This week is GambleAware Week and Lifeline Broken Hill Country to Coast (LLBHC2C) is calling on the Broken Hill community to think about the true costs of gambling.
GambleAware Far and Western will be hosting various activities in Broken Hill during GambleAware Week to educate the wider community about the risks of gambling harm, as well as promoting the wide range of support information and tools available through GambleAware Far and Western and the GambleAware platform.
With a lot of talk about cost of living, the theme for this year’s GambleAware Week is ‘What’s gambling costing you?’ to encourage people to think beyond the monetary costs of gambling – and to check-in with friends, family, and colleagues.
GambleAware Far and Western Project Coordinator, Jacinta Cullen, says gambling can cost people in a variety of ways.
“We know that for some people, gambling can certainly have real financial impacts, but we are encouraging people to think about the bigger picture,” says Ms Cullen.
“If gambling is impacting your mental or physical health, making you miss time at work, causing tension in your family home, those are costs that still matter,” she said. “So, this GambleAware Week we’re encouraging Broken Hill to think about all the costs of gambling, and importantly we encourage everyone to speak up and have those early conversations with friends or loved ones if you are concerned.”
Ms Cullen says young people in particular are facing increased exposure to gambling, and it’s important for everyone in the community to know there are tools and resources available to help support parents or guardians understand the risk.
“Sports betting, gambling advertising or even gambling-like kids’ games are all becoming more prevalent, so it’s important we use this week to increase awareness of gambling behaviours in ourselves and others – including our kids – and we have some really good support services in the Broken Hill community,” said Ms Cullen.
GambleAware Far and Western have free GambleAware giveaways, information kits, and resources available at Lifeline Connect Centre at 194 Argent St and at Broken Hill City Library at 249 Blende St to help people be more gamble aware this GambleAware Week.
GambleAware Week resources and support information are available at www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au
The free and confidential GambleAware phone support service is available 24/7 by calling 1800 858 858.
