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Annual Report 2005-06

• Annual Report 2005-06 home
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Gambling output

The Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation (QOGR) delivers the gambling output. It is the lead agency responsible for maintaining the integrity and probity of the gambling industry in Queensland. Its responsible gambling policy and research activities and management of community benefit fund grant programs show its strong commitment to ensuring that, on balance, the community benefits from gambling.

Vision

To be a world-leading gambling authority committed to ensuring that gambling is conducted in the interest of the community.

Mission

Our mission is to:

• ensure a best practice regulatory and policy framework which provides for probity, integrity and a socially responsible industry structure
• promote responsible gambling practices that contribute to the sustainable development of safer and more supportive communities
• allocate funds for the community benefit.

Highlights

• Developed player information display requirements for new gaming machines.
• Implemented a new statewide gaming audit methodology.
• Provided grants from the community benefit funds totalling $40.39 million to 2,559 community projects.
• Announced the first round of Golden Casket Foundation grants, with $923,654 in funding approved for five projects.

Structure

• Under Treasurer, Gerard Bradley
  • Deputy Under Treasurer, David Ford
    • Acting Executive Director, Chris Turnbull
      • Acting Director, Compliance, Anthea Derrington
      • Director, Licensing and Gaming Services, Linda Woo
      • Acting Director, Policy and Legislation, Denis Cowell
      • Director, Business Services, Barry Grimes
      • Director, Research and Community Engagement, Penny Marshall

Output performance highlights

Output performance highlights

Measure	Target	Actual
Quantity
Audit, probity and inspection activities completed in accordance with annual program	95%	95%
Quality
Percentage of gambling providers committing to the implementation of the Code of Practice	70%	80%
Suitability of all gambling participants and systems proven to be satisfactory	95%	95%
People using intervention services who report a decrease in their gambling problems	65%	[1] N/A
Timeliness
Licence applications processed within set time	90%	92%
Gambling Community Benefit Fund applications processed within set times	95%	100%
Cost
State contribution	$17.2M	[2] $16.7M
Other revenue	$18.84M	[3] $16.08M

1. This performance measure was deleted due to the unavailability of sufficient statistical data.

2. A decrease in gambling expenses resulted in a decrease in the State contribution received to fund the expenses.

3. The decrease in other revenue is due to delays in matching expenditure for the research projects and negotiations not being finalised for the Responsible Gambling Research Grants.

Highlights

Highlights for the gambling output

Strategic business priority	Highlights	The year ahead
Maintain high probity standards and ensure that gambling activities are conducted with honesty and integrity.	Conducted 37 audits of major gaming organisations. Processed 4,830 gaming licences and investigated 625 alleged breaches of legislation. Renewed 2,466 individual and 412 gaming machine premise five-year licences. Commenced a continual review process of private sector involvement in club operations. Implemented a new statewide gaming audit methodology involving gaming inspectors performing random, targeted and unannounced inspections in addition to existing program activities.	Finalise an evaluation of gaming licence application forms to better assess an applicant's suitability for a licence/approval under a gaming Act. Implement statewide enhancements to the gaming audit and inspection program, comprising industry and QOGR-based initiatives.
Increase community awareness and education about the impact of gambling on individuals and the community.	Completed phases two and three of the Responsible Gambling Community Awareness Campaign. Developed requirements for player information displays (including chances of winning and an on-screen clock) for implementation in new electronic gaming machines. Organised the Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee regional meeting and associated Community Services and Industry Forums.	Implement the in-venue Problem Gambling Campaign. Stage presentations at events to showcase early intervention, prevention, consumer protection and support service initiatives. Oversee the implementation of player information displays in new electronic gaming machines.
Support community organisations to meet local needs through grants programs.	Provided grants from the community benefit funds totalling $40.39 million to 2,559 community projects. Announced the first round of Golden Casket Foundation grants, with $923,654 in funding approved for five projects.	Distribute an estimated $39.9 million in grants from the community benefit funds. Allocate up to $1.2 million from the Golden Casket Foundation to support medical research in Queensland.
Develop and implement the Queensland Responsible Gambling Strategy and harm minimisation programs, including effective evaluation of early intervention and rehabilitation programs.	Launched the Queensland Responsible Gambling Code of Practice Industry Training Kit. Released the results of the Queensland Household Gambling Survey 2003-04. Evaluated the Responsible Gambling Teaching Resource Kit.	Deliver a professional development program to teachers to enhance the Responsible Gambling Teaching Resource Kit. Commence the Queensland Household Gambling Survey 2006-07. Commence the review of the Queensland Responsible Gambling Strategy. Finalise the review of the Gambling Help Service System.

Key issues facing the output

• Meeting community expectations to maintain the integrity and probity of the gambling industry.
• Addressing community concern about the balance between the costs and benefits of gambling.
• Assessing and responding to the impacts of the globalisation of the gambling industry, including expansion and consolidation of gambling operators across multiple jurisdictions.
• Responding to rapid advances in technology and innovation within the industry.

Gambling Community Benefit Fund grants growth since 1994

Analysis: The Gambling Community Benefit Fund distributes grants to assist not-for-profit groups and volunteer-based organisations around the State. Since 1994, the fund has distributed almost $308 million to 28,985 projects. With this support, local organisations have produced visible social and economic benefits for their communities.

Strategic business priorities

• Maintained industry integrity and probity

  Treasury maintains the integrity and probity of the gambling industry through its licensing and compliance regimes. In 2005-06, QOGR processed 4,830 gaming licences. Where breaches of legislation were identified, Treasury undertook enforcement and remedial action. In total, 625 investigations were undertaken throughout the year.

  A total of 37 audits of major gaming organisations was conducted in 2005-06, and 2,466 individual and 412 gaming machine premise five-year licences were renewed.

  In 2005-06, QOGR chaired the interjurisdictional Probity Working Party (which aims to simplify and standardise probity procedures across Australia and New Zealand) and hosted the 2006 Australasian Casino and Gaming Regulators Conference. In 2006-07, we will continue to work on processes to further integrate responses to gambling issues across Australian jurisdictions. International cooperation will also continue to facilitate regular transfers of knowledge and information.

• Tightened procedures for private sector involvement in clubs

  In 2005-06, a review and auditing process of private sector involvement in clubs with gaming machines was introduced, with questions about private sector involvement included on licence application and renewal forms. In 2006-07, further monitoring and auditing of private sector or third party involvement in clubs with gaming machines will be implemented.

• Implemented new gaming machine audit methodology

  On 1 July 2005, a new statewide gaming machine audit methodology was implemented. QOGR inspectors audit and inspect gaming venues in relation to machine gaming, casino, charitable and non-profit gaming, lotteries, wagering and keno operations. The new methodology focuses on a risk-based approach to the audit and inspection of club and hotel gaming machine venues. As well as venues being audited at least once every three years, the new methodology involves performing random, targeted and unannounced inspections. Critical legislative provisions identified as having an unsatisfactory level of compliance are also targeted.

• Monitored casino redevelopments

  In 2005-06, QOGR monitored a number of casino redevelopments, including the $53 million Conrad Jupiters construction project on the Gold Coast and the refurbishment of the Jupiters Townsville Hotel and Casino. We also monitored the introduction of the Breakwater Island Casino Agreement Amendment Bill 2006. The Amendment Bill will facilitate the development of land in and around Townsville Breakwater Complex, which will be developed into an integrated commercial and landscaped residential development including the Townsville Ocean Terminal.

• Supported responsible gambling partnerships

  The Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee (RGAC) is the cornerstone of the community, industry and government partnership which supports the Queensland Government's Responsible Gambling Strategy. The RGAC meets four times per year and is a significant source of advice to the Government on emerging social concerns associated with gambling.

  In September 2005, the RGAC held a regional meeting in Cairns, with key local stakeholders invited to present local perspectives. The associated Community Services and Industry Forum was attended by 95 participants, with representatives from gambling help services and gambling operators, QOGR inspectors, RGAC members and observers.

  The second and third phases of the Responsible Gambling Community Awareness Campaign were conducted in 2005-06. This campaign targets 'at-risk' gamblers as part of the Responsible Gambling Strategy's early intervention program. The innovative campaign generated interest from interstate and international gambling regulatory bodies.

• Player information displays for electronic gaming machines

  In 2005-06, QOGR developed requirements for player information displays in new electronic gaming machines. Information to be provided to gambling patrons includes the chances of winning and an on-screen clock. In 2006-07, the installation of gaming machines with player information displays will commence.

• Funded community organisations through grant programs

  The Queensland Government supports a balance between the social and economic effects of gambling and the benefit to the community. A tangible way of ensuring this is by providing grants to community organisations through community benefit funds. In 2005-06, $40.39 million was provided to 2,559 community projects through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund and the three casino community benefit funds (Jupiters, Breakwater Island and Reef).

  The Gambling Community Benefit Fund funded 2,231 projects totalling $35.3 million in 2005-06. This fund is the largest source of direct, non-recurrent, project-based funding for Queensland not-for-profit community groups, helping them deliver projects to strengthen and enrich communities. Combined, the three casino community benefit funds provided $5.09 million in grants to 328 projects.

• Delivered grant funding for medical research and equipment

  In 2005-06, the first annual round of the Golden Casket Foundation delivered $923,654 in funding to five medical research organisations.

  The foundation is a partnership between Golden Casket Lottery Corporation and Queensland Treasury to distribute interest earned on unclaimed first division lotto prizes. Queensland-based research organisations can apply for grants of up to $250,000 to undertake health and medical research or to purchase vital research equipment. In 2006-07, up to $1.2 million may be available for allocation as grants from the Golden Casket Foundation.

• Conducted Australia's largest gambling survey

  The Queensland Household Gambling Survey 2003-04 was published in 2005-06, providing valuable information about gambling activity and the prevalence of problem gambling in the Queensland community. The survey, involving more than 30,000 adult respondents, found the number of problem gamblers had not increased since the original survey in 2001. More than 92 per cent of respondents were at no risk of problem gambling while only 0.55 per cent of respondents were identified as problem gamblers.

• Implemented responsible gambling programs

  In 2005-06, the Responsible Gambling Code of Practice Training Kit was distributed to every gambling provider in Queensland. The kit is an informal training resource designed to create responsible gambling environments that minimise harm to individuals, their family and the broader community.

  This year, the Responsible Gambling Fund provided $10.3 million to fund responsible gambling programs that enhance the quality and quantity of gambling-related research, and contribute to the development of gambling policy in Queensland.

  The Queensland Government also funds a network of treatment and support programs to help problem gamblers, with face-to-face gambling help services available in metropolitan, regional and rural areas.

• Supported new exclusion regime

  Following the introduction of legislation which requires gambling providers to exclude a patron from the venue when the patron requests self-exclusion, 1,113 exclusions were reported by Queensland's 1,350 gaming operators in the first reporting period (May-December 2005).

  While the proportion of Queenslanders identified as problem gamblers is small, the exclusion regime is an important part of the legislative approach to responsible gambling. The legislation was introduced following extensive education, training and consultation with gaming staff across Queensland.

Last reviewed 2 October 2007

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