Gamblefree Day celebrated on the day we dedicate to Dads.

This Sunday, 1 September, is Gamblefree Day, the national awareness day for problem gambling in New Zealand, and it is also the day we dedicate to our Dads.

Tony Milne, National Manager of Public Health for the Problem Gambling Foundation, says it is a great opportunity to be able to celebrate Gamblefree Day and Fathers’ Day.

“We want to encourage people to spend time with their families this Gamblefree Day and Fathers’ Day is the perfect day to do this,” he says.

Gamblefree Day is traditionally held on 1 September although many events and activities are held both before and after this day to raise awareness of this important social issue.

In Rotorua, whānau are being encouraged to ‘soak in wellness’ at a special event being held at Waitangi Soda Springs, 52 Manawahe Road, Rotoehu, in Rotorua from 10am on Sunday 1 September.

In Christchurch, problem gambling service providers will be encouraging people to take the “7-Day challenge” to be Gamblefree for a week, at an event being held on Saturday 31 August at Linwood Avenue Primary School starting at 11am.

Wellington will stage a Whānau Fun event hosted by several problem gambling providers at Walter Nash Stadium, 10 Tocker St, Taita, on Friday 13 September from 5pm until 8pm.

In Nelson there will be a public debate about community organisations and pokie funding at the Free House, 95 Collingwood Street on Sunday 1 September from 1pm to 5pm. This will be an entertaining debate that traverses the issues around the reliance of community groups on pokie funding.

Tony Milne says although many of these events are fun, family events, they carry a serious message.

“Problem gambling impacts our families and our communities. Every person with a gambling problem affects between five and ten other people so this means as many as 500,000 people are affected by the significant economic, health, personal and social costs that gambling problems cause in New Zealand,” he says.

“It is a significant social issue that can’t be ignored and the aim of Gamblefree Day is to raise awareness in our communities about the harm from gambling, particularly pokie machines - the most harmful form of gambling.”

For more information on Gamblefree Day events visit http://pgfnz.org.nz/events/gamblefree-day/

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