Newcastle’s gambling counselling providers say the real gamble for poker machine players is not seeking help when they feel they have a problem.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Their analysis comes after the Newcastle Herald revealed on Monday that punters in the Hunter put $4.4 billion through the pokies in a 12-month period up until the end of August, 2017.
Michael Bazaley, a Newcastle psychologist with over 20 years’ experience says people usually only seek help once their situation has reached beyond crisis point.
“Gambling has no physical presentation,” he said. “People can appear healthy, wealthy and wise but there’ll just be no money in their wallet.
“There’s often no physiological signs, it’s hidden. Others may not know about it until the last dollar is bet. There’s a lot of secrecy and it’s not visible.
People don’t seek help until something drastic happens like their wife or partner leaving,
- Psychologist Michael Bazaley
“It becomes a problem when it’s the full focus of your life.”
Martina Magnery, a gambling counselor at Wesley Mission in Newcastle, echoed Mr Bazaley’s thoughts.
“There’s a whole spectrum of clients with gambling problems, some might gamble $30 a week and some might gamble a few thousand a week, but it’s all relative to their income,” she said. “The behaviour still has the same effect, they’re doing something that’s not within their values or their doing something as a way to cope.”
With 3079 pokies for a population of just over 160,000, Newcastle is a leader in machines per capita.
The 31 clubs in the LGA hold 2141 machines, while 65 pubs possess 938.
Broken down, it equates to about one machine for every 52 people.
Ms Magnery says there’s common signs of gambling becoming a problem.
“The red flags are if they’re gambling their winnings and chasing their losses, the amount of money they spend and the amount of time they spend in a pub or a club gambling,” she said.
However, the Department of Social Services estimates that only 15 per cent of problem gamblers currently seek help for their problem.
“Because gambling is a huge part of our culture and a lot of people have shame about gambling and don’t realise it’s a problem,” Ms Magnery said.
“They’re not seeking help, they’re not looking for help, and they’re just trying to cope with it themselves.
“By themselves, it can be quite difficult if they don’t know how to control their urges and if they don’t understand the reasons why they’re gambling.”
Wesley Mission Counselling Newcastle: 4915 3688
