Problem gamblers join pokies debate

By Daisy Huntly
Updated November 7 2012 - 12:54pm, first published May 2 2010 - 11:30pm

WAGGA'S problem gamblers already have their concerns about the South Wagga Sports and Bowling Club redevelopment and the application for another 284 poker machines that goes with it - but not the concerns most would expect."I know gamblers that are worried the machines won't come here, and they are concerned my submission will stop it," Wagga Family Support Services' problem gambling counsellor Robyn Preston said before addressing Wagga city councillors yesterday."That's what they're focusing on. They love to chase, they're always chasing that win. They remember the wins and forget the losses."Ms Preston, who is against the move for more poker machines in Wagga, provided councillors with all the dismal facts and figures about gambling in this region."A lot of people say we don't (have a gambling problem), but yeah, we do," she said."I am against gaming machines, I don't like them. They are the number one preferred gambling medicine. I recognise the club will be a fantastic community facility, but preferably not with 300 poker machines."The statistics say the older generation (are the biggest group of gamblers), but everyone does it."The Riverina-Murray region already has a drastically high rate of gambling addicts and regularly beats other areas to the top of the lists no one wants to be on.Ms Preston said the latest data available to her shows across three problem gambling support services in the region, 545 gamblers approached the services in 2007/08, at a rate of 181.7 clients per support group. The year before that, the number was 616; both years the rates were the highest in the state. The Riverina-Murray also accounts for the state's highest percentage of binge gamblers, which skyrocketed from 39.8 per cent in 2006/07 to 56.2 per cent the following year.

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