The NSW government’s gambling reform record is coming under scrutiny this GambleAware Week (21-27 October).
Wesley Mission says it will use the week to review current and identify future priority reforms, as well as advocate for an official name change.
Wesley Mission CEO, Stu Cameron, says GambleAware Week is an inappropriate name. ‘No one in NSW needs to be more aware of gambling, but we do need to be more aware about gambling harm – so we are continuing to advocate that the name is changed to Gambling Harm Awareness Week,’ he said.
‘NSW sadly leads the nation in poker machine losses with more than $8.1 billion lost in 2023; or $1,000 for every adult and child in the state – the highest per capita poker machine losses in the world. As home to more than 87,000 poker machines, NSW is deep in the grip of a gambling harm public health crisis.
‘The NSW government have committed to some poker machine reforms, but now the time has come for them to commit to and deliver on more meaningful change,’ said Mr Cameron.
‘This Gambling Harm Awareness Week we’ll be calling for the people of NSW to support sensible and proportionate reforms, including powering down all of NSW’s poker machines between midnight and 10am.
‘Wesley Mission knows all too well the impact of gambling harm in NSW. We see the immense hardship faced by individuals and families affected by problem gambling and the ripple effect of gambling harm across communities.”
Lived experience of gambling harm
Wesley Mission client Jay, now 29, was 18 when he first played a poker machine. With a few wins early on, Jay was hooked. He would spend hours playing on his own, in secret.
‘I would enter the pub with a set limit but nearly every time I would leave with nothing left in my bank account,’ admits Jay. ‘You just lose control.’
Whatever Jay earned in wages would be lost on poker machines. After ten years of losing, Jay was broke. With the help of a counsellor and a financial plan, Jay has gone more than two years without playing a poker machine. But he said it hasn’t been easy.
Government statement
GambleAware Week 2024’s theme of ‘Safer gambling. Are you on board?’ aims to raise awareness of how people who choose to gamble can do so more safely. Resources and support information are available at www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au.
The 24-hour GambleAware Helpline is available on 1800 858 858 for free and confidential support.
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said, ‘Embedding peer support workers into our gambling support services is a great step in our efforts to reduce gambling harm across NSW.
‘We know that people with first-hand experience of gambling harm can offer a unique perspective and empathy to those seeking help. GambleAware Week focuses on preventing harm before it occurs, and we want people to understand how they can lower their risk of gambling harm.
‘Strategies like sticking to limits, not chasing losses, only gambling while sober, and balancing gambling with other activities, are all simple but important ways that people who choose to gamble can do so more safely,’ he said.
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