Staff Perceptions of Responsible Gambling Training Programs: Qualitative Findings

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Responsible gambling training is key to minimizing gambling harms.
• Staff can identify problem gambling but hesitate to intervene proactively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand barriers preventing staff intervention with at-risk gamblers.
• To identify improvements for responsible gambling training programs.

Main Methods:

• Focus groups with 20 management and floor staff from a NSW registered club.
• Qualitative phenomenological data analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Staff can identify harmful gambling behaviors but lack role clarity and understanding of consequences.
• Barriers include uncertainty about roles, legal issues, and employment implications.
• Improvements require defined protocols and a supportive management culture.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing responsible gambling training requires clear protocols and supportive management.
• Addressing staff uncertainty and fostering a proactive intervention culture is crucial for minimizing gambling harms.