Talking about gambling harm
A free webinar about gambling harm and young people will be held on 20 October during Gambling Harm Awareness Week. The theme of the week is 'Could gambling be affecting your wellbeing?'
Knox has joined with Kingston, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges councils to present the free webinar panel discussion. Speakers will include a leading researcher, a counsellor and a person with lived experience of recovering from gambling addiction.
The webinar is part of Council’s work as a member of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, a national advocacy organisation working to prevent and minimise the harm from gambling, remove the shame surrounding gambling addiction, treat gambling as a public health issue and achieve legislative changes to protect our community.
Gamblers in Knox have lost more than $2.1 billion to poker machines over the past 30 years, Alliance data shows. Knox poker players lost over $56 million or $208,985 per day in 2021-22. This represents an annual average loss of $429 per adult.
Council welcomes the parliamentary Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on problem gamblers, which will look at the increasing reach of online gambling platforms into Australians’ lives. The Inquiry will examine the exposure of children and young people to gambling advertising and how this may contribute to increased problem gambling in the future.
The webinar will be held on Thursday 20 October from 7.30pm-8.30pm. Register here for the link.
If you are experiencing harm from your gambling or that of someone in your family or community, help is available in Knox from Gambler’s Help Eastern (EACH). They offer support, advice and information to people affected by gambling (both gamblers and non-gamblers) and to the broader community. Call 1300 003 224.
Other resources include:
• Gambler's Help – confidential gambler's help services, including in other languages. Call 1800 858 858.
• Gambling Help Online – support for anyone affected by gambling. Free, private and confidential, available 24/7.
• Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation – supports people affected by gambling harm, including family and friends. A focus on prevention, early intervention and support for those who are particularly vulnerable to gambling harm as well as those living in regional and rural communities.
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