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- Salvation Army Problem Gambling Rules
- Salvation Army Problem Gambling Games
- Salvation Army Problem Gambling Addiction
A man who lost his home, partner and friends, due to an addiction to gambling machines has told of how he was helped on the road to recovery by The Salvation Army.
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Andy, 37, lost his home, friends and partner, due to his addiction to gambling machines. He was unable to get a job due to his addiction after he was made redundant two years ago. He first played on a fruit machine at the age of 17 when he won £200. He said: 'One big win led me to spend thousands of pounds on gambling machines. I think over the last 20 years I have lost about £30,000 to £35,000 on the machines. I would put £10 in, then it went up to £20, and then £50. When I lost my job due to redundancy as an agency worker two years ago I lied about working night shifts.
'I lied to my partner, to my friends, and I would gamble any money I had in the hope I could make it right again.
'I started lying about every aspect of my life.
'I couldn't get myself into the frame of mind to be able to get a job.
'I was just focused on chasing my losses in the hope of a big win.'
In March last year things came to a head for Andy, after his relationship with his partner broke down due to her constantly needing to bail him out. He ended up homeless, and decided to end his life by stopping to take the insulin he needed, to treat his type one diabetes.
He said: 'My lowest point was when I split up with my partner and the only thing I could control was my insulin.
'I stopped taking it and the doctor said within five or six hours I would have been dead.' Tournoi poker aix en provence 2018 date.
This attempt to take his life saw him end up at the Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital and he eventually found himself at The Salvation Army's City Road Lifehouse in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The Salvation Army helped Andy get on to a 24-session NECA course (a charity working with people with addictions). It was recommended that he get himself banned from the betting shops as a self-exclusion measure, as well as changing walking routes to avoid areas with betting shops.
He said: 'Self-exclusion works if you're further down the line and are committed to changing.
'You have to take your photo into the bookies and ask them to ban you.
'But it wouldn't have helped me until I got to that point of wanting to recover because I wouldn't have wanted anything to stop the possibility of my being able to access the machines. 'There are dozens and dozens of bookies in Newcastle alone, and they all have four machines in. All the time I was in the bookies you see people breaking down, shouting at the machines.'
Andy has now moved out of the Lifehouse and into a Salvation Army flat although he still has support from the Lifehouse. He is now looking to move into independent living accommodation.
Salvation Army Problem Gambling Rules
Andy is back with his partner but accepts he can't change the past - he won't be able to win back the money he's lost.
Ian Monteith, Andy's support worker, at The Salvation Army's City Road Lifehouse, said: 'When I first met Andy he was depressed and de-motivated following a relationship breakdown, homelessness through losing his tenancy, and recovering from a near fatal neglect of his physical health regarding his type 1 diabetes.
'Andy's gambling habits cost him everything that was familiar to him, as he would lie to his friends and family about where his money was going, and of course his whereabouts. 'After a short time Andy and his partner were in a crisis situation, and with no rent being paid, they were both made homeless and everything about what Andy was struggling with came to light. Andy lost his home, partner, friends, family and almost his life in the space of a week.
'Over the months myself and Andy worked closely together incorporating support mechanisms such as Gamblers Anonymous and NECA to help him with his recovery and rehabilitation. Andy learned over time to accept his past, build his future and accept that this is an issue he is going to need ongoing support with for the rest of his life, though at a reduced level.
'Today, Andy is working hard to rebuild the relationships with his friends and family, and also to rebuild the trust that was decimated between him and his partner.
Andy is keen to help people who are fighting with the same hardship as he was, and to raise a little awareness that a gambling addiction is as much an addiction as substance misuse, and that it ruins not only the life of the person with the addiction but all of the people who are connected to them.'
****************************************************** The Salvation Army has been calling for changes to the way gambling machines are regulated and believes the government already possesses sufficient evidence to take action.
The Army also believes that local authorities lack adequate powers to say no to betting shops and in order to address the rising costs associated with problem gambling, protect vulnerable individuals, and foster thriving high streets and communities, The Salvation Army is recommending the following:
- Reduce the stakes and prizes of FOBT machines - More research of FOBT machines, their density, location and social impact - Effective self-exclusion measures across the whole industry so those who recognise they have a problem don't simply go to the next betting shop chain - Introduce breaks in play or other measures to remind customers of their spend. Increase powers to local authorities (1) to create a separate planning category (2) to have the power of veto.
Salvation Army Problem Gambling Games
The Salvation Army is opposed to gambling. The nature of gambling lends itself to exploitative, deceptive and manipulative practices. It is contrary to Christian principles of love, freedom from oppression and concern for others.
Salvation Army Problem Gambling Addiction
As such it should not be a means of income generation or economic development, whether by government agencies, charitable organisations, churches or commercial interests.
Approved by the General – June 2012
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1. Context
Gambling involves the exchange of money or goods wagered in artificially created games of chance. The gains of the winners are made at the expense of the losers. Wagers are made hoping for unearned wealth for the ‘lucky few', although the vast majority of money staked remains with the organisers. People may begin gambling in an apparently harmless way, but for some, continued participation leads to dependency and a host of other social, psychological and spiritual problems.
Gambling is becoming increasingly common and accessible, often promoted and enabled by governments. Gambling may be large and sophisticated – such as lotteries, casinos, slot machines, online gambling or sports betting – or small and loosely organised informal games of chance. Hundreds of billions of dollars are gambled worldwide every year[note 1]. Access to gambling has increased dramatically in the past several decades. Governments have moved to make gambling legal and, in many cases, have become the chief promoters of gambling. A large majority of the adult population of countries where gambling is legal participate.
Gambling often preys on the most vulnerable people who seek ‘quick and easy money' to alleviate their problems. Statistics indicate that poor and working class individuals and families are disproportionately affected by the gambling industry [note 2]. They may not gamble more frequently than the rich, but the costs they pay are greater. When people become problem gamblers they often disregard their primary responsibilities to family, work and society. Too often gambling leads to financial ruin, dishonesty and criminal behaviour.
Studies show that gambling during adolescence dramatically increases a person's likelihood of developing a gambling dependency [note 3]. The association of gambling with abuse and dependency is most pronounced in groups reporting early-onset gambling. This observation suggests that gambling during adolescence may substantially impact adult function [note 4].
Gambling is not merely a harmless activity but can become a compulsive dependency. The rates of pathological gambling worldwide range between 0.8% and 1.8% [note 5]. This translates into millions of individuals. It is exceedingly rare for them to seek treatment [note 6].
2. Principles, Biblical and Theological Background
The Salvation Army believes that all our resources ultimately belong to God and that we have the responsibility to use money productively, to guard against greed, and to avoid gaining at the expense of others (see 1 Timothy 6:3-10; 17-19).
Gambling runs counter to Christian teachings about love, respect, self-control and compassion for others (see Galatians 5:22-23). Those who may be at low risk of becoming problem gamblers still have a responsibility to protect those who are at greater risk (see 1 Corinthians 8:9).
It is not for anyone to condemn or judge those who suffer from addiction (see Luke 6:37). We all have our own weaknesses. Christian principles teach us to help problem gamblers to recover, be whole persons and regain self-respect.
Governments are supposed to be God's servants and seek the welfare of society as a whole. When the state uses gambling to collect revenue from a vulnerable population, it is not acting in good faith towards the citizens it is to serve.
3. Practical Responses
The Salvation Army has concern for everyone suffering from gambling dependency and those impacted by their actions.
Salvation Army soldiers commit to abstain from gambling in any form. In the context of fundraising for charities, Salvationists are encouraged to make donations rather than participate in gambling activities.
The Salvation Army encourages everyone to understand the risks of gambling and will encourage education and prevention programmes to this end.
The Salvation Army engages in advocacy with governments, commercial entities and individuals concerning the inherent dangers of gambling and the suffering it inflicts on gamblers and their families.
The Salvation Army opposes the stigmatisation of those suffering from a gambling dependency. It seeks to support gamblers and their families through the provision of education, counselling and rehabilitation programmes. In so doing, The Salvation Army uses a holistic approach that fosters psychological, social and spiritual well-being.
4. Reference Documents
Note 1: http://www.gambleaware.co.uk/gambling-facts-and-figures
Note 2: National Gambling Impact Study Commission. ‘Final Report.' 1999. http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/ngisc/reports/finrpt.html.
Note 3: K.K. Hardoon and J.L. Derevensky. ‘Child and adolescent gambling behavior: Current knowledge.' Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry 2002: 263-281.
Note 4: W.J. Lynch, P.K. Maciejewski and M.N. Potenza: ‘Psychiatric correlates of gambling in adolescents and young adults grouped by age at gambling onset.' Archives of General Psychiatry 2004: 1116-1122.
Note 5: S. Stucki, and M. Rhis-Middel. ‘Prevalence of adult problem and pathological gambling between 2000 and 2005: An update.' Journal of Gambling Studies 2007: 245-257.
Note 6: H. Suurvali et al. ‘Barriers to seeking help for gambling problems: A review of the empirical literature.' Journal of Gambling Studies 2009: 407-424.
Useful Links
http://www.problemgamblingguide.com
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org
