The purpose of this study was to investigate how to best manage the issue of multiple breaching in self-exclusion. Multiple breaching refers to people who repeatedly re-enter gambling venues after signing up for a self-exclusion program where they agree not to enter the gambling venue. For this study, the researchers reviewed existing published evidence and policy documents, and interviewed key informants in the gambling industry whose work relates to self-exclusion programs. The policy review and key informant interviews were done in five Canadian provinces and Victoria, Australia.
The research findings include information about how multiple breaches negatively impact venue staff, why self-excluded gamblers breach, and the consequences gambling operators employ when they detect a breach. The most common motivation for breaching was that detection methods are poor so that people feel that they won't get caught. The most commonly supported consequence was withholding winnings, and other supported consequences included mandatory meetings with a counsellor or taking an educational workshop, increasing ban lengths, or changing their voluntary ban to an involuntary ban.
The authors concluded that most of the existing information about the effectiveness of breach management techniques is based on the opinions of gambling operators. More research is needed and should include empirical evidence as well as the opinions and experiences of gamblers who breach after self-excluding.
