Government Funded Gambling Clinic Opens In Britain

As the world of casino gambling grows globally, safeguards must be put in place to ensure that there is help for problem gamblers. One of those safeguards is setting up clinics where these gamblers can get help.

Britain has just opened their first government run problem gambling clinic. It has opened under the direction of the National Health Service on Tuesday.

The clinic will be available to all problem gamblers, which in Britain is less than one percent of the countries population. The 0.6 equates to around 360,000 people who are problem gamblers in the country.

"We have developed a unique treatment package to address specific difficulties that are common to problem gamblers. Due to the nature of their addiction, gambler's finances are often in bad shape so an important part of treatment is to tackle debt management and employment issues," said the clinic's lead consultant, Dr. Henrietta Bowden-Jones.

A recent study indicated that most problem gamblers have other psychological issues that they have dealt with in the past. whether it is alcohol or drug addiction, anxiety, or low self esteem, the problem gambling does not usually come all alone to these people.

The clinic in Britain will be using cognitive behavioral therapy combined with motivational interviews. The clinic will be open on a twelve month trial basis to start, with hopes of expanding after that year.

November 25, 2008
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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