Brnění is a non-governmental non-profit association in the Czech republic which was founded in summer 2010. It is campaigning for gambling reform and specifically to restrict the number and location of mini casinos (with electronic gambling machines) in the Czech Republic.

It has compiled a map of the locations of these mini casinos which shows a stagering 2922 mini casinos in a country with a population of 10.5million people as at 2010. (source World Bank)

These mini casinos account for 63,641 installed gambling machines in the Czech Republic or put another way, 1 gambling machine to every 165 people. 


This ratio of machines per person is higher even than the UK or Germany and  places Czech Republic in the top ten of gambling machines per country worldwide as at 2010 figures. (source TNS World Count of Gaming Machines 2010)

Sdružení Podané ruce, o.s.  offers addiction recovery programs in the Czech republic & set up a special project 'First Aid for pathological gamblers & their families'  in May 2011. The project is co-financed by the European Social Fund & the Czech state budget. Since the project start they have seen a 4-fold increase in referrals for gambling to the clinic for treatment. More at: http://www.gambling.podaneruce.cz/.

Link to gambling reform website Czech republic.

Gambling Reform Vision: Time for global consistency in our messages......

One topic I find myself reflecting on a lot recently is that of the consistency of our message in the gambling reform lobby. 

I am a relative newcomer to being an active and outspoken participant in gambling reform although I have watched and supported from the side-lines for many years.  

I have observed over the years how the gambling industry is consistent in communicating its message:-

·       

•   Entertainment industry
•   Job Creation 
•  Promoting Responsible Gambling 
• Tax contribution.
• The product: EGM - Electronic gaming machines

Why is this important? 

As an industry, all of the gambling operators will talk the same language about any of these topics. They understand each other, and they promote the same messages on these topics the world over.  

Whether it is in Las Vegas USA, London UK, Bratislava Slovakia, Melbourne Australia the gambling industry can roll out the marketing guys to promote a new casino by talking about:-

•  Creating jobs 
•   Paying taxes 
•   Entertainment industry being fun!! 
•  They take problem gambling seriously!!

This communication consistency allows them to be extremely effective in lobbying politicians and business groups. 

It gives them a huge advantage over the gambling reform lobby which has not yet developed a clear gambling reform vision with a consistent global message.  

Even the language around Electronic gaming machines is not clear and often not understood across different countries and regions.

• Pokies? Poker? FOBTs? VLTs? Slots?, Fruit Machines? Etc

It is a great achievement for the gambling reform lobby that we are now generating so much interest around the world with new action groups springing up almost every day.

Now is the time to create a global gambling reform vision and to rally behind clear consistent messages. By doing so:

• We will raise awareness of gambling addiction. 
• It will be easier to have our message heard and to gain the support of politicians and interest groups alike. 
• We can more easily target the gambling industry. 
• It will also allow research to be targeted to our core message.
• We can create a global NGO with a global funding program.

When the gambling industry rolls out its marketing guys to promote further expansion of a dangerous industry we must be able to respond with a clear and consistent message.

Something for discussion at international problem gambling conferences?

Gambling Addiction: The Negative Spiral downwards: Suicide is something that does enter your mind at the lowest ebb....

The actor in this film could be me. My gambling was very much linked to low self esteem, the gambling was the negative reinforcement of how shit, and worthless I believed I was. You become frustrated, angry, the guilt, the shame, you lose everything, family, friends, health, assets, your home, your future. And then desperation, depression and living the lonely existence. 

Electronic gambling machines are highly addictive and dangerous machines that appeal to the subliminal mind. Marketing campaigns for playing these machines always glamorize the experience and promote the idea of winning big as something that can happen to you. The reality is far more likely that regularly playing pokies, slots, fruit machines, VLTs, FOBTs, one arm bandits, internet gambling etc you will lose your money, your happiness and your health. These machines are designed to take all of your money off you.

Suicide is something that does enter your mind at the lowest ebb, and gambling addiction was the self fulfilling prophesy that took me there.

Now that my last gamble is over 18 months behind me (as at May 2013), I am still suffering with depression and oscillating moods, a consequence of over 25 years of my mood being directly corelated to whether I won/lost gambling on any given day. Gambling for long periods can seriously damage your mental health.

I am still trying to find the energy to write more about my feelings and my journey from an 11 year old child that first played slots to a 41 year old that has stopped gambling but is struggling to get his life back on track. 

I will start to write more about how I came back from the abyss but essentially the change came from within. My battle to stop took over 20 years from knowing that I had a gambling addiction. 

Every persons journey into gambling addiction is personal and every persons recovery is different. This film won't be for everyone but I relate to it.

 Gambling Addiction - Inside Story