When an individual happens to find themselves addicted to pokies and any other casino games, self-exclusion is considered an effective method to help them tackle the compulsive behaviour. However, some players are reluctant to seek help in the first place. So, the Salvation Army has suggested a new method that would allow friends and family members to intervene.
The Salvation Army, an organization that is dedicated to helping problem gamblers kick their addictions, has suggested a new self-exclusion program that allows friends and family members to sign an individual up for self-exclusion. Normally, the player himself has to register for self-exclusion, but this new system would change this.
"We would assume family members speak to their loved one, who is caught up in addiction,” says Tamworth Salvation Army Major, David Rogerson. “It would be a mutual agreement with the family, the problem gambler and the clubs, to implement the exclusion." The first step to tackling any addiction is for the individual to recognize that they have a problem.
Since many addicts do not realize that they are exhibiting compulsive behaviour, they can do a great deal of damage before they realize that anything is wrong. By allowing friends and family to weigh in, the Salvation Army’s plan would speed up the process, so that gambling addicts do not dig themselves deeper into debt.
While this recommendation has the potential to be highly effective, the Salvation Army notes that much more work is required to help an individual tackle their gambling addiction. Counselling is an important step that compulsive gamblers should take in an attempt to become healthy players.
The Salvation Army and several other organizations across Australia and New Zealand offer such services, which assist compulsive gamblers and their families to manage their emotions in response to gambling addictions.
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