The Validation Study of In-venue Problem Gambler Indicators was a two year research study undertaken by Swinburne University of Technology in collaboration with the University of Adelaide.
The study
- validated the Checklist of Visible Indicators (2007), which was developed to visually identify people experiencing gambling problems;
- transformed the checklist into the Gambling Behaviour Checklist (GBC-EGM), a tool successfully used by gaming staff to monitor and assist their customer
The Checklist of Visible Indicators was validated against a 2013 sample of more than 500 regular EGM gamblers across Australia.
The hallmarks of observable problem gambling included:
- asking for credit or loans from other customers or staff;
- visible deterioration in personal appearance or hygiene;
- concealing presence at venue from others;
- rudeness to staff;
- friends or relatives contacting the venue looking for the customer
The Gambling Behaviour Checklist assisted staff to observe, consolidate information and act on customers exhibiting multiple problem gambling behaviours before the customers asked for help.