Gambling Help WA a safe bet for thousands seeking support
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Latest data shows the State Government-funded gambling service, Gambling Help WA, has supported more than 1800 people experiencing gambling-related issues in the past year.
With Gambling Harm Awareness Week 2022 kicking off today, Western Australians are being encouraged to recognise the warning signs of gambling-related harm and seek help.
The new campaign "What are you gambling with?" targets online and in-person gambling with social media posts, radio adverts and online commercials.
Latest figures from Centrecare - which runs Gambling Help WA on behalf of the State Government - shows two thirds of new clients in the 2021/22 financial year were male, while the biggest age group of clients was between 30 to 49 years old.
Gambling harm support services are accessible in several languages. While 96 per cent of Gambling Help WA clients were English-speaking, counselling sessions also occurred in languages such as Mandarin, Thai, Vietnamese and Arabic.
If you're gambling with more than you can afford to lose, help is available. Visit www.gambleaware.com.au or call 1800 858 858.
The State Government's Gaming Community Trust - which distributes unclaimed winnings as grants - will open for applications soon.
"I'm proud that the McGowan Government's financial commitment to gambling support services has helped so many people change their habits and improve their lives.
"Gambling can start harmlessly enough with a bit of spare cash but can move pretty quickly to borrowed money, savings, rent and mortgage payments.
"It's also really important that people understand that the cost of gambling is not just financial. Former gambling addicts have shared that the hardest losses were the trust of their families and loved ones.
"This Gambling Harm Awareness Week we're asking people to reach out if they recognise the signs of problem gambling in themselves or someone they know. It's never too late to get help."
