Pokies pose threat to families

Wednesday, 15 February 2012

The Papakura Courier featured an article today quoting PGF health promoter, Nelson Wahanui.

What usually starts off as fun is turning into a nightmare for many families.

Around $1 million is spent on pokie gambling every month in Papakura, the Problem Gambling Foundation says.

Foundation health promoter Nelson Wahanui sees the harm pokies do on a daily basis to families and relationships.

The problems extend into multiple areas of life including financial problems, crime, poverty, mental distress, poor work performance, fraud, self loathing and blame, he says.

Papakura is "a real hotspot for gambling" and foundation counsellors are regularly at work in in the town doing assessments and creating action plans, Mr Wahanui says.

The foundation has organised a community awareness bus tour stopping at pokie venues in Papakura, Manurewa and Panmure tomorrow.

It aims to raise awareness of the issues around pokie gambling, the number of pokie venues and their placement, the harm to residents and the distribution of community funding from the proceeds of pokie gambling.

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