Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Policy

Council has developed the Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Policy as a ‘whole of Council’ approach to preventing and minimising gambling-related harm in the community. It describes Council’s policy position on gambling in the municipality and describes five priority areas relating to strategic planning and regulation, community capacity building, advocacy, collaboration and leadership.

In developing this Policy, background research and lead stakeholder engagement was undertaken. This work was aimed at understanding the context, analysing the evidence, seeking both community and stakeholder input and identifying potential policy directions.

Policy commitments

The Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Policy highlights a series of policy commitments which reflect Council’s statutory roles in preventing and addressing gambling-related harm in the community:

  • Council will undertake its strategic planning and regulatory roles to protect those most at risk of gambling harm
  • Council will build the community’s capacity to enhance health and wellbeing
  • Council will address the community’s concerns about the harmful impacts of gambling
  • Council will collaborate with our stakeholders to prevent and minimise gambling harm
  • Council will demonstrate leadership through managing its facilities and programs to prevent and minimise harm from gambling.

Policy implementation

The Maroondah Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Policy 2026 will be implemented through Council’s planning, policy, programs and decision-making processes. This will involve the following:

  1. Integrating the Policy principles into all Council strategic and decision-making processes
  2. Continuing to monitor trends in gambling behaviour and the determinants and impacts of gambling harm on community health and wellbeing
  3. Collaborating with stakeholders to identify opportunities to collectively address gambling harm such as through Gambling Harm Awareness week
  4. Raising awareness of the Policy within the community, the gambling industry, peak bodies, local government and service providers.

Council adopted the Maroondah Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Policy 2026 following a period of public exhibition on 15 June 2026.

Policy

Maroondah Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Policy(DOCX, 129KB)

Maroondah Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Policy(PDF, 747KB)

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