Gambling bad: league star

Gambling bad: league star
NICK BENDEL

Craigie, 33, who now works for Mission Australia, hosted the first Aboriginal-focused workshop yesterday.
Craigie said the aim of the workshops was to teach healthcare workers how to identify the signs of gambling addiction and then respond.

“If those working closely with problem gamblers can detect the warning signs early on, there is a better chance the person can be assisted in turning things around before their life spirals out of control,” he said.

“Problem gambling is often a closely guarded secret. However, there are detectable warning signs including: poorly explained absences from home or work, a defensive attitude, or even signs of depression.”

Craigie said it was much harder to spot a gambling addict than a person with drug or alcohol problems.

“They live a life of lies, they live a life of denial, they live a life of blaming others and broken promises and borrowing money,” he said.

Gambling cost Craigie $1.5 million, two homes and a fiancée, he said.

He became hooked on gambling when he was 18 and only managed to beat the addiction two years ago after hitting “rock bottom”.

His gambling problems led to depression, anxiety, anti-social behaviour, and finally, suicidal thoughts.

Gambling was a scourge that was being passed down through the generations in Aboriginal communities, Craigie said.

He has been to places where children as young as five were skipping school to gamble.

If children became hooked on gambling, there was a serious chance they would move on to a life of crime, he said.

Gambling addictions often went hand in hand with drug and alcohol dependency, he said, which in turn was linked to domestic violence.

Craigie said he had learned about gambling through his family, but no longer felt the urge to bet.

He has found his calling in life working with Mission Australia and educating others.

Being an ex-footballer made it easier to get his message across, as Aborigines were keen on sport in general and rugby league in particular, he said.

“We as Aboriginal people are defeating ourselves,” he said.

“Our culture, our people, we need to take gambling education seriously because it not only effects the adults, it effects the kids.”

Craigie called for in-depth anti-gambling messages to be delivered in primary and high schools.

“Education is the only way we’re going to overcome problems in Aboriginal communities,” he said.