Gambler counseling needs more resources

Updated: 2008-04-15 07:28

By Joseph Li(HK Edition)

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Hong Kong problem gamblers start gambling as early as age 16 and many suffer from emotional and interpersonal problems as well as insomnia, a recent survey on problem gamblers found out.

The government is urged to put in more resources in counseling services for addicted gamblers, which is now considered a multiple-discipline exercise.

The survey, conducted by the University of Hong Kong, comprised information of gamblers who sought counseling services from 10 non-government organizations (NGOs) from October 2003 to December 2007.

Gambler counseling needs more resources

The findings were announced yesterday at a seminar which is part of the 2008 No Gambling Festival.

The 5,912 surveyed gamblers aged 36-59 (88 percent were men). As to their marriage status, 59 percent were married and 10 percent were divorced or separated.

Notably, 40 percent were 16-20 years of age, while 63 percent started gambling before they turned 20 and 26 percent had been gambling for 21-30 years.

"The government should adopt a more proactive and comprehensive approach in the prevention and education of young gamblers," said Franny Mok, supervisor of the Industrial Evangelistic Fellowship's rehabilitation center for problem gamblers. She is against the Hong Kong Jockey Club for allowing horse owners to bring their children to racecourses.

The survey also found that male and female gamblers prefer different gambling activities.

Men are fond of betting on horse races and football, while women like playing mahjong and gambling in casinos.

"This is the first time we have such comprehensive data to help plan the services needed," said Sandra Tsang, head of the University of Hong Kong's department of social work and social administration.

A large number of the gamblers had been obsessed with gambling for over 20 years before seeking counseling services.

"They were feared of admitting that they had a gambling problem or perhaps there were no counseling services in the past," explained Tsang.

Over 70 percent of the gamblers had emotional problems, she added.

The Home Affairs Bureau did not comment on the survey.

(HK Edition 04/15/2008 page1)