DO tough times produce people with pokie gambling problems, or do they fall on hard times because they’re already hooked by the bandits?
It’s a “chicken and egg” conundrum that Marcus Maloney can’t answer - and as Goulburn Workers Club house manager he’s been helping people with destructive gambling and/or drinking problems for 15 years.
But there is one thing Mr Maloney’s sure about: there are fewer pokie players these days registering with him as problem gamblers and getting themselves excluded from playing machines, or from the club.
“In the past year to 18 months only one person has registered for exclusion,” he said.
“Five years ago there were a lot more registered.
“It might be that people just don’t have the money to play pokies now, when things are pretty tough for quite a few in the community. But it might also mean they had a problem and came to see us for help after they’d hit hard times because of gambling.
“They might have kept away from the machines, but nobody really knows if they’ve beaten their addiction for good. It’s similar to people with an alcohol addiction; are they ever really cured of it?
“Currently, the Workers has around 20 to 25 people who’ve had themselves excluded from gambling after consulting us about their problem. I spend hours every day on the (gaming) floor, and I can usually pick up pretty early if someone seems to be getting into trouble with gambling or alcohol.
“We can’t approach them, though. They have to come to us for help or advice, which we try hard to give them. It has to be confidential at first, but if they opt to have themselves excluded, it then comes back to us to show them how this process works.
“We take their picture, have them sign a Deed of Exclusion, which is a legal document, and has to be witnessed - often by a member of their family.
“We put them in touch with the ClubsNSW’s Club Safe gambling help line or website, or with Anglicare’s Beat the Odds services, both of which have programs funded by the NSW Department of Liquor, Gaming and Racing through the Responsible Gambling Fund.”
It’s a similar story at the Soldiers Club, where assistant manager, Mike Murphy, or general manager, Toni Mitchell, provide the advice and information if they’re approached by someone with a gambling problem - or by a family member.
For the full story, please see the print edition of Friday's Goulburn Post, available from our Auburn Street office and from newsagencies across the region.
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