Gambling can tear families apart

#883 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 4 May 2014.

The NSW Council of Churches supports government and industry measures to curb problem gambling including stronger regulation of gambling advertising. Council President, the Reverend Dr Ross Clifford, said

The current NSW Government inquiry into the gambling industry is a welcome move and we hope recommendations will result in effective harm minimisation and improved public health outcomes for those at risk of problem gambling and their families.

With the noticeable rise in gambling ads during televised sport coverage, one has to ask what damage is being done to families and especially children who love their sport but are now being targeted by carefully crafted ads promoting gambling.

Tragically some of those kids will become addicted to gambling, and some families will be torn apart and suffer untold misery because mum or dad saw the ads and placed a bet, and then another and another, until they reached a point where they couldn’t stop.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.