In July, the Responsible Gambling Foundation will pick up where a joint research project by Monash University and Melbourne University left off. Funding for The Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre, which is operated by the two universities, ends today. The newly established Responsible Gambling Foundation will take over, but local health experts are concerned about the transition.
Rather than focusing on gambling addiction prevention, the new program will focus on the needs of healthcare professionals who are dealing with problem gamblers. It will determine their needs and how best to address them. While it seems as though the local government is taking a positive step forward, critics believe that this is a step backwards as it does not truly address all issues with regards to problem gambling.
Alun Jackson, the former head of the Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre, states that the new Foundation did not consult with his organization at any point. The Responsible Gambling Foundation did not take advantage of the expertise and skills of the researchers at the previous research institution. "The foundation basically failed to engage with us in a serious way," Mr Jackson says.
“We haven't had a very close relationship with the foundation. I don't know who they have consulted”. Those who are opposed to the plan believe that the program is too closely associated with the gambling industry. As such, it is feared that the research will be influenced by operators and other professionals in the market, which could compromise the progress that researchers are making with regards to reducing problem gambling rates.
There is also concern that the program does not focus enough on the prevention of problem gambling. Although counselling and other support programs are useful, it is important for researchers to understand what cause problem gambling so as to prevent more residents from developing this sort of addiction.
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