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October 15 - While gambling is a pastime enjoyed by millions of South Africans, there remains a small group of people who become problem gamblers and need professional help to get them through these issues.
When the National Responsible Gambling Programme was created by Sun International in 2000, the intention was to attract other industry players to bring about a united front in a bid to prevent problem gambling. Over the years, the program has received support from groups such as the horse racing sector, bookies and bingo rooms, to name just a few. Interestingly, the Lotto has not lent its support to the NRGP.
With the opening of the first casino in 1998 came fears that problem gambling would become an epidemic in South Africa. However, the deputy director of the NRGP, Dr. Rodger Meyer, said that - fortunately - nothing of the kind has happened. "The reality is the opposite and the gambling culture has become a niche in the local leisure and entertainment industry," he said. "The prevalence of problem gambling is much the same as in any other country where gambling is a legal commercial enterprise."
Industry experts say that, using the internationally accepted measuring tools, around 4 - 8% of the gambling population experience a level of problem gambling at one point or another in their gambling careers.
Meyer explained the reasons leading to problem gambling. "For them, gambling may be symptomatic of other problems they have in their lives, and gambling is a form of escapism," he said. "This makes up the bulk of the people we see in the National Responsible Gambling Programme and they tend to be quite responsive to treatment."
Treatment for problem gambling usually consists of total abstinence from the pastime. In addition, the NRGP provides 24/7 telephone councelling and a network of treatment centers across the country.
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