Media release 21 October 2024
For immediate release
Public health crisis deepens as Govt gambling reforms under the spotlight
Gambling Harm Awareness Week (GambleAware Week) 21-27 Oct 2024
The NSW government’s gambling reform record will come under scrutiny this week with the start of Gambling Harm Awareness Week.
Wesley Mission will maximise GHAW (commonly known as GambleAware Week) to review current and identify future priority reforms, as well as advocate for an official name change.
Wesley Mission CEO, Stu Cameron, says GambleAware Week is an inappropriate name.
“No one in New South Wales needs to be more aware of gambling, but we do need to be more aware about gambling harm – so we are continuing to advocate that the name is changed to Gambling Harm Awareness Week.”
New South Wales sadly leads the nation in poker machine losses with more than $8.1 billion lost in 2023; or $1,000 for every adult and child in the state - the highest per capita poker machine losses in the world. As home to more than 87,000 poker machines, NSW is deep in the grip of a gambling harm public health crisis.
“The New South Wales government have committed to some poker machine reforms, but now the time has come for them to commit to and deliver on more meaningful change. This Gambling Harm Awareness Week we’ll be calling for the people of NSW to support sensible and proportionate reforms, including powering down all of NSW’s poker machines between midnight and 10am.
“Wesley Mission knows all too well the impact of gambling harm in NSW. We see the immense hardship faced by individuals and families affected by problem gambling and the ripple effect of gambling harm across communities.”
Lived experience of gambling harm – Jay 29 years old
Jay was 18 when he first played a poker machine. With a few wins early on, Jay was hooked. He would spend hours playing on his own, in secret.
“I would enter the pub with a set limit but nearly every time I would leave with nothing left in my bank account,” admits Jay. “You just lose control.”
Whatever Jay earned in wages would be lost on poker machines. After ten years of losing, Jay was broke.
With the help of a counsellor and a financial plan, Jay has gone more than two years without playing a poker machine. But it’s not easy.
ENDS
Wesley Mission provides practical care and support for more than 130,000 people annually in NSW and across Australia, including help for people experiencing homelessness, local community action groups preventing suicide, and gambling and financial counselling among more than 120 programs. www.wesleymission.org.au
Rev Stu Cameron and Jay are available for interview
Media contacts: Anne Holt on 0418 628 342 or [email protected]