With Bendigo residents having lost more than $47 million on poker machines during 2016- 17, Anglicare Victoria’s Gamblers Help is hosting a free public screening of Ka Ching! Pokies Nation.
The screening, on Wednesday 16 August at StarCinema, Eaglehawk Town Hall aims to raise community awareness of gambling-related harm and start a community conversation about pokies.
The City of Greater Bendigo has been identified as a community significantly affected by gambling harm. Over the last year, the amount of people seeking help for gambling related issues from Anglicare Victoria’s Gamblers Help program has increased from 429 to 462.
“We’re encouraging anybody who has an interest in the community, especially regarding the impact of gambling in the community to attend the screening of Ka-Ching Pokies Nation,” says St Luke’s Regional Director Francis Lynch.
“It will be a great opportunity to hear from expert, high-profile speakers in the field of gambling related harm, as well as provide a unique chance to speak with them and ask questions.”
“Poker machines are a very easy, addictive way for people to lose money. The sheer speed that people can lose money on pokies is concerning and our Gambler’s Help team encourage anyone concerned about gambling, or about the gambling of someone close to them to contact us for support,” he said.
Special guest speakers on the night include Spokesperson for the Alliance for Gambling Reform and Chief Advocate for World Vision Australia, Rev. Tim Costello; Campaign Manager for the Alliance for Gambling reform and former Federal member for Wills Kelvin Thomson; and ReSpin Gambling Awareness Speaker Mark Thompson. St Luke’s Gamblers Help team will also be present on the night to inform the community about their service and answer questions.
The screening will take place on Wednesday 16 August at StarCinema, Eaglehawk Town Hall at 6pm. RSVP to Douglas Nicholas on 0400 438 976 or via kachingfilm.com
Francis Lynch is available for interviews.
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