Responsible gambling (part 2)
There are a small number of helpful places to visit if you have, or even if you haven’t, a gambling problem.
Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RIGT), is one of the sites to which you will be directed by any of the online gambling sites. RIGT, which is a trust, came about in 2002 following the Budd Report on gambling, in all it’s forms. The report recommended that an Independent Trust be set up, from voluntary donations from within the industry. The recommendation became enshrined in law in the Gambling Act 2005.
It’s spending runs into millions of pounds each year. Not only in treating the problems inherent in gambling but also in researching and preventing the problems. The Trust funds education, counselling and telephone lines.
The Trust has a fair say in the general gambling policy in the U.K.
The Trust is funded by the gambling industry and private donation. The Trustees are many and from varied forms of life. Academics, Parliamentairians, Church Advisors and The Gambling Regulator.
The Trust itself does not give treatment or advice. This is outsourced, mainly to Gamcare and Gordon House.
Gordon House is part of the Gordon Moody Association. They deal only with those we would call, very hardened gamblers. Their view is that every irresponsible gambler affects up to fifteen people with their habit.
The Trust, funds initiatives for young people. Believing that prevention is better than curing.
Gamcare is a site very well set up for easy navigation. Want to talk with an advisor, you use the Netline. There is also a telephone helpline, open from 8 a.m. until midnight, 7 days a week. Then there is the Forum. Read what other fellow gamblers have to say. Or if you are a chatty person join in on the chatline. (There used to be an advert on T.V. that ended, “you’re never alone with…….”). This is true with Gamcare. There’s always a way for you to get together with someone. These services are free to clients.
Gamcare promote strategies that will improve the understanding of the social impact of gambling.
Promtea responsible approach to gambling.
Address the needs of those adversely affected by a gambling dependancy.
Their face-to-face counselling is an ever growing service through-out the U.K.
They also run a Certification scheme for the Gambling Industry. Good practise is a primary aim under this scheme.
Another excellent site to view is Gamble Watch Global. Here you will find links to many other countries as well as Gamble Aware U.K. There are so many links in this site that you could spend many many hours browsing. I would direct you to the Latest Comments menu. There are some harrowing tales in there.
I have left until last, what I consider to be the most important help of all. GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS.
This is THE site for everyone to visit. Work your way thru’ the menu. You may not have a gambling problem but you will learn a helluva lot that will help keep you on the straight and narrow. Almost everything offered by other organisations is offered by G.A. However the big plus is it’s LOCAL MEETINGS. Everyone who attends these meetings has the same problem.The difference being that they have had the guts to stand-up and say, “I am a gambling addict and need help”. That is a BIG THING to do.
I would urge everyone who reads this article to give a little time and visit one or more of these sites. You never know, what you learn may be of use to someone near and dear to you, in the future.
If you are interested take part in the Internet Gambling Online Survey from the University of Swansea.
