Many community groups spend a lot of time searching for affordable and accessible opportunities for recreation.

In this issue of MGHP News, we challenge the notion that a casino bus tour is a cheap day out, and tell you about three community grants that can be used to fund recreation programs.

In this issue:

Responsible Gambling Awareness Week

Gambling and your community

Casino bus tours – NOT the cheap option

Grants for recreational activities

Responsible Gambling Awareness Week is a Victorian Government initiative to educate and encourage Victorians to keep their gambling under control. 

The theme for the week is ‘Knowledge, Balance, Control’. People are encouraged to inform themselves about the way in which gambling venues and machines operate; to balance gambling with other social and recreational opportunities; and to set financial and time limits that enable them to stay in control of their gambling.

More about Responsible Gambling Awareness Week 

Want to know more about problem gambling? The Multicultural Gambler’s Help Program can organise a free presentation for your community group.

We can talk about:

> different forms of gambling and the real odds of winning

> signs of problem gambling

> what to do if you or someone you know has a gambling problem

> alternative options for recreation

We usually co-present our sessions with a Gambler’s Help service, and we can organise interpreters free of charge if needed.

A recent investigation into the spending patterns of participants on a casino bus tour indicates that people spend much more than they expect in the gaming areas.

Many CALD clubs and organisations make regular trips to Crown Casino, attracted by incentives such as a low upfront cost to the club, free or cheap transportation, and other promotional offers.

This year, Gambler’s Help Northern and the Northern Primary Care Partnership undertook research with a CALD group in the northern region to better understand the appeal of trips to the casino and the actual spending patterns of participants in these trips.

The findings surprised even the organisations involved. Actual spending at the casino was much higher than participants expected, due to losses on gambling. In addition, a survey administered to participants at the end of the trip indicated that the potential for problem gambling was higher in this group than in the general population. These findings suggest that casino bus trips can be a high-risk activity for some CALD groups and may place vulnerable members at risk of gambling problems.

The agencies involved are planning to work with Crown Casino and other gaming venues on the issue of responsible provision of gaming and wagering. They would also like to form partnerships with CALD community organisations and the broader service system to explore this issue further and promote alternatives to gambling.

For more information contact:

Susan Rennie on (03) 9450 2633, or susan.rennie@bchs.org.au

Tatiana Walker on (03) 9342 9718 or tatianaw@ceh.org.au

Phil Grinter on 9450 2088 or phil.grinter@bchs.org.au

Grants for recreational activities

Looking for financial support to organise a community event? Here are four places to begin your search.

Managed by the Department of Planning and Community Development, these grants are for projects that increase people’s skills or encourage community participation.

Find out more

Victorian Multicultural Commission

The VMC runs a community grants program with seven types of grants available to CALD community organisations.

Find out more

Local council grants

Most local councils offer a range of grants programs to community groups. Check out the City of Greater Dandenong’s occasional grants program or visit your local council’s website for more information.

Our Community Easy Grants Newsletter

The latest government, business and philanthropic grants, posted to your letterbox 12 times a year.

Find out more

Thank you for supporting our program and don't hesitate to contact me if we can assist you.

Mary Gavranic

Multicultural Gambler’s Help Program

(03) 9342 9719 | maryg@ceh.org.au | www.ceh.org.au/mghp.aspx