Register your team now for Problem Gambling Awareness Training

24 August 2023

You're invited to register for Problem Gambling Awareness Training to ensure that your club and staff are ready and compliant ahead of the new regulations coming into force. 

This initial training schedule has been pulled together to allow us to cover as much of the country and deliver training to as many clubs as possible. Clubs are asked to register now to ensure that you do not miss out on the training nearest you before 1 December 2023.

Download the initial training schedule here

Register Now

We have broken the training schedule into regions to make it easier to find the training nearest you. To register click the appropriate link below and follow the onscreen instructions:

• Register for Northland Area Training Sessions
• Register for Greater Auckland Area Training Sessions
• Register for Waikato / Thames Valley / King Country Area Training Sessions
• Register for South Waikato / Bay of Plenty Area Training Sessions
• Register for Wanganui / Taranaki / Manawatu Area Training Sessions
• Register for Wellington / Wairarapa / Horowhenua / Hawkes Bay / Poverty Bay Area Training Sessions
• Register for Nelson / Marlborough / Buller / West Coast Area Training Sessions
• Register for Canterbury / North Otago Area Training Sessions
• Register for Otago / Southland Area Training Sessions

Note: not all staff have to register for the same training session, you can spread your employees over different venues, dates, and times.

Why do we need to do the new training?

The Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Amendment Regulations 2023 introduce new requirements for Problem Gambling Awareness Training. 

There are new infringement offences that apply to the holder of a class 4 licence for failure to provide problem gambling awareness training and/or failure to provide problem gambling awareness training that includes the components required in the regulations.

Additionally venue managers are liable for infringement offences of $1,000 if staff are found to not be complying with the regulations.

While the DIA have indicated that they will take a measured approach to issuing infringement offences, compliance with the regulations will be taken into account when assessing a clubs suitability to hold a licence. 

Cost

As the training is included as part of the new ClubSmart Gambling Compliance Program, there will be no additional cost applied when registering for training. 

What does the new training involve?

The Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Amendment Regulations 2023 include detailed requirements for Problem Gambling Awareness Training.

At a minimum the training must enable the venue manager and employees who are in direct contact with players in the course of their duties to:

• approach a player that they have reasonable grounds to believe may be experiencing difficulties relating to gambling; and
• provide information to a player about the characteristics of problem gambling (including recognised signs of problem gambling); and
• provide information to a player about the potential dangers of problem gambling; and
• provide information to a player about how to access problem gambling services; and
• remind a player that the venue manager or a person acting on the manager’s behalf may identify a person who they have reasonable grounds to believe is a problem gambler and exclude the player from the gambling area of the venue for up to 2 years; and
• remind a player that they can identify themselves as a problem gambler and request that the venue manager or a person acting on the manager’s behalf exclude them from the gambling area of the venue for up to 2 years; and
• monitor for signs of harm, including through conducting gambling area sweeps.

The training must also include practical and interactive sessions and cover a wide range of information.

When do my staff need to be trained?

Before 1 September you must have at least one trained employee at all times gambling is available. The employee will need to have completed the “old training” before they start supervising gambling.

Before 1 December you must have at least one trained employee at all times gambling is available. Employees that have already completed training (“old training”) and are already supervising gambling can continue to do so. All new employees must complete the updated training before they start supervising gambling.

From 1 December all staff who supervise gambling must complete the updated training annually.

What happens next?

On completion of the training, attendees will receive a certificate of completion, we will also issue reminders when the training needs to be completed again, to help you comply with the annual training requirements.

In 2024 we will commence an annual cycle of on-site training for the regions and will cover more individual clubs. New Staff employed throughout the year, that miss your annual training opportunity, will be trained via digital platforms (i.e. teams) throughout next year.

Requests for unscheduled or private training will be assessed on a case-by-case basis taking into account Clubs New Zealand resources and availability. Unscheduled or private training will incur additional fees so we encourage you to get staff to the scheduled courses.

Need more info?

If you need more information please contact National Office on 0800 425 827.

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