In Australian and New Zealand gambling markets, regulators aim to reduce problem gambling by introducing new safeguards and reforms to help players limit their spending. While it certainly helps to stop at-risk players from chasing their losses, counselling is an important method of problem gambling control that also greatly benefits players.
According to reports, more players are now seeking out counselling to help them conquer their gambling addictions. Nga Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust is the only organisation that provides problem gambling counselling to players in Invercargill, and the group is seeing an increase in activity.
According to chief executive Tracey Wright-Tawha, activity during first-quarter of 2014 sets the trust on track to increase its numbers over the course of the coming year. From January to April 2014, 13 people requested problem gambling counselling services from the trust. In 2013, the same number spanned half the year. As such, Nga Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust is likely to help double the problem gamblers in 2014.
Ms Wright-Tawha believes that the increase in activity can attributed partially to increased awareness of help services. There is still a stigma around problem gambling that discourages many players from coming forward to request help – but, as the word spreads that there is no shame in seeking help, more problem gamblers will be willing to undergo counselling.
This seems to have helped cause a decline in gambling spending across the city. In 2012, residents of Invercargill spent $15.4 on pokies. By 2013, the spending dropped to $10.9 million. This follows the national trend, which has seen gambling spending drop from $839.7 million to $811.5 million over the course of the last year.
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