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Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council

Established in late 2004, the Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council (RGMAC) is the pre-eminent source of stakeholder advice to the Minister for Gaming on responsible gambling. The Victorian Government, through the Minister for Gaming, seeks the RGMAC’s advice on how to ensure that the Victorian gambling industry operates in a balanced way that minimises problem gambling, whilst creating an environment where those who gamble safely are permitted to do so.

Structure and support

The council consists of representatives drawn mainly from industry, academic, local government and community groups. It has a number of working groups that prepare advice on specific initiatives or projects. The Office of Gaming and Racing provides secretariat support to the council.

Activities and aims

The council provides advice on:

• emerging social concerns and related economic issues associated with problem gambling in Victoria.
• the formulation and implementation of responsible gambling policies and initiatives to ensure a socially sustainable industry and the development of an industry-wide responsible gambling regulatory framework.
• the development and implementation of a comprehensive framework for responsible gambling programs focusing on prevention, community protection, treatment and recovery.
• research priorities to support effective prevention, community protection, treatment and recovery.

Currently, the Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council is focusing on communications and community education strategies around gambling, responsible gambling measures, and gambling research in Victoria.

Annual Reports

The council's Annual Report 2008 details its activities and achievements, including: 

• the establishment of the Pre-Commitment Working Group to advance the development of criteria through which various pre-commitment mechanisms will be developed.
• the formulation of criteria to be used by the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation when assessing applications for exemptions from the ban on ATMs in venues in Victoria from 2012.
• the completion of a Self-Exclusion Pilot Program, resulting in an allocation of $1.2 million over the next three years to fund the program.
• the launch of the fourth Responsible Gambling Awareness Week (RGAW) with the theme “Knowledge, Balance and Control”.

Membership of the Council

• Prof. Bruce Singh (Chair)
• Mr John Bresnan
• Mr Mark Close
• Ms Cyndy Connole
• Ms Chris Freethy
• Mjr. Brad Halse
• Mr Bill Horman
• Mr Mohan Jesudason
• Mr Frank Makryllos
• Mr Bruce Mathieson Jnr
• Dr Nikos Nikiforakis
• Ms Rhonda Nelson Hearity
• Ms Rae Perry
• Mr Darren Ray
• Prof. Shane Thomas
• Ms Cheryl Vardon
• Mr Johnnie Walker
• Mr Leon Wiegard
• Dr Mark Zirnsak