Gambling News by Gambling Headquarters

A RISE in the number of older women admitting to a gambling problem has renewed calls for the New South Wales Government to reduce the number of poker machines. The Salvation Army said the majority of men and women seeking help from Sydney's Problem Gambling Centre during the past year fell into the 36- to 46-year-old age group. The centre's Gerard Byrne said there was an increasing number of middle-aged and older women coming forward for help. "In NSW, the most common form of problem gambling is electronic gaming,'' he said. "And what we're also noticing is that there is an increasing trend of women, particularly older women accessing the service.''He said female gamblers frequented gaming venues such as hotels and registered clubs during the day. "There are a lot of other things that go on in these places that isn't gambling, like cheaper or subsidised meals, subsidised drinks and shows and contests,'' Mr Byrne said. "That attracts people to attend there. While, in general, most gaming areas are kept separate from the clubs, it's hard not to appreciate the fact that you're in a gaming environment with all the bells and whistles that are on machines.'' Mr Byrne said the simple solution was to cap the number of pokies in the state and even possibly roll back the number. A special seminar for problem gamblers will be held on Thursday at the counselling centre at Fairfield RSL, in Sydney's west.

It will feature the director of the Problem Gambling Center in Las Vegas, Rob Hunter.

"In Vegas, the biggest numbers of people coming forward for treatment were women, (poker)-machine players and old folks,'' Dr Hunter said.

"The vast majority of gamblers never develop a problem. For the small percentage that do, they are not after money or excitement, they are after escapism, the numbness.

"And women, who are not inclined to know how to gamble at a casino, are most likely to start at the machines because they find the machines less threatening.''

Dr Hunter said the increase in the number of women problem gamblers was possibly because females were more likely to come forward seeking help.

He praised the efforts of the US Problem Gambling Centre and said the best way to cure problem gambling was to ensure that support systems like it existed elsewhere.