What role does the government play in the fight against ludomania
Introduction
The Australian government is responsible for the health and safety of citizens, so the fight against ludomania is built into policy at the level of both federal and state bodies. From legislation and industry regulation to funding assistance programs and research, the authorities' steps are aimed at minimizing the social and economic harm that problematic gambling behavior brings.
1. Legislative framework and oversight
1. Gambling Acts states and territories
Each state (NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT, ACT) has its own "Gambling Act," which enshrines requirements for operator licensing, gambling regulations and sanctions for violating RG policies.
2. Federal Legislation: ACMA и BetStop
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) controls advertising and online gambling, monitors compliance with advertising restrictions (release time of videos, prohibited targeting).
BetStop, a national self-exclusion registry managed by ACMA, provides a single voluntary disconnection of players from all licensed platforms.
2. Funding support and treatment services
1. Gambler’s Help
State services (VRGF in Victoria, OLGR in Queensland, etc.) receive allocations from the state budget to organize hotlines, online chats, face-to-face consultations and peer-support programs.
2. Medicare и Mental Health Care Plan
As part of the Better Access program, players with a GP referral receive up to 10 subsidized sessions from a psychologist (Medicare-rebate ~ 88 AUD per session).
3. Special grants for NGOs and research
Federal grants are funded by NGOs (GambleAware, Financial Counseling Australia) and universities that assess the effectiveness of RG measures and develop methods for preventing addiction.
3. Advertising and Marketing Regulation
1. Time and content restrictions
TV gambling ads are banned in prime time (until 8.30pm) and tied to risk warnings.
2. Banning targeting of vulnerable groups
It is prohibited by law to send promotional materials to minors, young people under 25 years old and socially vulnerable categories.
3. Mandatory labels and warnings
All advertising materials should contain clear warnings: "Excitement is entertainment, not a way to earn money" and contact the 1800 858 858 hotline.
4. Early detection and self-exclusion systems
1. Trigger algorithms for operators
Regulators require operators to implement betting analytics to automatically identify a player whose activity corresponds to risk patterns (frequent deposits, "catch" losses).
2. State registers
BetStop (federal) and regional self-exclusion systems (for example, VRGF Self-Exclusion) are synchronized to block accounts and suspend marketing communications.
5. Educational and social campaigns
1. National and local projects
Be GambleAware Learning offers free online courses on self-control and financial literacy.
In-house campaigns (e.g. Victoria's "Bet Safe" or Queensland's "Kids Live Free of Gambling Harms") include workshops, webinars and multimedia spots.
2. School and university programs
Ministries of education introduce elements of financial and psychological literacy into school and university courses to prevent the formation of addiction early.
6. Research and monitoring
1. Government research
The Federal Department of Health and Ageing funds long-term studies of the prevalence of ludomania and estimates of social costs.
2. Independent academic projects
Universities in Melbourne, Queensland and New South Wales publish reports on psychosocial risk factors and the effectiveness of RG programs.
3. Public reporting of operators
The law requires operators to annually publish reports on RG metrics: the number of activated limits, cases of self-exclusion, interactions with support.
7. Interagency and international cooperation
1. Interaction with law enforcement agencies
Joint operations with police and financial regulators to combat unlicensed offshore platforms.
2. International agreements
Australia shares experiences with the UK, Canada and EU countries through international forums (International Association of Gaming Regulators) on RG best practices.
Conclusion
The Australian government has played a key role in tackling ludomania, from legislating strict requirements for operators to funding treatment and conducting scientific research. Only the coordinated work of federal and regional bodies, operators and public organizations provides comprehensive protection for vulnerable players and reduces the level of social costs of gambling.
