Self-exclusion: A Proposed Gateway to Treatment Model

Abstract

Self-exclusion is a programme utilized by the gaming industry to limit access to gaming opportunities for problem gamblers. It is based on the following principles: (1) The gaming industry recognizes that a proportion of community members gamble excessively and have difficulty controlling gambling behaviours; (2) The gaming industry has a responsibility to provide a safe gaming environment and to assist in minimizing the negative impact on individuals displaying problem gambling behaviours; (3) Individuals must accept personal responsibility for limiting gambling behaviours to affordable levels; and (4) Self-exclusion is not a treatment designed to address psychological processes. The objective of the present paper is to propose a unifying structure for self-exclusion programmes as a gateway to treatment based on a system operated by independent ‘educators’ whose roles and responsibilities include informing individuals of the purpose of self-exclusion, establishing links and a gateway for access to supplementary services and monitoring and reporting the effectiveness of the overall programme.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Australian Gambling Council for facilitating the writing of this paper and particularly to Vicki Flannery. The Australian Gaming Industry provided financial support for the paper to be prepared on their behalf. Funding support was in the form of travel and accommodation expenses to allow the three international authors to meet and discuss and write the original report. The authors did not receive any personal financial benefits from collaboration with the Australian Gaming Council.