Desperate gamblers cash in everything

Desperate gamblers cash in everything

By DONNA PAGE and SAM RIGNEY

Oct. 6, 2013

 

Wesley Mission senior counsellor Denver Simonsz said in extreme cases children have been removed from the care of addicted gamblers. Picture Simone De Peak

 

HUNTER problem gamblers are selling cars, televisions, mobile phones and jewellery or withdrawing cash from credit cards to play poker machines.

Welfare agencies confirmed desperate gamblers were cashing in goods with loan sharks for substantially less than their value to feed their addictions.

Poker machine addiction each year is forcing families and individuals on the streets, with one addict telling the Newcastle Herald he sold his car in a hotel car park to keep playing.

“I got that desperate and there was a bloke I worked with who wanted the car so I called him up, it seemed like a good option at the time,” he said.

“It was only when I walked home, with none of the money left, that I realised how bad things were.”

The revelation comes as counsellors tell of people left homeless after losing more than $100,000, businesses and their families.

Wesley Mission senior counsellor Denver Simonsz said in extreme cases the Department of Family and Community Services had been forced to step in and remove children from their parent’s care.

‘‘We’ve had clients who have lost their houses, their businesses and had mental illnesses triggered by the impact of poker machine addiction,’’ Mr Simonsz said.

‘‘There have also been clients who have committed fraud to sustain an addiction to poker machines and of course that has led to criminal charges and loss of employment.

‘‘We’ve seen cases in which children have been removed by Family and Community Services and relationship breakdown occurred due to an addiction to poker machines.

‘‘When addiction becomes extremely serious the consequences can also be quite devastating for the client and the people around them.’’

He said referrals to the service had increased since the start of the year with more people seeking assistance online than ever before.

Mr Simonsz said there were occasions were people were predisposed to poker machine addiction.

‘‘There are factors that help explain someone’s addiction to the poker machines,’’ he said.

‘‘If you are looking at how those behaviours developed then it’s natural to look for a history of problem gambling within the family, accepting attitudes towards the pokies with your peer group and even cultural factors.’’

Wesley Mission Counselling Service provided 382 sessions for problem gamblers last financial year.
A spokesman for the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing said each machine had an approved return-to-player ratio.

He said gaming venues could choose to modify the ratios if the machine was linked to a jackpot or other feature.

The minimum return-to-player ratio required by law is 85 per cent, meaning the machine pays 85 cents for every dollar put in.

A senior Gamblers Anonymous member said the organisation had noticed an influx of younger Hunter people seeking help.

‘‘Lately we’ve seen a flow of younger people and an increase in younger people who have other addictions, drugs or alcohol as well as gambling,’’ she said.

‘‘A lot of times one feeds the other, if someone is in a club and they’ve had a few too many drinks then invariably it will lead to gambling.

‘‘If someone is on drugs their mind is affected and they will go to other things.’’

At Gamblers Anonymous recovering addicts work their way through a 12 step recovery program.
A former poker machine addict herself, the woman said reaching out was often the hardest part.

Resesarch shows that only about 15 per cent of problem gamblers seek help.

‘‘I walked into my first meeting thinking that I’m a really bad person and no one could be as bad as me and thinking that there was something to fear about going into a room and talking to people about what I had done,’’ she said.

‘‘That was when I walked in.

‘‘But when I walked out there was hope and that’s because I had walked into a room where people listened, held my hand and I got the opportunity to share my story without being judged.’’
Samaritans chief executive Cec Shevels said about 90 per cent of people seeking help for gambling through his organisation used poker machines.

‘‘There have been a lot of initiatives put in place to curb the use of poker machines in recent years, but it’s not enough,’’ he said.

‘‘People are losing too much. Eventually you do lose, hour after hour of playing, you will lose.’’

TELL A PROBLEM GAMBLER
■ Money missing from bank accounts, wallet/purse or money jar
■ Household items and valuables missing
■ Regularly short of money even though they earn a wage
■ Borrowing money on a regular basis
■ Having many loans at the one time
■ Being secretive about financial records or payslips
■ Unpaid bills/disconnection notices
■ Lack of food in the house
■ Becoming withdrawn from others/family events
■ Performance at work is being affected
■ Seeming worried, agitated or upset for no apparent reason
■ Reporting feeling hopeless, depressed, frustrated or suicidal
■ Changes in personality - sleeping, eating, or sexual relationship patterns
■ Controlling and/or manipulative behaviour
■ Using threats, lies or charm to manipulate others
■ Spending more and more time gambling
■ Being secretive about unexplained absences
■ Often being late for commitments
■ Over-using sick days and days off

Source: Wesley Mission Counselling Services
Gamblers Anonymous gansw.org.au/


http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1823174/desperate-gamblers-cash-in-everything/