[News] £1.4m gambling harm fund by Wales

[Alphakilo]

Done properly the money is spent for collective efforts not singular and 1.4m is nothing across a country, its a nice thought but only the beginning of what is needed most likely.   Its not enough to be supporting just people on separate cases, a drop in centre with advice and help sure but that is for a community or area.  That idea is far more durable and is what I would expect this limited amount of money to be spent on, to go farthest and make the most difference.

I hope there aren't corrupt leaders in Wales where this funds is being disbursed to, otherwise it might just end up in the headlines without implementation.
It's a good initiative though and maybe more funds would be channeled there for this cause if they see the significant impact this starting amount has made.
It's better than most countries that make gambling addiction feels like a crime instead of trying to tackle it for those battling with such addiction.

[suzanne5223]

Do you think that some gamblers would want to purposely get addicted for this reason so that they can get financial benefits from this scheme?

This is a good thing for Wales after Glasgow received £3.44 million in May this year for the purpose that Wales got their £1.4m due to how Glasgow has the highest number of gambling platforms outside London, with an estimation that 1 in 15 people in the city may have a gambling problem.
But any gamblers that sees the good intention of this group as a pact for them to be gambling addicted deserve not to be assisted.

[DPHOR]

Do you think that some gamblers would want to purposely get addicted for this reason so that they can get financial benefits from this scheme?

There might be other patterns of abuse which the people around could think of, but I doubt trying to purposefully get addicted will be one of them. The reason being that in this type of programme you can’t be given funds to settle all that you have lost; rather, the funds will be allocated based on how much they think it can help you reduce the amount of damage that he have caused to himself because of gambling addiction, at least revive the hope of that gambler and prevent him or her from taking any negative decision.

When you talk about negative decisions it remembered me of those who do takes their life's after several loses they have made without any hope to recover it so easily.
One thing about gambling is that when people are gambling they don't usually think about the negative effects rather they only focused their mind and thinking towards what they would benefit without at least giving a break and think twice that if they don't win or recover what they lost how would they be able to gain back what they spent already? This is were responsible gambling plays a vital role, most people out there who are gambling do not have any atom of responsible gambling instead are being carried away with what they make as they are gambling.

[Orpichukwu]

There might be other patterns of abuse which the people around could think of, but I doubt trying to purposefully get addicted will be one of them. The reason being that in this type of programme you can’t be given funds to settle all that you have lost; rather, the funds will be allocated based on how much they think it can help you reduce the amount of damage that he have caused to himself because of gambling addiction, at least revive the hope of that gambler and prevent him or her from taking any negative decision.

When you talk about negative decisions it remembered me of those who do takes their life's after several loses they have made without any hope to recover it so easily.

That’s exactly the negative decision I was referring to. Some of those who have taken their lives did not do so just as a result of them losing, but due to things like the debt they have accumulated over the years, their properties being sold out, family abandoning them, etc.

When they think about everything without having any form of emotional support, they always think that death will be the only best option for them, when in reality it will only create more problems for those they will leave behind.

[Floxynice]

This article revealed how this country showed a massive support that can help her citizens whom are addicted to gambling to be delivered from their addiction. If the groups and enterprises that are qualified to apply for this fund will put the money into the actual purpose it was meant for, I think it will go a long way to help reduce gambling addiction. Do you think that some gamblers would want to purposely get addicted for this reason so that they can get financial benefits from this scheme?

I believe that there will be professionals employed to test if the people applying for the free service are really addicted. Everything must be in place to prevent abuse of these privilege given by the government.

Generally, I see this in the positive light. The only challenge I think that these scheme may face is the addicts inability to realise that they are addicted and follow up with their healing process. Just like you said, some people may come mainly for Financial benefits (if any), but may not do what is required of them to help them be better people.

In addition, the government should not fail to sensitize the citizens on the dangers of gambling addiction. The cost of taking are of addicts is huge. The government can start to warn the people about the dangers and the next line of action to take to reduce the cost of addiction and safe the government some money as well.

[Hispo]

Do you think that some gamblers would want to purposely get addicted for this reason so that they can get financial benefits from this scheme?

This is a good thing for Wales after Glasgow received £3.44 million in May this year for the purpose that Wales got their £1.4m due to how Glasgow has the highest number of gambling platforms outside London, with an estimation that 1 in 15 people in the city may have a gambling problem.
But any gamblers that sees the good intention of this group as a pact for them to be gambling addicted deserve not to be assisted.

I assume there will be some background check in order to know if the gambler itself would be elegible to be benefited by this government program... It is not like anyone could walk in and claim to be a person addicted to gambling and then easily get access to this program.
Obviously, since this is a initiative being pushed forwards thanks to taxpayers money, the government of Wales will do their best effort to guarantee those resources are being given to people who actually need it, not people who just want to be freeloaders and life off their government.

Also, 1 in 15 people is actually quite high, I did not know those numbers were a thing in those regions of the United Kingdom.

[Findingnemo]

The funds will not reach the addicts directly and one who allocated the funds may have given a thought about how addicts will behave more than a commoner who may not have any concern about them. So these funds will be used to pay their bills partially and the remaining should be bear by the addicts, that is how the system works in my country or they said it will be a complete free scheme for the addict and all the bills will be paid from the funds.

[suzanne5223]

Do you think that some gamblers would want to purposely get addicted for this reason so that they can get financial benefits from this scheme?

This is a good thing for Wales after Glasgow received £3.44 million in May this year for the purpose that Wales got their £1.4m due to how Glasgow has the highest number of gambling platforms outside London, with an estimation that 1 in 15 people in the city may have a gambling problem.
But any gamblers that sees the good intention of this group as a pact for them to be gambling addicted deserve not to be assisted.

I assume there will be some background check in order to know if the gambler itself would be elegible to be benefited by this government program... It is not like anyone could walk in and claim to be a person addicted to gambling and then easily get access to this program.
Obviously, since this is a initiative being pushed forwards thanks to taxpayers money, the government of Wales will do their best effort to guarantee those resources are being given to people who actually need it, not people who just want to be freeloaders and life off their government.

Also, 1 in 15 people is actually quite high, I did not know those numbers were a thing in those regions of the United Kingdom.

That's what I also expect or else there will be the abusion of the benefits presented and since the UK government always have the indepth information of their citizen i believe if will be easy for them to fish out the eligible individuals for the offer.
About the 1 in 15 people to be high. I believe it's not high we judge based on the level of gambling platform in the UK and how people from there like sports with gaming.

[mirakal]

The funds will not reach the addicts directly and one who allocated the funds may have given a thought about how addicts will behave more than a commoner who may not have any concern about them. So these funds will be used to pay their bills partially and the remaining should be bear by the addicts, that is how the system works in my country or they said it will be a complete free scheme for the addict and all the bills will be paid from the funds.

This fund is not supposed to be given directly to gambling addicts. If we read the OP carefully, its a grant given to organizations.

That means the money will be used for things like awareness campaigns, seminars, outreach programs, or other activities to prevent gambling addiction and support people affected by it. So we should not misunderstand it as addicts receiving cash. The funds are mainly for the expenses needed to run those programs.

[Zlantann]

I assume there will be some background check in order to know if the gambler itself would be elegible to be benefited by this government program... It is not like anyone could walk in and claim to be a person addicted to gambling and then easily get access to this program.
Obviously, since this is a initiative being pushed forwards thanks to taxpayers money, the government of Wales will do their best effort to guarantee those resources are being given to people who actually need it, not people who just want to be freeloaders and life off their government.

Also, 1 in 15 people is actually quite high, I did not know those numbers were a thing in those regions of the United Kingdom.

Based on the OP, the program targets high-risk groups, including individuals facing financial hardship and those involved in the criminal justice system. The organisation that will manage the initiative would have to devise means to identify this set of people. I will not be surprised if some people who are not in these groups start claiming that they need assistance. This initiative would be well managed in countries like Wales. But in my country, I doubt if these funds would be maximised.

https://caerphilly.observer/news/1061337/wales-1-4m-gambling-harm-grant-fund-opens-for-community-groups/

[Hispo]

I assume there will be some background check in order to know if the gambler itself would be elegible to be benefited by this government program... It is not like anyone could walk in and claim to be a person addicted to gambling and then easily get access to this program.
Obviously, since this is a initiative being pushed forwards thanks to taxpayers money, the government of Wales will do their best effort to guarantee those resources are being given to people who actually need it, not people who just want to be freeloaders and life off their government.

Also, 1 in 15 people is actually quite high, I did not know those numbers were a thing in those regions of the United Kingdom.

Based on the OP, the program targets high-risk groups, including individuals facing financial hardship and those involved in the criminal justice system. The organisation that will manage the initiative would have to devise means to identify this set of people. I will not be surprised if some people who are not in these groups start claiming that they need assistance. This initiative would be well managed in countries like Wales. But in my country, I doubt if these funds would be maximised.

https://caerphilly.observer/news/1061337/wales-1-4m-gambling-harm-grant-fund-opens-for-community-groups/

So basically, one would need to be poor or have a previous criminal record in other to qualify to get benefits from this program. I would not be surprised one also needed to be a racial minority in order to be elegible, as the United Kingdom is one of those countries in which they seem to have a preference towards racial minorities when comes to giving government assistance.

If one is a middle class native UK resident with pale skin color who declared to be struggling with gambling, then I assume the Wales government won't care about one.