News
Charity GamCare says voluntary funding is the best bet for UK’s problem gamblers
27 May 2009
Anthony Jennens says:“Over the years GamCare, working with a number of other partners around the country has built a viable and sustainable infrastructure for supporting gamblers and their families and friends, encompassing:
- A national HelpLine, answering over 2500 calls a month
- A counselling service in London providing treatment for more than 70 people a week
- Counselling services available to over 60% of the rest of the country
- An online helpline (the NetLine) and counselling service
- Training for hundreds of company employees in responsible gambling practices and skills.
“I believe that much of this success has been due to our independence from both Government and the industry: an “honest broker” which both can trust, because our agenda is the agenda of the person in need – who is both the industry’s customer who expects good service and value for money, and the Government’s consumer who may need protection.
Imagine your debts are growing and out of control, you’re hiding your gambling from your partner and family, you’re about to lose your job because they can’t rely on you, the stress is building and building and you are, quite simply, desperate. What do you need?
“I think it’s pretty obvious. You need someone who will be there when you ring and who can provide expert confidential help, free of charge, when you need it and non-judgementally. That person can help you through the crisis, and then put you in touch with other support – be it counselling, debt advice, stress management, help with relationships – quickly and in confidence. So you need a HelpLine manned by professional advisers able to gain your trust quickly and offer both emotional and practical support, backed up by links to specialist and general referral services. You need to be able to get that HelpLine number easily and quickly – from your Lottery ticket, your poker website, your local arcade, your betting shop’s advertisements, slips and leaflets, and also from your GP, your debt counsellor, your Citizens Advice Bureau, your health centre, your local authority, and of course from Yellow Pages and Google.
“This is why I hope that in the UK we can make a voluntary system work. And I also hope that we can have a strategy-making system that is expertly advised and informed, and that is able to see that we are not starting with a blank piece of paper, but rather that the project is already well in hand. The necessary infrastructure is already in place, and a lot of people who really care about those in need just want to get on with the job they’ve started.”
Notes for editors
Anthony Jennens was speaking at the 14th International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking organized by the University of Nevada and held from 25th to 29th May 2009. Read the full text of his paper and a summary.