Gambling
The Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation (QOGR) is responsible for maintaining the integrity and probity of the gaming industry in Queensland. QOGR monitors industry trends and innovations to ensure Queensland maintains a responsive gambling policy that keeps pace with community needs and technological advances. QOGR is also responsible for issuing a range of gaming licences and plays an advisory role to the Queensland Gaming Commission in the issuing of gaming machine licences.
Our clients
QOGR services a range of clients in the gambling industry including:
- Queensland Gaming Commission
- gambling providers and manufacturers
- gambling public
- community groups
- Gambling Community Benefit Fund and the casino funds
- Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee
- industry peak bodies
- external researchers.
QOGR advises clients on all aspects of gambling in Queensland including licensing, responsible gambling, gambling operations, community funding and gambling innovations. By inspecting and monitoring gambling venues and manufacturers, QOGR ensures the integrity of gambling and the public interest are protected. QOGR also has a strong history of supporting community groups through grant and funding services for problem gamblers to minimise gambling-related harm.
Structure
- Under Treasurer, Gerard Bradley
- Deputy Under Treasurer, David Ford
- Executive Director, Michael Sarquis
- Deputy Executive Director, Policy, Governance and Research Group, Barry Grimes
- Acting Director, Organisational Services Branch, Sharon Radicke
- Acting Director, Policy and Research Branch, Craig Turner
- Deputy Executive Director, Regulatory Operations Group, Des Russell
- Director, Gaming Services Branch, David Hart
- Acting Director, Licensing Branch, Ron Austen
- Acting Director, Inspections and Audit Branch, Paul Ryan
- Director, Investigations Branch, Noel Harte
- Deputy Executive Director, Policy, Governance and Research Group, Barry Grimes
- Executive Director, Michael Sarquis
- Deputy Under Treasurer, David Ford
Key issues facing the output
- Integrating the Liquor Licensing Division, Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation and Office of Racing to form the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing. This is being undertaken to ensure communities benefit from a more robust regulatory framework and more comprehensive and consistent harm minimisation measures.
- Implementing harm-minimisation measures set out by the State Government for gaming industry reforms.
- Ensuring legislation is responsive to rapid changes in gambling technology and innovation so that both gambling providers and the public benefit.
- A new Productivity Commission inquiry into gambling was announced in early July 2008 by the Council of Australian Governments. The inquiry will update the 1999 Productivity Commission study and focus on providing a solid evidence base for future policy development on responsible gambling at both a national and state level.
New Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing takes shape
On 1 July 2008, the new Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing was created in Queensland Treasury. It brings together the functions of the former Liquor Licensing Division, the Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation and the Office of Racing.
The new office will provide a modern, proactive regulatory environment with a focus on ensuring community confidence in the integrity of the liquor, gaming and racing industries. The integration will also deliver a more comprehensive application of Queensland’s harm-minimisation framework for liquor and gaming.
Vision
To be a world-leading gambling regulatory authority.
Mission
- Regulate legal gambling in the community interest by providing a regulatory framework to ensure the probity and integrity of the industry.
- Promote responsible gambling practices.
- Allocate funds from gambling revenue for community projects.
Output performance highlights
| Measure | Target | Actual | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity | |||
| Audit, probity and inspection activities completed in accordance with annual program | 95% | 85%1 | |
| Quality | |||
| Percentage of gambling providers committing to the implementation of the Code of Practice | 80% | 82% | |
| Suitability of all gambling participants and systems proven to be satisfactory | 95% | 99%2 | |
| Timeliness | |||
| Licence applications processed within set time | 90% | 93%3 | |
| Gambling Community Benefit Fund applications processed within set times | 95% | 100% | |
Variances
1. Staff shortages have resulted in the target number of audits scheduled in the Annual Audit Program not being met.
2. Variation occurred due to the filling of vacant positions and increased liaison and communication with local, interstate and overseas gaming regulators and operators.
3. Variation occurred to normal operational fluctuations in licence applications to be processed.
Queensland gambling taxes and levies 2007–08
Analysis: Sources of gambling revenue for Queensland during 2007–08.
Our business priorities
Business priority
Continue to implement outcomes from the Gambling Help Services System review.
- Helping problem gamblers
In 2007–08, the Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation (QOGR) provided more than $3.7 million to the Department of Communities and Queensland Health for a network of gambling help services to treat and support problem gamblers and people affected by problem gambling in Queensland. The Gambling Help Service System includes 13 face-to-face services operating from approximately 30 sites across Queensland, a residential treatment program, a 24-hour Gambling Help Line and a Gambling Help Network.
Initial planning occurred for the development of a Performance Management Framework and Data Management System to ensure accurate and reliable information is available to inform evidence-based policy development for Gambling Help Services.
We also completed the selection process for the appointment of consultants to develop community specific gambling help services in Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. This process has been assisted through QOGR’s representation at the Cherbourg Local Indigenous Partnership Agreement.
In the year ahead, as the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) we will:
- continue working with Indigenous and CALD communities to provide culturally appropriate gambling help services
- establish a secretariat role within OLGR to provide administrative assistance to the Gambling Help Network
- negotiate three-year funding arrangements with the Department of Communities for 2008–11 to expand the Gambling Help Service System.
Business priority
Implement outcomes from the review of the scheme for reallocating gaming machine operating authorities in hotels.
- Improving hotels’ business flexibility
In 2007–08, QOGR contributed to business certainty and flexibility for hotels by adjusting the process for reallocating gaming operating authorities under the ‘cap and trade’ scheme. Introduced in 2003, this scheme set a limit on the number of gaming machines issued in Queensland and required licencees to enter a tender process to bid for available operating authorities.
Changes to this process, brought about by amendments to the Revenue and Other Legislation Amendment Act (No.2) 2007 and the Gambling Legislation Amendment Act 2008 included:
- removing the restriction on the number of gaming machines a hotel licensee may decrease at any one time
- removing the requirement to include the date of the most recent sale of operating authorities on a licence
- allowing the Queensland Gaming Commission to approve the transfer of operating authorities when a hotel was required to relocate in particular exceptional circumstances
- amending the arrangements and time periods for installing gaming machines.
These amendments reduced the regulatory burden on both the hotel industry and regulators.
In the year ahead our Office will again hold three tender sales of operating authorities as recommended in the review.
Business priority
Conduct a further trial of an electronic gaming machine card-based system which includes responsible gambling initiatives for the possible future introduction of card-based gaming in Queensland.
- Creating a safer gambling environment
During the year QOGR trialled a new card-based, ‘pre-commitment’ gaming system that requires users to set predetermined limits on their gambling activity. This process encourages patrons to consider the amount they can afford to lose.
A six-month trial of this system, operated by E-bet and Odyssey, commenced at Sandgate RSL in March 2008.
In 2008–09, OLGR will interpret the reports on the Sandgate trial and analyse these against contemporary responsible gambling best practice standards. In September 2008, a second trial will commence at Redcliffe RSL. OLGR will also identify potential issues resulting from a broad industry rollout of any future card-based gaming system.
Business priority
Investigate the adequacy of the current regulatory framework for server-based gaming technology for gaming machines.
- Keeping pace with new gaming technologies
Server-based technology provides opportunities for Government and industry to enhance the already high standard of consumer protection.
In 2007–08, QOGR continued developing and enhancing its regulatory framework in anticipation of new technologies. In addition to the ongoing work undertaken by its own internal working group on new technologies, QOGR participated on the newly formed Server-based Gaming subgroup of the Gaming Machine National Standard Working Party.
In 2008–09, OLGR will maintain its involvement in these and other forums to ensure gambling providers benefit from technological advances within a responsible gambling framework.
Business priority
Complete the review of the Queensland Responsible Gambling Code of Practice.
- Promoting industry commitment to responsible gambling
A five year, three-phased review of the Queensland Responsible Gambling Code of Practice was finalised in 2007. A report on the last phase, Sustainability of the Code of Practice, is being finalised and will make recommendations about the long-term sustainability of responsible gambling practices. In 2008–09, OLGR and its key stakeholders will address the report’s recommendations.
In August 2007, QOGR released Guidelines for Player Loyalty Programs, an addendum to the Advertising and Promotions Guidelines that supports the Code of Practice. The guidelines for gambling providers outline acceptable and unacceptable practices for player loyalty programs.
Business priority
Facilitate best practice grants management for funding programs to maximise community benefit.
- Building community capacity
The Queensland Government regulates gambling to maximise benefits to the State and community as a whole while minimising harm.
A significant part of this strategy is to distribute money through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund and Jupiters, Breakwater Island and Reef Hotel Casino Community Benefit Funds. QOGR is responsible for providing executive and administrative support to the funds and their respective committees and boards of trustees.
In 2007–08, $34.8 million from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund and $5.3 million from the three casino community benefit funds were distributed across the State. Read about how the Gambling Community Benefit Fund helped young Queenslanders in the Engaging our stakeholders and the community section.
The Treasurer approved the adjustment of the closing dates to the Gambling Community Benefit Fund to increase community organisations’ ability to access grants. The new closing dates are 28 February, 31 May, 31 August and 30 November.
QOGR also initiated a review of the community benefit funds to streamline funding processes and ensure the relevance and currency of funds in responding to community needs.
In 2008–09, OLGR will implement recommendations from the review as it continues to facilitate the distribution of grants from the four community benefit funds.
Improving community awareness
Measures such as pre-commitment, card-based gaming, shown here being trialled at Sandgate RSL, help Queenslanders set limits and stay in control.
© Newspix/Sarah Marshall
Protecting families and communities from the harmful effects of gambling is the aim of Queensland’s harm minimisation framework.
On 17 April 2008, Premier Anna Bligh announced a range of measures to minimise harm and control the growth of gambling.
These initiatives included:
- a State-wide cap on the number of gaming machines in clubs
- prohibiting machine gaming in hotels and clubs before 10am
- introducing mandatory training in responsible service of gambling
- strengthening a zero-tolerance approach to venues who allow excluded people back onto their premises.
While punitive measures have a role in harm minimisation, equally important is helping people set their own limits to stay in control. In 2008, the State Government continued its trial of pre-commitment, card-based gaming. This technology allows patrons to set predetermined cash and time limits on their cards.
In 2008–09, the Government will complete an evaluation of the Queensland Responsible Gambling Strategy, identifying how the strategy should change to better reflect today’s social, environmental and technological needs.
Last reviewed 5 November 2008
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