Michaela Meade
This was one of Star Weekly’s top stories of 2021. Here’s your chance to read it if you missed it, or revisit it before another year of jam-packed news content.
A reformed gambler is telling her community that “even if you win, you lose on those machines.”
Marnie, not her real name, said she had been impacted in many ways by her gambling addiction.
“[I had] to live on the poverty line even though [I was] earning a high income,” she said.
“I was never able to buy a house when I was at a time in my life that it would have been very possible
“My health was impacted and [I lost] a major friendship that I’d had since I was seven-years-old.
“That is until it all became just too much, too much loss, shame and inability to pay bills and rent on time.”
Marnie found a gambling harm recovery group, which “really turned things around” for her.
“Now that I have recovered, many years later, I now am an advocate for change,” she said.
“I understand and see the power of peer support.
“To be truly heard and understood for the first time is an incredible relief… I am not alone.”
According to Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation data, $11.44 million at Hume’s 14 gaming venues while $11.67 million was spent at 10 venues in Whittlesea and two in neighbouring Nillumbik in March 2021.
Banyule Community Health senior health promotion officer Lachlan McKenzie said they have seen an increase in people accessing support services, particularly in financial counselling.
The organisation provides gamblers help in Craigieburn, Dallas and Epping.
“We know that for every person experiencing gambling harm, up to six other people are affected, including spouses, children, friends, parents and colleagues,” Mr McKenzie said.
“To support those who are gambling, or are affected by another person’s gambling, Gambler’s Help provides free and confidential therapeutic and financial counselling across Victoria.”
Hume mayor Joseph Haweil said he wants “significant change to… an industry built on the misery of families.”
“We want to reshape the narrative,” he said.
“It is a public health issue, not just a personal one.
“For an area like ours… all it does is harm the community.”
Details: bchs.org.au/services/gambling-support/
