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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Everglades at gambling service opening

 

Three executive members of Everglades Country Club attended the official opening of the Central Coast Problem Gambling Service.

President Brian Crawley, vice-president Roger Ford and treasurer Geoff. Callingham attended the opening by the Minister for Gaming and Racing, Mr Richard Face, at the Peninsula Community Centre on Tuesday, July 9.

At the opening, the Minister surprised the Everglades representatives by presenting Mr Crawley with a framed certificate of the thanks and appreciation to Everglades Country Club from the Central Coast Problem Gambling Service.

The Central Coast Problem Gambling Service at Woy Woy was initiated in 1998.

The Everglades Country Club assisted the service from the outset when other registered clubs on the Peninsula were "a little backward in recognising the problems" and coming to the service's assistance.

Everglades Country Club provided the necessary hardware and electronic equipment to enable the service to commence.

Although now funded to a large degree by the Casino Community Development fund, the Central Coast Problem Gambling Service will also continue to be supported by Everglades Country Club.

Everglades Country Club has always been aware of the problems that people can encounter with gambling and has assisted people designated as "problem gamblers".

Following the Productivity Commission's review of gambling, it was stated that about one per cent of the population were severe problem gamblers and 1.3 per cent were moderate problem gamblers.

With increasing social and political concern becoming evident, the Government initiated a harm minimisation scheme.

This scheme does not seek to ban gambling but rather to create an environment where the potential for harm is minimised.

One of the actions emanating from the harm minimisation scheme was the introduction of problem gambling services.

These services provide counsellors and advisors to people affected by problem gambling.

Geoff. Callingham, August 1