Powerful Voices: Chinese Consumers Perspective in Eliminating Gambling Harm

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Powerful Voices Chinese Consumers Perspective
in Eliminating Gambling Harm

• Facilitated by Wenli Zhang
• Social worker / Counsellor, Asian Services, PGFNZ
• International Conference on Gambling Sep 2006
  Auckland NZ

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Contents

• Introduction
• Facts on Asian Gambling
• Stories of Chinese Consumers
• Key Messages
• Discussion

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Introduction

• Gambling harm has dramatically increased since
  the growth of the legalised gambling industry in
  New Zealand
• Chinese are among the populations which have been
  most harmed by problem gambling
• Shame and stigma associated with problem gambling
  have stopped those people to raise their voice
• Three Chinese consumers/service users will share
  their experience of problem gambling and their
  opinions of how to eliminate gambling harm

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Facts on Asian Gambling

• The main gambling mode in Asian clients are still
  casino table games about 50 in 2004
• Money lost among Asian gambler are 5 times higher
  than other population in 2004
• Asian self-exclusion in Auckland Casino from 66
  in 2004 to 43 in 2005
• Asian Client seeking help (face-to-face) in PGF
  about 13 in 2004 and 2005

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Story One

• Playing Pokies - introduced by a friend for fun
• Regular play lost control
• From Australia to New Zealand
• Gambling harm
• Financial problems
• Couple relationship problems
• No more friends
• Damaged self-esteem

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What helps

• Counselling is helpful
• Dealing with feelings
• Information about gambling harm
• Other peoples experiences
• Working with family
• Continued support
• Family understand and support
• Self-exclusion 15 bars in Auckland

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Message from Case One

• People addicted to pokie machines are ordinary
  people who are responsible in other life areas
• Regular play of pokie machines can be developed
  as gambling addiction
• Self exclusion is the most powerful tool
• Appeal for removing pokie machines to prevent
  more people being harmed by gambling problems

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Story Two

• Gambling starts for fun
• Release loneliness
• Gambling experience
• Won lose chase losses
• Marriage broken
• Deprivation in physical and mental health

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Pathway to Recovery

• Self exclusion four times in 7 years
• Family support
• Professional help
• Support group
• Long term journey for recovery

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Message from Case Two

• Gambling harm is greater than people think
• Recovering from severe gambling harm is a long
  term journey
• More financial and human resources are needed for
  gambling harm prevention and treatment
• Appeal for tough laws on the gambling industry

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Story Three

• Table game in Casino VIP room
• Lost 2 million dollars in 18 months
• Longest hours in gambling for 72 hours
• 1000 tip for a cup of coffee
• Casino approach encourage stay longer and spend
  more

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Consequences from Gambling Harm

• Huge debts credit cards, friends, relatives,
  loan sharks, financial companies
• Impact on children
• Consistent suicide thoughts
• Destroys personal spirit
• Exhausted social resources
• Discriminated by the society

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Message from Case Three

• Gambling addiction as drug addiction
• Drugs destroy the human body but gambling
  destroys the human spirit
• Prevention is the most important strategy
• Appeal for independent customer monitoring system
  of gambling industry

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Key Message OneEliminate Harmful Gambling
Products

• People need treatment not drugs
• Eliminate harm - start by eliminating harmful
  products

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Key Message TwoIdentify Harmful Gambling
Products

• More research on gambling products
• Develop criteria for different type of gambling

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Key Message ThreeMore Resources and focus on
prevention

• Inform public the harm of gambling
• Set up independent customer monitoring system

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Key Message FourAnti-discrimination Campaign

• Remove the stigma from the person who has
  experienced problem gambling
• To recover from gambling harm there needs to be
  more support from family and society

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Asian Hotline [phone]
TO BE HAPPY Professional helpFree and
confidential services
www.pgfnz.org.nz www.problem-gambling.info