A Warrnambool, Victoria-based organisation which is aimed at providing help and support for problem gamblers and their families has explained that the harm inflicted by gambling on such people’s lives cannot be measured only in money but is a lot larger than that.
Speaking during the events of the Gambling Harm Awareness Week, Tracie McPherson who is currently the manager of therapeutic and children’s services at Bethany Community Support, shared that gambling-related harm is also measured in the impact it has on people’s lives, as well as on the lives of their family members and the community as a whole. Ms. McPherson shared that gambling-harm is different for every individual, so it was hard to determine whether what was harmful to one person would be harmful to another.
According to Ms. McPherson, more people need support at risk of harm, especially considering the large number of gambling adverts aired during live sports events and the fact that people now have a large number of options to bet from, with smartphones and other mobile devices becoming more popular among Australian players. She reminded that currently, people might not find some aspects of land-based gambling “a good idea”, so more and more of them turn to online gambling services. Now, thanks to gambling websites and mobile applications players have constant 24/7 access to a variety of gambling options wherever they are.
Counselling Services Are Provided to Australian Gamblers
The problem gambling organisation finds it necessary for local authorities to think of a different approach to first protect people who are at greater risk of becoming gambling addicts, and also to help the ones who have been experiencing problem gambling and the possible negative consequences which usually come along with it.
According to Ms. McPherson, the earlier problem gamblers got intervention and help, the easier it was for them to deal with the problem and stop gambling or at least start to control their gambling. She also said that low- and moderate-risk gamblers usually do not usually face as much as prejudice as gambling addicts, who bear their problem gambling behaviour as a stigma.
Bethany Community Support which takes care of people experiencing gambling-related harm further reminded that the organisation could provide some help to such players, including counselling and consultations, as well as financial counselling that could be helpful to people in order for them to renegotiate their gambling-related debts.
Such counselling services are available not only for problem gamblers but also for members of their families which could have been impacted. In addition, employers and other people who might want to talk about an employee or a friend/family member who suffers from gambling addiction could also take advantage of the services of the charity organisation which is set at minimising gambling-related harm.
- Author
Daniel Williams
