Clarifying Responsible Gambling and its Concept of Responsibility

Abstract

Despite its widespread use, the concept of “responsible gambling” lacks a clear definition. Consequently, debate and confusion surround the respective government, regulator, industry operator, individual, and community accountability as these stakeholders attempt to develop strategies, policies, and procedures that will protect consumers by minimizing gambling-related harms. This brief report advances the argument that stakeholders should define responsible gambling as an outcome instead of an activity or process. Responsible gambling exists when individuals gamble within personally affordable limits. Therefore, we should not describe any policies, regulatory requirements, industry conduct, community advocacy, and individual decision-making as responsible gambling initiatives. More appropriately, these are actions taken to achieve the outcome of responsible gambling. We draw a distinction between the outcome (i.e., responsible gambling) and the action of stakeholders who can bring about this situation. Governments are accountable for establishing the legal gambling environment, regulators need to ensure compliance with government standards, industry must comply with regulatory requirements, communities need to influence public policy and public health advocacy, and ultimately individuals are the decision-making agents. Clarifying who is accountable for what activity provides stakeholders with the opportunity to target strategic groups to realize responsible gambling target outcomes.