The most populous Australian state, New South Wales, has launched a three-year strategy set to cost taxpayers £1.2 million to help prevent problem gambling and fight myths and superstitions about gaming machines.
As part of the plan, the state will produce educational kits and DVDs to help identify addictive gambling behaviours with specific strategies targetting Vietnamese, Arabic, Greek, Italian and aboriginal communities.
First presented to over 100 counsellors at the New South Wales Problem Gambling Counsellors Conference in Sydney last week by Gaming Minister Kevin Greene, the plan is to go by the name of Gambling Help and has been welcomed by Australian problem gambling charities and religious groups.
“The Rees Government is committed to tackling problem gambling early, before problems worsen and this £1.2 million investment is a key part of those efforts,” said Greene.
“For example, right now the Rees Government funds 43 problem gambling counselling services in more than 200 places across New South Wales as well as the G-Line phone service and a range of support materials online and they all have different names.
“We’re acting so all these services come under one single name and logo, Gambling Help, to make it easier for them to be found at the time when people need them the most. This new strategy works as a whole to help people identify early signs so they can seek help before they develop a serious problem.”
“Mission Australia shares the community’s concerns about the prevalence of gambling in our society and the impact it is having on individuals and families,’’ said John Brett from family and community services charity Mission Australia.
“There’s no single ‘silver bullet’ answer and there are a range of responses we need to assist problem gamblers and the latest Government initiative is a step in this direction.”
Abstract from www.igamingbusiness.com
