[News] £1.4m gambling harm fund by Wales

[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.

[noorman0]

What can realistically be achieved with 1.4 million to alleviate gambling debt? If it is essentially "free money," gamblers might actually increase their debt, feeling a sense of security. Another major question is: where are the funds coming from? If the money largely comes from gambling industry taxes, will the program remain independent (avoiding the promotion/backing for specific brands) or will it accept corporate sponsorship?

[Nathrixxx]

The best is not to be a problem gambler, because sometimes even the strategy that might be used over an addicted gambler might not be as effective as we might expect, and sometimes to rehabilitate is not that easy to achieve, which is why prevention is even more better than cure, don't be addicted to gambling, try to control your emotions and be well disciplined anytime you Gamble and you will not be affected.

[Findingnemo]

What can realistically be achieved with 1.4 million to alleviate gambling debt? If it is essentially "free money," gamblers might actually increase their debt, feeling a sense of security. Another major question is: where are the funds coming from? If the money largely comes from gambling industry taxes, will the program remain independent (avoiding the promotion/backing for specific brands) or will it accept corporate sponsorship?

As I said, the government is not that stupid to credit money into an addict's bank account, that will just go back to the casino, and the funds might be coming from casino or whatever company wants to save people in some way. 1.4 million is not a huge amount but it can at least help a few hundred of them which can bring the domino effect if most of them decide to take their rehab seriously.

It will be a long process and if they see the results, then the government will surely allocate more money.

[Grace333]

Abuse is possible, that's certain. But any gambker who wishes to fake their addiction might be endangering their self because forcing the mind to behave that way for a period of time might end up becoming a habit that such person will struggle with. And if it becomes a habit then most or all of the grant would be used to gamble again, so it's better not to cheat the system.
The only way to keep this idea clean from abusers is by using a KYC system to track every applicant and problem ask questions about the applicant before giving them the grant, well I believe things like this are already put to considering so good luck to the government.

[YOSHIE]

£1.4m gambling harm fund by Wales

Different countries have different ways of thinking about and using aid money from the government/organizations given to people who are entitled to receive it.

I take the example of my country, there are thousands of beneficiaries of social assistance which is given to poor people, the main aim is to overcome economic problems in life, Unfortunately, according to government data, there are thousands of social assistance recipients who are involved in online gambling, so they are blacklisted from receiving further assistance.

Honestly, I don't know the nature of Welsh society or life there, but I'm sure if the £1.4m fund was for addiction recovery and given to gambling addicts, I'm sure the money would be used again for gambling, I'm sure it would happen.

[Muba20]

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?

If the government of a country takes such an initiative, then it is definitely a good decision where if the addicted gamblers get support, they will get a lot of help. But giving money from such a project will be a big problem, especially in a country where people who are involved in corruption will pretend to be addicted even if they are not addicted so that they can get that money. To implement such an initiative, every aspect must be strictly reviewed. It must be analyzed properly to find out whether the gambler is really addicted and affected or not. I will welcome such an initiative of the government, but if there is no proper distribution, only the beneficiaries will benefit. Although I have never heard such a proposal before, it is certainly a good idea for some impoverished people.

[uneng]

It will always raise up the discussion that those who aren't addicted to anything and try to live in the most organized way as possible don't have any support from third party groups, while those who only cause problems and mess around have financial support and people willing to help them.

I think the program can help some addicted individuals to recover, but at same time it will be abused without any doubts. After all, to just give money away isn't the solution for anything. The solution is to develop a real purpose in life, and it usually involves working and taking responsabilities, which are things addicted individuals aren't usually interested at all...

[Moreno233]

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.

Wales is an organised country so I don't think the funds will be mismanaged. Even though a lot of the processes have not  been clearly explained, I believe that before they even created the funds, they would have seen the needs and how to identify those who are qualified fo it. I think they should be commended for this idea especially offering to help gambling addicts who migt be in debt, it is just like giving them a second chance to a peaceful life.