The SECRETARY-manager of a popular Dubbo club will watch with interest the progress of a trial that puts a chaplain in the midst of poker machine players.
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Scot McLeod of Dubbo City Bowling Club won't be alone in monitoring the initiative as ClubsNSW supports its voluntary rollout across the state, should it prove effective in helping problem gamblers.
The 12-month trial at the Mingara Club on the central coast will involve a uniformed chaplain mingling with gamblers for 15 hours a week in a bid to identify and assist those losing more than they can afford.
At his workplace in Wingewarra Street this week, Mr McLeod concurred that it was a "good thing" to try to help people with any kind of addiction.
He said ClubsNSW had instigated a range of measures aimed at supporting problem gamblers to regain control of their lives, including the just-launched multi-venue self-exclusion scheme that negated the need to trek from club to club.
By visiting a single club, gamblers could utilise the online and centralised system to achieve self-exclusion from the clubs they nominated, Mr McLeod said.
The secretary-manager argued that recovery from a gambling addiction started with the gambler.
"If they don't think they've got a problem, or don't admit they've got a problem, it's difficult to help them," he said.
The Eastern Territory of the Salvation Army, which continues to support trialling of precommitment technology and research into the benefits of capping bets to $1 a spin, will fund the chaplain's work and provide progress reports and a final assessment.
ClubsNSW chief executive officer Anthony Ball said the program was historic in that it treated problem gambling in an innovative and pro-active way.
"We know that, for many problem gamblers, they are suffering from pre-existing conditions such as illness, depression, marital stress and loneliness," he said.
"By having a Salvation Army employee available at their local club, a problem gambler will be able to get help for both their gambling addiction and the underlying issue causing it."
The new partnership has come under fire from anti-poker machine campaigners, including Independent Senator Nick Xenophon who has accused ClubsNSW of trying to gag a "fearless and outspoken organisation".
NSW Gaming and Racing minister George Souris congratulated ClubsNSW and the Salvation Army on "combining for the greater good".
