Knowing the risks

The Responsible Gambling Council placed all bets on the final day of their Problem Gambling Prevention week.

The weeklong campaign to raise awareness for problem gambling ended with a final game of bingo at the Thunder Bay Bingo Hall Saturday. The Responsible Gambling Council focused on trying to give people the odds on becoming a problem gambler.

The council’s project coordinator Jennifer Beech said people should know if they have a problem if what they are doing is impacting their lives negatively.

“(Gambling) can affect their relationships, their finances and family issues if they are spending too much time, lying about their gambling,” Beech said. “When it has a negative affect that’s when it can become a problem. There’s risks involved in gambling. There’s ways to keep it safe and places to get help.

“Stick to safe spending limits. Only gamble with money you can afford to lose. Take breaks when you’re gambling.”

The provincial average for problem gambling ranges around three per cent of the population. Beech said in Thunder Bay that could be about 4,000 people who have a moderate to severe gambling problem.

The council has run the problem gambling prevention week for eight years. The council always has a booth set up inside the casino with information and games to tell people the risks and where to get help.

Beech said the week went well and they were able to inform many people about the risks involved.

Getting help can be as easy as calling the province’s problem gambling helpline, which is free and open 24 hours a day seven days a week.

Thunder Bay also has the Sister Margaret Smith Centre. It has services available for those people who need help with their gambling.

For more information visit www.noregrets.ca.