Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) announced its support for NSW GambleAware Week 2024, an initiative to promote responsible gambling in the state. This support, RWA noted, aligns with its ongoing commitment to championing safer gambling.
GambleAware Week Will Champion Player Safety
GambleAware Week is an annual campaign that encourages conversations about safer gambling and promotes moderate play, as well as the use of responsible gambling tools. The theme of this year’s edition of the campaign is “Safer gambling. Are you on board?” and focuses on harm prevention.
The initiative will run from October 21 to 29, and, according to RWA, will be a “timely opportunity” for players to reflect on their own gambling habits and the habits of those around them.
According to Kai Cantwell, the chief executive officer of RWA, there are many ways in which people can take the initiative to reduce their risk of gambling harm or protect their loved ones. He suggested a number of proven ways to minimize harm, including:
- Setting limits
- Avoiding chasing losses
- Gambling only when sober
- Maintaining a balance between gambling and other activities
Cantwell added that these are only some of the harm-prevention methods this year’s GambleAware Week will be championing.
Offshore Gaming Is the Biggest Threat to Player Safety
Cantwell noted that safer gambling services are crucial to the functioning of the legal gaming market. They complement the tools licensed operators already provide, allowing consumers to control their own behavior and gamble in moderation.
In the meantime, Cantwell described the black market as the “biggest threat to safe gambling in Australia.” Concerningly, offshore operators command a 15% market share despite the intense regulatory efforts to limit their influence.
Unlicensed operators, Cantwell noted, are operating in violation of Australian laws and therefore do not follow the local rules. As a result, they not only avoid paying taxes but they also do not follow the established safer gambling protocols their legal counterparts are obliged to obey.
To make matters worse, such companies are often involved in or enable illicit activities such as match-fixing and race-rigging.
Statistics show that offshore operators are mostly used by younger players. Unfortunately, tougher regulations do not seem to be the right answer as over-regulation tends to hurt licensed operators more, thus allowing black market companies to gain ground.
To truly protect vulnerable Australians, the Government must strike a balance, implementing reforms that reduce harm without over-regulating the legal market.
Kai Cantwell
Cantwell reiterated RWA’s commitment to working with the government to protect the Australian market from foreign influence.