Every year, thousands of pokie players fall victim to compulsive gambling behaviour. Most problem gamblers refuse to seek assistance out of fear for embarrassment, so face-to-face counselling is not often an option. Now, New Zealand researchers have proven that anonymous telephone counselling can be an effective method of treatment for problem gamblers without additional face-to-face sessions.

Max Abbott of Auckland University of Technology recently led a study called Effectiveness of Problem Gambling Brief Telephone Interventions: An Uncontrolled Outcome. He and his research team interviewed 150 New Zealand problem gamblers who have sought help from telephone helplines. They followed up with them at three month intervals for a year following the treatment in order to determine how effective the treatment was.

Some of the participants had sought out additional treatment from face-to-face counselling while others only received assistance from telephone-based counsellors. After a year, both groups had experience similar recoveries. The research team determined that the additional face-to-face counselling did not provide much more assistance to those who had initially called a helpline.

“This doesn’t mean other gambling and counselling services have no value. It could be that most people who don’t need extra help don’t seek it and that people who do need more help get it and benefit,” says Professor Abbott. The research team also noted many other lifestyle improvements as a result of the counselling.

Participants not only curbed their gambling spending but also saw a decline in their depression, anxiety and drug use. It is important for at-risk gamblers to seek out assistance to curb their harmful spending habits. Since many are reluctant to face counselling, it should be comforting for them to know that they can receive the same positive results through telephone counselling.

So, if someone you know if exhibiting signs of a gambling addiction, be sure to refer them to one of the many helplines that are available to problem gamblers in Australia.

About the Author

George Anderson
Author George, has over 25+ years’ experience in the Pokies and Casinos industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Loves to research new Pokies games on the block and follows announcements from top industry providers about their upcoming releases. As soon as a new interesting pokie game appears on his radar, George is there to check it out and give you the scoop before anyone else and tell you about all casino sites where can play the latest game. Before this gig, George worked as Pokie game tester, making him an ideal candidate for this genre of work. He is also an animal lover and a proud owner of three dogs.