This special edition includes abstracts and power point presentations from the May 2005 International Gambling Conference - "Policy, Practice and Research: One Year On" and second meeting of the International Think Tank on Presenting Gambling Populations and First Contact Services. Both events were organised and hosted by the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Gambling Research Centre and Gambling Helpline New Zealand. A subsequent volume will publish peer-reviewed articles based on some of these presentations.

I much appreciate the editor's willingness, indeed enthusiasm and encouragement, to again help ensure that much of the content of these important international meetings is accessible to people who were not able to be with us. Previous special editions include presentations from last year's Conference and Think Tank.

International Think Tank

The second full meeting of the Think Tank was held on 25-26 May 2005, immediately prior to the Conference. Participants were invited to ensure that there was a mix of nationalities, academics/researchers, industry executives, policy makers and officials, service providers and regulators. In the case of New Zealand participation, priority was also given to representation from major ethnic groups. Participants included international leaders in the field as well as locals deemed to be well placed to make a useful contribution. Although it was intended to limit participation to 50, in the event 54 took part.

The Think Tank vision, developed at the inaugural 2004 meeting, is:

An international network of scientists, researchers, policy makers, service providers, socially concerned gambling industry members and interested others collaborating to advance understanding of gambling as an issue for public health and social/economic development.

Its purpose is to:

• Provide a forum to address globally significant issues and developments in problem gambling policy, services and research in relation to presenting gambling populations and first contact services;
• Foster cooperation between researchers, policy makers, service providers and the gambling industry; and
• Focus on the development of evidentially led policies and services to meet the needs of presenting and at-risk populations.
  
  

Following the mihi (Maori welcome) by Kaumatua (elder) Ike Samuels, the New Zealand Associate Minister of Health Hon. Damien O'Connor greeted participants on behalf of the New Zealand government and gave an opening speech on recent legislative and related gambling and problem gambling developments in New Zealand. The Minister's official responsibilities include gambling. Gary Clifford and Max Abbott (the Think Tank hosts) completed the welcome, gave an overview of the programme and provided feedback on Think Tank special topic spin-off meetings in Las Vegas and the Gold Coast.

Some Think Tank deliberations were focussed around brief presentations followed by whole group discussion. In addition, subgroups formed to discuss specific questions and report back to all participants. Presentation topics included:

• Definition and measurement of problem gambling (Rachel Volberg, Max Abbott)
• Evaluation of interventions including clinical trials (James Westphal, Alun Jackson, Masood Zangeneh)
• Prospective studies of general and special populations (Jeffrey Derevensky, Max Abbott)
• Innovative practice (Ruth Herd, Gary Clifford, Ralph Gerdelan)
• New gambling technologies - what is coming up? Implications for problem gambling (Adrian Scarfe)
• Health, social and economic impacts of gambling—policy and regulatory implications (Corinne May-Chahal, Ruth Herd)
• Where is regulation going and does it have an evidence base? (John Markland, Lorna Dyall)
• Industry responsibility and consumer protection—recent and planned developments (Gail White, Philip Townsend).
  
  

Subgroup/workshop questions included:

• Research: Identify the five most important questions that research is required to address. Why is each important? Select one of these and design a multi-site study to address this question or a significant aspect of it.
• Key issues in problem gambling services: Who is presenting in different jurisdictions and what are future projections? What service presentation data are being collected and what would we want from an international data set? What services are and are not being funded?
• Service provision and development: What are the most important gaps in service provision? Why is each important? Select one of these gaps and design a service/intervention to address it.
  
  

During the concluding session agreement was reached on future Think Tank actions and responsibility for their implementation. Follow-up actions include:

• Creating a Think Tank list-serve
• Publication of proceedings through IJMA (formerly known as eCOMMUNITY) special editions
• Preparing a consultation document for an international gambling NGO
• Developing an international services survey
• Examining the feasibility of a minimum data set for service settings
• Preparation of a draft protocol on clinical trials
• Planning a collaborative study on gambling and family violence
• Preparatory work for establishment of an international gambling clearing house
• Think Tank group on indigenous representation.
  
  

Post-Think Tank evaluation indicated that the large majority of participants considered that the event was good or excellent with respect to focus, design and location and had met their expectations. All respondents rated the overall event, venue and facilitator as good/excellent. Highlights for most included meeting people from different backgrounds with varied perspectives and examining ways to work collaboratively. Wide-ranging discussion around short presentations and specific questions was valued. The move to an action focus was positively regarded.

The Think Tank will reconvene next year and a number of working groups will meet in the interim and communicate electronically. The time and location of the full Think Tank meeting have yet to be finalised. While participation is by invitation and numbers are limited to facilitate focus and engagement, the intention is to establish a strong group of highly competent people from around the world committed to working collaboratively on international projects. There will remain openings for new members who meet these criteria as well as opportunities for interested people to join project groups.


International Gambling Conference

A major purpose of the 2005 Conference was to assess the initial 12 months of what I have referred to as "the New Zealand experiment"—the first instance of a comprehensive national public health approach to gambling and problem gambling. The Gambling Act 2003 places responsibility for gambling regulation principally with the Department of Internal Affairs. The Ministry of Health has responsibility for the organisation and funding of problem gambling services and research. While this includes a requirement for problem gambling support and clinical services, the legislation and associated policy has a strong emphasis on health promotion, prevention and early intervention.

To be more specific, the objectives of the Gambling Act 2003 are to:

• Control the growth of gambling
• Prevent and minimise harm caused by gambling, including problem gambling
• Authorise some gambling and prohibit the rest
• Facilitate responsible gambling
• Ensure the integrity and fairness of games
• Limit opportunities for crime or dishonesty
• Ensure profits from gambling benefit the community
• Facilitate community involvement in decisions about the provision of gambling.
  
  

A major intent of the legislation is to reduce "harm" associated with gambling. Harm is defined as "distress of any kind arising from, caused or exacerbated by a person's gambling." The gambler or spouse, partner, family or wider community can experience it. Furthermore, it can occur in the workplace or be suffered by society at large. This is a broad definition of harm that includes problem gambling but goes much wider.

Another purpose of the Act is to promote "responsible gambling," by which is meant gambling that is "lawful, fair and honest, and is conducted in a safe and secure environment without pressure or devices designed to encourage gambling at levels that may cause harm." To be "responsible," participants are also required to be informed and "understand the nature of the activity and not participate in ways that may cause harm."

The legislation requires implementation of an integrated strategic plan to minimise harm. There is also a requirement that the strategy is evidence-based and that it includes "independent scientific research associated with gambling."

Since the enactment of the Gambling Act 2003, the Department of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Health and Gambling Commission have been developing a strategic plan (Ministry of Health, 2005) and introducing a variety of regulatory and other measures to give effect to the new legislation.

While of particular relevance to New Zealanders at the Conference and Think Tank, there was much interest from international participants in what the 2003 legislation involves, what has happened since its introduction, and what is planned for the future.

Other major purposes of the Conference were to examine current developments internationally in gambling policy, professional practice and research, and provide an opportunity for practitioners to enhance their professional competencies.

The opening plenary was introduced and chaired by Sir Paul Reeves, AUT Chancellor and past Governor General of New Zealand. Ruth Herd, Pefi Kingi and Kefeng Chu made opening statements, respectively from Maori, Pacific and Asian perspectives. Max Abbott followed with an overview of international and New Zealand developments and outlined the purpose and structure of the Conference.

The second plenary commenced with an address by Gail White of the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Gail discussed corporate social responsibility and the value of partnership between the gambling industry and other stakeholders in harm minimisation. Rachel Volberg followed with an examination of problem gambling service developments, with an emphasis on the United States. This session concluded with a presentation on the New Zealand Gambling Act 2003 and what the Department of Internal Affairs has been doing since its enactment to give effect to the legislation. Andrew Secker and John Markland gave this presentation.

The third plenary continued with "the New Zealand experiment." Debbie Edwards, Shayne Nahu and Vicki Berkahn summarised the role of the Ministry of Health in relation to the Act and described the Ministry's strategic plan "Preventing and Minimising Gambling Harm," along with related Ministry activities during the past year. This was followed by a panel discussion of the presentations on the New Zealand legislation. Five panelists responded from community, industry, service provider and academic perspectives.

Presentations from Jeffery Derevensky and James Westphal concluded the third plenary session. Jeff gave an overview of recent research on youth gambling and problem gambling and its implications for policy and practice. Jim examined the clinical diversity of people presenting with gambling problems and the need to address this diversity in research and service provision.

A large number of papers were presented and discussed during the final session on the first day and throughout the remainder of the Conference. Participatory workshops were also held to enhance practitioner competencies in a variety of specialist areas. Interested participants met prior to the closing plenary to identify key substantive issues and reflect on the Conference process. Comment and recommendations for future conferences were fed back from this group and discussed at the closing plenary.

I prefer the word symposium to conference because it more accurately captures what these events are really about. "Symposium" has Greek origins where it has two meanings. Loosely translated, these are: (1) a meeting or melding of minds, and (2) a wild drinking party. Taking the latter to mean satisfying social engagement rather than drunkeness and debauchery, both definitions apply to successful international scientific and professional conferences. This special edition of the journal captures something of the formal content of the Conference and Think Tank. It does not and cannot reflect the social and affective dimensions that are important in their own right, as well as being critical in propelling intellectual inquiry and future collaborations in research and practice.


Max Abbott
Auckland, New Zealand



References
Ministry of Health. (2005). Preventing and minimising gambling harm: Strategic plan 2004-2010. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Health.