Australia: NSW launches gambling harms programme
The NSW government has launched a campaign dubbed “The Number that Changed My Life” to help people dealing with gambling addiction issues.
Australia.- The New South Wales Office of Responsible Gambling has launched a new campaign to tackle gambling harm.
Dubbed “The Number that Changed My Life”, the campaign will focus on Vietnamese, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Hindi and Korean communities. It will be supported by community engagement initiatives and will be presented in each community’s preferred language.
The campaign was developed after a survey in February 2019 found that one in two adults in NSW gambles.
The campaign website states: “By presenting a combination of hope and motivation, we help people see that getting support can bring harmony back into their lives, including a happy life with their loved ones.”
The Number that Changed My Life campaign will be broadcasted on TV, radio, digital, ethnic print and online video.
Natalie Wright, director of the Office of Responsible Gambling, said: “Gambling is an issue for people from all walks of life, however, research shows that people from a migrant background face different issues and significant barriers in seeking help.”
In April, the New South Wales regulator reported that player losses on slots, known in Australia as poker machines, reached AU$2.2bn during the first four months of the year.
Almost AU$600m losses were registered in April, up 12.58 per cent when compared to the previous year.
The Government of New South Wales plans to start to test cashless slot machines. The machines will include spending limits, time limits and real-time messaging to customers to collaborate with responsible gambling measures.
The New Lambton club will be the first venue to introduce cashless slots from September. According to local media, Victor Dominello, customer service minister, said cashless poker machines will help the club combat money laundering apart from problem gambling.
