Gambling Helpline In New Zealand To Close In October

The Gambling Helpline in New Zealand has helped many New Zealanders with gambling related problems. In October, they will no longer be available to help problem gamblers.

The Helpline has decided to close in October because they could not successfully negotiate a new contract with the Ministry of Health. The Ministry has funded the service for four years.

"Gambling Helpline has a long and successful history of providing New Zealanders suffering from gambling-related harm with innovative and successful solutions. After several months of negotiation, we considered the contract being offered was too restrictive on our ability to best serve our clients," said Chief Executive Krista Ferguson.

Many clients are currently using the support of the Helpline. To those currently involved, the Helpline will continue to help until October. The Helpline has been working with problem gamblers for ten years.

The Helpline is not just a support group. They help problem gamblers in many different areas. They have online services, and also offer gambling debt services to help people with debt that gambling has caused.

The group does not feel like the Ministry understood what was needed. "The wide ranging needs of clients are paramount and unfortunately we felt that the proposed contract was too onerous in a number of areas. We've outlined this to the ministry and are deeply disappointed at the outcome," said Ferguson.

May 4, 2008
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!