Greater Bendigo residents spent $37.39 million on pokies during the 2019-20 year, a forum on problem gambling has been told.
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The figures were presented by Bendigo Anglicare at an online forum to discuss the neuroscience of gambling this week.
The information, which likened the effects of pokies to using cocaine, showed how the brain responded to the machines with feel-good chemicals dopamine and serotonin.
The session drew on information from the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Gambler's Help and Anglicare Victoria, to highlight the neuroscience behind problem gambling.
The findings came as welcome news to Claire Smith* (not her real name), who had experienced the turmoil that came with a loved one's gambling addiction.
"The discoveries about the chemical changes in the brain really dispel the idea that this is just bad behaviour,'' she said.
"The science is very helpful and I hope it exposes problem gambling for what it is. It's not all about the money. It's about mental health too."
Ms Smith said it was essential to get specialist help, if a close family member had an addiction.
"That love you have for the other person can make you feel very trapped,'' she said.
"A common reason for not getting help is you have hope you can resolve it without facing the shame and stigma of exposing it."
She said she became an "enabler and the rescuer" for her loved one.
"I didn't know about boundaries,'' she said.
"In hindsight I would have done it better. I would have used the tools and knowledge I have now."
Ms Smith said she had professional counselling and joined a 12-step self-help group for people who have been affected by problem gambling.
She came to understand she had no power over the other person's gambling.
"I had to stop taking responsibility for things I had no control over,'' she said.
"I would like people in the same situation to know there is hope. Your life can get better. There is good free help available and it will make a difference in your life."
Get free and confidential assistance from the Gamblers Help agency on 1800 244 323 (freecall) or email gamblers.help@anglicarevic.org.au. For 24 hour support call: 1800 858 858.
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