Responsible gambling occurs in a regulated environment where the potential for harm associated with gambling is minimised and people make informed decisions about their participation in gambling.

Responsible gambling occurs as a result of the collective actions and shared ownership by individuals, communities, the gambling industry and Government to achieve outcomes that are socially responsible and responsive to community concerns.

The Queensland Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee provides advice to the Queensland Government through the Minister responsible for gambling, on how to minimise the negative impacts of gambling on Queenslanders.

Advice is provided on the development of responsible gambling initiatives to ensure a socially responsible industry; and the development of responsible gambling programs which focus on prevention, protection and rehabilitation.

The Queensland Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee is a tripartite partnership between community sectors, the gambling industry and the Queensland Government.

Gambling industry representation occurs through:

• Clubs Queensland
• Queensland Hotels Association
• Tabcorp
• UniTAB
• Golden Casket Lottery Corporation Limited.

The community sector representation is achieved through:

• the Gambling Help Network
• the Queensland Council of Social Services
• Ethnic Communities’ Council of Queensland
• Heads of Churches
• Rural and Remote Communities.

Government representatives include:

• the Department of Communities
• Queensland Health
• Treasury Department
• Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing.

Members of the Advisory Committee also have individual representation on a number of national bodies related to gambling.

In Queensland, we share the challenge of responsible gambling in a unique partnership between the community, gambling industry and the Queensland Government.

Since its inception, the Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee has been committed to the clear vision of these groups working together to achieve responsible gambling. Critical to this approach is the willingness of the key partners to accept responsibility and commitment to achieving outcomes that are socially responsible and responsive to community concerns.

The Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee Terms of Reference, endorsed by the Deputy Premier and Treasurer, outline the roles and responsibilities of the Advisory Committee. These include:

• the provision of advice
• the promotion of partnerships between community groups, industry sectors and the Queensland Government
• the provision of a forum for the exchange of views.

Advice has been provided on a broad range of responsible gambling issues in Queensland including:

• an industry Responsible Gambling Code of Practice and supporting Resource Manual
• targeted education strategies
• a responsible gambling training framework for industry
• a major research survey on gambling in Queensland.

A number of Advisory Committee sub-groups also function to provide expert advice on particular responsible gambling issues. Additionally, members access their wider networks and invite them to participate in the process of exchanging views at Advisory Committee meetings.

The first regional meeting of the Advisory Committee of the Advisory Committee was held in Townsville in August 2002. Members accessed their networks from North Queensland to participate in the meeting and a responsible gambling forum.

The RGAC now holds one meeting and a forum each year in a regional location:

• 2003 - Toowoomba
• 2004 - Gold Coast
• 2005 - Cairns
• 2006 - Bundaberg
• 2007 - Mackay
• 2008 - Sunshine Coast.

The Queensland Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee is unique in being able to bring together representatives from the community sector, gambling industry and Government who have a commitment to working together to achieve responsible gambling. The three key values of integrity, collaboration and commitment to excellence underpin this success.

Following public consultation involving Queensland’s gambling industry, Cabinet endorsed the Policy Direction for Gambling in Queensland (PDF 55 K) in April 2000. The Policy Direction recognised the Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee as the primary source of advice on gambling-related issues.

Since then, the Queensland Responsible Gambling Strategy, approved in February 2002, also recognised the role of the Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee in promoting partnerships to address statewide and local gambling issues and concerns.