Gambling Harm Minimisation Advisory Committee

The Gambling Harm Minimisation Advisory Committee advises the NICC on practical gambling harm minimisation measures in casinos.

One of the NICC’s jobs is to contain and control the potential of NSW casinos to cause harm to the public, individuals, and their families.

The casino laws require the establishment of a gambling harm minimisation advisory committee which will assist the NICC in this objective.

About the committee

The Committee currently has three members who are appointed by the Chief Commissioner. Members bring a mix of personal and professional experience of gambling harm and a passion to improve harm minimisation in the community. Members have committed to help the NICC achieve its obligations under the legislation.

Terms of reference

Purpose

The Committee is established under section 137A of the Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW) (Act). The Committee’s aim is to provide advice to the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) about gambling harm minimisation measures in relation to casinos. The Committee is not a formal decision-making body and provides advice only.
Committee role	The Committee does not make determinations or participate in NICC decision-making. The main objectives of the Committee are to: Provide advice and recommendations that assist the NICC to prevent and minimise gambling harm in NSW casinos. Enhance the NICC’s understanding of gambling harm and the measures available to minimise gambling harm in clinical and casino settings. Report on new and emerging approaches to gambling harm minimisation and investigate potential measures that can be implemented to prevent and minimise gambling harm in NSW casinos. Identify opportunities and advise on coordination of trials and evaluations of harm minimisation measures and strategies. Review and advise on the gambling harm minimisation efforts of NSW casinos. Review and advise on existing and proposed regulatory requirements for NSW casinos in relation to gambling harm minimisation. In pursuit of its objectives the GHMAC will consider relevant initiatives and strategies established by other organisations focused on gambling harm, particularly the Responsible Gambling Fund (RGF).
Chairperson	Chief Commissioner, NICC
Secretariat	The ONICC will provide secretariat services for the Committee including: meeting scheduling and set-up (see responsibilities) media and communications collateral provision of pre-meeting reading material.
Membership	In accordance with section 137A of the Act, the Committee is to have no more than five members who are appointed by the Chief Commissioner for a period of 24 months. Members can be reappointed for two consecutive terms of up to 24 months per term, at the discretion of the NICC Chief Commissioner. Members are to have skills or experience appropriate to provide advice to the NICC about gambling harm minimisation measures in relation to casinos, such as having lived experience of gambling harm. Committee membership will include these roles: Chief Commissioner NICC Director, Office of Responsible Gambling Gambling harm prevention/minimisation practitioner (for example, an academic or an individual from the private sector) GambleAware service manager (from a service that supports a high volume of clients who attend a casino) A person with lived experience of gambling harm in a casino. Departmental officers or external guests may attend by invitation to assist with briefings or presentations on specific agenda items. All members of the Committee may have a delegate appear in situations where the member is unable to attend a meeting. Delegates carry the same responsibilities as members, as outlined below. All attendance outside of members or their delegates requires the prior approval of the Chairperson.

Responsibilities

Chairperson	Effective management of the meeting, including appropriate membership and representation of relevant agencies/individuals to enable effective and robust recommendations to the NICC. Approving (or delegating the approval of) agendas, minutes and action items for circulation to members Ensuring adherence to the Terms of Reference. Ensuring all members have opportunities for input in meetings.
Individual members	Staying up to date with emerging gambling harm minimisation measures, challenges for effective harm minimisation, and problem gambling risk factors and trends, and reporting to the Committee for consideration. Proactively working with the Chairperson to ensure priority issues are flagged with other members ahead of meetings to enable informed discussions. Communicating agreed actions from the Committee to third parties as relevant. Completing actions as determined at the meeting and recorded in meeting minutes within the agreed timeframe. Advising the ONICC of non-attendance and arranging for a delegate/substitute to attend. Maintaining confidentiality where appropriate. Ensuring delegates have the information necessary to contribute to the Committee and are aware of any sensitivities.
Secretariat	Support the Chairperson to run Committee meetings effectively and in accordance with the Terms of Reference, including: Calling for agenda items and seeking approval from the Chairperson to circulate to members. Working with the Chairperson to arrange meeting logistics in alignment with the Terms of Reference. Drafting minutes and action items for members as agreed at the meeting and seeking approval from the Chairperson to circulate to members. Communicating action status updates as required. Ensuring relevant state records and governance requirements are met.

Meeting logistics

Venue and attendance	In person or via Microsoft Teams.
Apologies	If a member is unable to attend, apologies should be provided to the ONICC at least one day prior to the meeting. If the Chairperson is unable to attend a meeting, the Chairperson should nominate a member to chair the meeting.
Meeting attendees	As the Committee is not a decision-making body, a quorum is not required however, to meet the Committee’s intended objectives, it is expected that a majority of members be present for each meeting.
Meeting frequency & length	Unless otherwise agreed by members, meetings will be held: quarterly for a maximum three hours. The NICC will endeavour to schedule meetings to coincide with RGF trust meetings at least once per year. This will allow for information sharing and strategic planning.
Agendas and papers	Unless otherwise agreed by the Chairperson: Calls for agenda items will occur at least one week before the meeting. Approved agenda and papers will be distributed to members at least three days before the meeting.
Minutes and escalations	Unless otherwise agreed by the Chairperson, minutes and action items will be distributed to members within five days of the meeting.
Terms of reference review	The Terms of Reference may be updated at any time as determined by the Committee.

Committee members

Philip Crawford

Philip’s membership of the Committee is a legislative requirement, however his professional association with gambling harm minimisation began in 2016 when he was appointed Chairman of the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority, a role Philip held until 2022. By the time he was appointed NICC Chief Commissioner, Philip had cultivated a multi-faceted understanding of gambling as a popular form of entertainment, enjoyed by a great many people, but also a potentially dangerous product that attaches special responsibility to providers.

Philip has spent the past seven years in regulatory roles that seek to get the balance right, supporting a sustainable hospitality industry while also meeting the community’s expectations around the safe supply of liquor and gaming products. Philip emphasises the importance of identifying and mitigating contexts that increase the risk of harm, such as poor governance cultures and compliance, and a reliance on gambling revenue. Philip believes the Committee will be a constructive forum that incorporates both lived experience and academic evidence to its framing of emerging issues. He will steer the Committee towards determining what safety means when delivering casino gambling products and how that can be implemented in regulation.

Alison Parkinson

Alison Parkinson represents the Responsible Gambling Fund Trust and the Office of Responsible Gambling. Alison has worked in gambling harm minimisation for the past five years. Her experience spans a range of public sector and community service portfolios, including ageing, disability and carers. She is currently the Director of the Office of Responsible Gambling, part of the Hospitality and Racing division of the NSW Department of Enterprise Investment and Trade.

The Office of Responsible Gambling’s purpose is to:

prevent and reduce gambling harm, for people at risk and the broader community
improve individual and community wellbeing, for those affected by gambling harm
support people to make informed choices about gambling
contribute to public debate and influence gambling harm prevention and minimisation by government, industry, community, and other stakeholders.

Alison is dedicated to protecting individuals and the community from the impacts of gambling harm and has led several high profile public education and communication campaigns, including The Number that Changed my Life and GambleAware.

Sarah-Jane McGrath

Sarah-Jane McGrath is the Operations Manager for Wesley Missions Early Intervention and Counselling services portfolio and brings with her over 22 years’ experience working within the community services industry, both in frontline and senior management positions.

As part of her current portfolio, Sarah-Jane oversees Wesley Missions Gambling related programs. On a daily basis Sara-Jane witnesses the destruction and devastating impact, harmful gambling behaviours can cause for individuals, families and communities as a whole. Sarah-Jane is committed to sharing and utilising her skills and experience in order to bring about change and ensuring appropriate harm minimisation strategies and supports are available to those who are most in need of them.

Binquin Lee

Bingqin Li is an academic at the University of NSW, specialising in social policy with a focus on community building, social integration of marginalised populations, and urban governance. Her research aims to create inclusive communities by ensuring equitable access to essential services in a multicultural enviornment. Binquin works closely with communities and social service organisations and grounds her research in the lived experiences of those facing physical, social, and economic challenges.

In her previous work, Bingqin conducted research examining the role of social policy in Macau's volatile gambling industry during its economic transition. This study focused on mitigating the social impacts of the industry’s decline, helping affected workers and communities adapt to new economic opportunities.

Currently, Bingqin’s work is dedicated to enhancing resilience and social cohesion. Binquin brings unique insights into addressing gaps in access to social services for marginalised communities. Her research contributes to more inclusive urban governance models and informs policy debates aimed at improving the quality of life for the disadvantaged population.

Dan Rule

Dan is an experienced financial crime and risk professional with more than 15 years of experience within multiple industries. He is known for his transformation capability and leadership of large, multi functional teams. Dan is currently General Manager, Financial Crime & Regulatory Transformation at the Endeavour Group Ltd.

His responsibilities include being designated as Money Laundering Reporting Officer along with accountability for financial crime risk and responsible gaming. Dan is responsible for delivering a multi-year transformation program which includes cashless gaming and identified carded play uplifts. Prior to this, Dan held senior positions within Crown Resorts, NAB and American Express responsible for Financial Crime Operations and transformation. Dan's industry experience and practical understanding of gambling harm will add a valuable layer to the Committee's discussions and advice.

Activity report

Find out what the committee is up to

January 2024

The Committee met for the second time on 23 January 2024. After its first meeting on 14 August 2023, the Committee toured Crown Sydney and The Star and was provided with information about each operator’s gambling harm minimisation processes. Members discussed the Committee’s engagement with the casino operators as well as each operator’s approach to gambling harm minimisation. Members are interested in developing further insights into the consistency of protections for patrons across casinos. The next meeting is scheduled for May 2024.
Mark Condi tendered his resignation from the committee due to a move interstate. The NICC is currently recruiting new members with relevant lived experience.