ANHCA supports poker machine reform

2nd Nov 11

The Australian Neighbourhood Houses and Centres Association (ANHCA) has added its voice to calls for poker machine reform with a media release issued last week.

Merial Clark, ANHCA Executive Officer, says neighbourhood centres are often left to pick up the pieces of lives which have been shattered by problem gambling.

 “With over 1,000 Neighbourhood Centres across Australia we see the real impacts of gambling every day, particularly on vulnerable families who already struggling with many different issues,” she said. 

“It is distressing to have someone come to you, full of shame, to ask for help to get food for their family because they have gambled every cent they were paid within hours of receiving it,” 

“Problem gamblers routinely lose everything including their jobs, family and friends, homes, health and sometimes even their lives. Neighbourhood Houses and Centres deal with this suffering every day and ANHCA supports reforms that respect individuals while assisting them not to end up in this situation."