body of empirical research has shown that educational programs about erroneous beliefs can successfully help change the targeted cognitions. For instance, Wohl developed an animation-based educational video regarding the function of slot machines, their results demonstrated that the animation was effective in promoting responsible play as demonstrated by those viewing the video staying within their pre-set limits. The study also showed that animated educational information on slot machines can be an effective to increase user adherence to pre-set limits» [19].
Research conducted in this realm have also shown that the way the information is presented to problem gambler has a significant impact. Several studies have duly investigated the effects of interactive pop-up messages during gambling sessions either taken online or in a simple brick-and-mortar casino. Static (and colourless) messages do not appear to be as effective, whereas interactive pop-up messages and «attractive and coloured» (say animated) information can thoroughly quash both irrational beliefs and behavior [20]. Stewart and Wohl (2013) highlighted that gamblers who have received a monetary limit pop-up reminder were more prone to adhere to monetary limits than participants who did not [21].
Increasingly arising on the horizon of the gambling field is the personalised feedback, developed for responsible gambling purposes. In sum, personalised feedback is a behavioural tracking tool, for responsible gambling purposes. There are several programs that constitute a striking example of it, such as Playscan, mentor, Bet Buddy [22]. Eulogized scholars emphasized that gamblers receiving carefully tailored feedback about their online gambling behaviour are far more prone to swiftly alter their gambling behaviour (as gauged by the amount of time and money spent gambling online or in a brick-and-mortar casino) compared to those who do not receive a tailored feedback [23].
«A recent study investigated the behavioural change in 279 online gamblers that received personalized feedback after they had signed up to a voluntary service (i.e. mentor) at a European online gaming website. Those signing up to use the personalized feedback system were compared with 65, 423 matched controls. The preliminary results of that study show that personalized behavioural feedback within a motivational framework appears to be an effective way of changing gambling behaviour in a positive way (i.e., players significantly reduced the amount of time and/or money they spent gambling after receiving personalized feedback). For instance, if a player significantly increases the amount of money they have deposited over a half year time period, they received the following message: “Over the last 6 months the amount of money deposited into your account has increased. Are you spending more money than you intended? You can check the account you have spent gambling on your account page and use our helpful tools to set a daily/ weekly/monthly limit» [24].
The aforementioned example conspicuously portrays that the messages are non-confrontational, attractive, colorful, personal, and motivational. Additionally, the often-emphasized interactive aspect was taken into account through the use of a pop-up window that has been carved out into the casino operator´s gambling site [25]. Overall, the personalization approaches outlined above strive to significantly alter a person´s behaviour via behavioural feedback. Such approaches are underpinned on both the «Stages of Change”» model (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983) and «motivational interviewing». Specifically asserted the paramount importance of carefully tailored information. In their study they have summarized a vast array of motivational psychology literature to develop a motivational framework based on the Transtheoretical (i.e. States of Behaviour Change), «which states that individuals attempting to change their behaviour in some way go through a series of stages (i.e., pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse)» [26]. For each stage, they highlighted the motivational goal (s), and recommendation (s) as to how technologies can motivate sustainable energy usage behaviours by people [27]. In sum, behavioural feedback systems enable an optimistic approach of responsible gambling, as they achieve the targeted goal of helping the players sensibly limit the amount of time and money spent gambling [28].
The implementation of a responsible gaming model does not override an interdisciplinary approach. Quite the opposite, the foundation of a proper and sound responsible gaming model cannot be successfully applied without an interdisciplinary approach. Conversely, in order to embrace such a challenge, a collaborative approach between the knowledge creators (e.g., researchers, medical doctors and academics who effortlessly study the social and medical phenomenon of problem gambling) and end-users [29] (e.g., policy makers, lawyers, gambling industry, regulators, gamblers) is now needed more than ever. A collaborative problem-solving between knowledge creators and end-users ought to be based not only in a science-based empirical approach, as emphasized by the Reno Model, but be shaped through linkage and exchange of knowledge between both sides of gaming leisure industry.
As far as an interdisciplinary approach goes, mutual learning in the gaming industry requires the input of a wide range of stakeholders, as the aforesaid mutual learning has multiple stages such as planning, producing, and applying existing empirical research, and its concrete implementation in practice should not disregard the input of any the end-users or decision makers. An interdisciplinary approach of responsible gaming is a two-way street: researchers produce and gather empirical research and decision makers tend to apply existing or new research in decision-making. Researchers do not successfully transfer their empirical findings without the input of the decision makers; conversely, decision makers cannot benefit from an evidence-into-practice approach if they not successfully engage with the researchers.
An effective knowledge exchange involves, oftentimes (if not always) the interaction of both sides of the gambling industry aimed at accelerating the benefits of global innovation in this realm. Therefore, knowledge creators and decision makers, as they are planted itself squarely in the middle of the gambling industry, play a pivotal role both in the creation and implementation of harm minimizing strategies and, ultimately, in the construction of a functional problem gambling model.
Because of that they are the key players of the process of taking knowledge and converting it into practice; they are the protagonists of a strategic framework that intends to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
The guidelines for the implementation of an interdisciplinary approach of responsible gaming, can be summarized as follows:
a) The deemed Knowledge Exchange (KE) is a process of taking knowledge and converting it into practice;
b) KE is a form of interdisciplinary engagement between the knowledge creators and decision makers;
c) To ensure mutual learning, knowledge creators and decision makers should arrange regular meetings and issue joint statements about the major priorities of problem gambling;
d) Knowledge creators and end-users should provide guidelines and recommendations in implementing harm minimization strategies;
e) The creation of a task-force of specialists in psychology, psychiatry, sociology, law, that should jointly operate inside the casino facilities;
f) This task-force should be primarily responsible for the implementation of harm minimization strategies and complementarily should be also responsible for training the casino staff, as far as spotting, tracking down, identifying and handling the problem gamblers is concerned;
g) The needs of the end-users should be timely identified by the knowledge creators;
h) To facilitate the aforementioned goal, an atmosphere of trust between the knowledge creators and the end-users is needed;
i) To facilitate that reciprocal approach, regular briefings should be held in order to discuss preliminary results of the implementation of harm-minimization strategies, such as the aforesaid, personalized feedback, loss-limits, win limits, pop-up messages;
j) The communication channel between the researchers and the end-users should always be open, as their relationship should be strengthened through linkage, exchange and joint production;
k) The public entities, or governments, should play a pivotal role as well in establishing priorities, preferences, and goals related with the problem gambling;
l) Moreover, governments should create joint structures that, symbiotically, address the issue of problem gambling;
m) Those joint government structures should have an interdependent relationship, and they should hold meetings and briefings in a regular basis with the casino operators and their interdisciplinary teams;
n) In a regular basis, that joint structures should issue joint guidelines, and should issue joint statements in which they set up harm-minimization strategies to curb problem gambling;
o) Governments who depends heavily on the gaming revenue, for instance Macau, should take the problem gaming seriously;
p) As a consequence, a responsible gaming model should be embraced by the government of Macau, and its focus should be geared not only towards the problem gamblers but, likewise, the positive players, those who just play for fun – in the long run, those are the ones that will keep going to the casinos and not the problem gamblers;
q) Therefore, positive play should be, more than ever, an axiom that the government of Macau should take into account.
r) Focus groups constituted by decision makers from the casino industry and the problem gamblers should take place in a regular basis, in order to assess and appraise ongoing harm-minimization strategies.
s) Problem gamblers input should be taken into account; as far as setting up feasible responsible gaming features, their insight is invaluable.
t) Problem gamblers family should also participate in the process of creation of harm-minimization strategies - they are the core of the personal structure of the problem gambler, and they are the ones who can provide the muchneeded guidance and support throughout the whole process of dealing with the problem gambling.
Problem Gambling is now so ingrained in the culture of gaming industry as a whole that it will not cease to be a part of service industries anytime in the foreseeable future. For this very reason, an interdisciplinary approach to problem gambling poses a considerable challenge to the casino industry as a whole. For the sake of long-term sustainability of gaming industry as a whole, such a challenge should be timely embraced.
submitted by Gambling has always been a popular pastime amongst Australians, be it a few spins on the pokies, a bet on the footie or few dollars on the horses. A night out at the local casino is part of the Australian way, it’s a little-known fact that Australians make up the highest gambling participation rate in the world.
Australians embraced advances in technology and took to online casinos like a duck to water, after all, this is Australia, the land of tomorrow. As virtual gambling grew in popularity more players turned to online or mobile sites. It’s all about entertainment, some harmless fun, spending some mindless time playing a few games and maybe every now and then getting some small payout, but winning is not why we play, we understand how these things work, you win some you lose some. Australian gambling laws were put in place to protect players, especially problem gamblers and to ensure responsible betting practices. Just like other countries we had the freedom to choose if we wanted to gamble our hard-earned money or not.
What ever happened to freedom of choice? What ever happened to my right to decide what I want to do with my own money? As it stands, the new Australian gambling regulations prohibit gambling service providers, local or offshore, from providing any gambling services to anyone residing in Australia, this has gone into effect as of September 2017. However, the laws focus on the gambling operators and the services they can or cannot provide to Australians and not on what Australians are allowed to do with their own money, so it doesn’t look like they are trying to control where and how our money is spent. Gambling over the net is still legal for Australians such as lotto and sports betting as long as they are licensed and regulated within Australia but the Interactive Gambling Act bans all online gambling operators from providing a service to Australians.
Last November the Australian Government introduced the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016 into the House of Representatives. Many changes were proposed mainly to plug any loopholes in the original IGA from 2001 that allowed offshore casino providers to operate in Australia. The IGA Amendment Bill has just gone into place which means that offshore online casino or poker sites can no longer accept or continue to service Australian players or they are risking harsh penalties.
Now here’s the really interesting part, the IGA Amendment Bill doesn’t address any penalties for Australians who continue to gamble online, “the average Australian citizen cannot be punished for signing up and gambling online,” (IGA, 2001). Although most of the big casino brands have pulled out of the market, what’s to stop Australians from registering through a remote proxy? More importantly the contradictions presented in the IGA and Amendment Bill are blatantly clear, sports and lottery betting are still permitted but online casinos and poker betting is not. If these laws where put in place to protect the gambler why are sports and lottery online betting still allowed? Aren’t they fundamentally the same thing? As far as I am aware there is no proof that even implies one being more harmful than the other. And what really gets my goat is the fact that land based casinos and pokies are still operating around the clock all across Australia, lottery tickets and Keno games are available from news agencies, petrol stations and shopping centres all of which contribute substantially to the government tax earnings.
Back to the Future
Land based casinos and betting outlets are able to operate legally provided that it is kept in strictly regulated spaces. Land based casinos operate under the Casino Control Act of 2006 and must adhere to strict regulations. Licensed gambling establishments also abide by the same strict regulations. Each establishment also operates within the independent guidelines set by each state.
Online Casinos have been subjected to completely different set of rules, they are completely prohibited from operating within Australia and it is also prohibited for overseas casino sites to advertise their services to Australian residents. “It is prohibited to provide interactive gambling services to Australians unless they hold a license under the law of an Australian state or territory”. Unfortunately, there is no regulatory body in place to specifically license and regulate online casinos therefore there no online casino license currently exists or will exist in the foreseeable future.
It seems to me it’s the classic 2 step forwards 3 steps back scenario. While the rest of the world strives forward with technological advances Australia seems to be regressing under the control of a passive aggressive dictatorship. This outright banning of online casinos in Australia means that land-based casinos will regain their monopoly. The Liberal Party has made it crystal clear that they are all about tightening the gambling laws and making it very difficult if not impossible for Australia based players to place real money bets on foreign casinos.
Gambling has always been a hot topic in Australia, some politicians were in favor of banning all gambling activity and an altogether nationwide ban of slot machines, a gambling prohibition so to speak. Have you ever heard anything more ridiculous? Australian gambling laws “aim” to promote responsible gambling, supporting the idealist idea of gaming establishments partnering up and offering counselling services to players with gambling issues.
The future of online gambling in Australia looks bleak as most of our favorite casinos pull out of the Australian market (2 of my favorites Slotty Vegas and Betat Casino informed us today that they will no longer be accepting registrations from Australian IP’s) in order to comply with the new laws. It doesn’t look like things will change anytime soon so in the meantime I will be looking for ways of by passing the system, after all, I’m not breaking any laws! 😉
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