An Australian resident, whose son took his own life after going through a 13-hour-long binge on the slots, insists on the introduction of gaming marshals across all gambling venues in New South Wales that offer such games. The accident occurred in 2018 after the woman’s son played the slots at the Dee Why RSL gaming club, located nearby Sydney, Australia.
As a result, the venue was penalised with a AU$200,000 fine. It was also ordered to hire a full-time gaming marshal to oversee the gamblers on the gaming floor. Additionally, Dee Why RSL was forced to give family members and friends the option to file third-party applications that prevent problem gamblers from accessing the premises.
The woman, whose name is Joy Van Duinen, is now looking to enforce the introduction of similar measures across all pokie-gambling venues in New South Wales. Ms Van Duinen has teamed up with Ben Hamilton, who founded the anti-pokie organisation Kickin’ the Punt. Also involved in the Why Just Dee Why project is Mr. Troy Stolz, the man who publicly accused the ClubsNSW organisation of lack of compliance with anti-money laundering policies.
The founder of Why Just Dee Why told local media the job of the gaming marshalls would entail identifying potential problem gamblers and conversing with them to try and break off their hours-long pokie binges. Ms Van Duinen explained that while some problem gamblers might decline assistance at first, they would at least know help is available. This might cause them to re-evaluate their actions.
MP Andrew Wilkie Also Endorses the Idea
The founder of Why Just Dee Why said family members had attempted to bar her addicted son from accessing pokie venues before the accident. However, their efforts proved to be futile in the absence of the now-enforced third-party rule at Dee Why RSL. Ms Van Duinen insists that gambling marshals must be on the gaming floor at all times to monitor for problematic behaviour and converse with apparent addicts in a discreet manner.
The project has received the support of Mr Andrew Wilkie, an independent Member of Parliament. According to MP Wilkie, all Australians who gamble should be able to benefit from the same level of protection. The politician also spoke in support of the third-party rule, stressing that individuals who struggle with gambling addiction often find it hard to refrain from visiting such venues. Relatives and friends should be able to intervene and assist the affected person in self-excluding, Mr Wilkie said.
The Minister for Customer Service of New South Wales, Mr Victor Dominello, commented that the accident with Ms Van Duinen’s son serves as a reminder about the harm that comes with gambling addiction. The government of New South Wales should consider gaming marshals and other similar measures to help reduce slot-related harm in the state.
A spokesperson for the ClubsNSW also commented on the matter, stating the organisation has been backing the idea of gaming marshals for years. Ms Van Duinen’s demands come shortly after publicly released data indicated that gamblers from Down Under were spending greater amounts than ever on virtual gaming during the coronavirus lockdown.
- Author
Daniel Williams
