With Gambling Harm Awareness Week 2022 now in progress, the public are being encouraged to recognise the warning signs of gambling-related harm and seek help.
The State-funded gambling service, Gambling Help WA, has supported more than 1,800 people experiencing gambling-related issues in the past year.
It has now launched a new campaign — What Are You Gambling With? — that targets online and in-person gambling with social media posts, radio advertisements and online commercials.
The latest figures from Centrecare, which runs Gambling Help WA on behalf of the State Government, shows two thirds of new clients in the 2021-22 financial year were male, while the biggest age group of clients was 30-to-49 years old.
Minister for Racing and Gaming, Tony Buti said gambling harm support services were accessible in several languages.
“While 96 per cent of Gambling Help WA clients were English-speaking, counselling sessions also occurred in languages such as Mandarin, Thai, Vietnamese and Arabic,” Mr Buti said.
“Gambling can start harmlessly enough with a bit of spare cash, but can move pretty quickly to borrowed money, savings, rent and mortgage payments.”
He said it was also really important people understood that the cost of gambling was not just financial.
“Former gambling addicts have shared that the hardest losses were the trust of their families and loved ones,” the Minister said.
“This Gambling Harm Awareness Week we’re asking people to reach out if they recognise the signs of problem gambling in themselves or someone they know. It’s never too late to get help.”
Readers interested in gambling issues can find more information at this PS News link.
