Gamble-Free Day festival to be held in Papakura

Papakura’s first ever Gamble-Free Day event will be held on Tuesday 1 September to raise awareness of problem gambling in the community.

The community event being held at the Town Centre stage, Farmers Corner from 10am until 2pm includes free food, entertainment, prizes, giveaways and much more.

Pesio Siitia, from the Problem Gambling Foundation says the event will get the community together in support of Gamble-Free Day.

“The aim of this lunch-time festival is to raise awareness in Papakura of the harm that problem gambling can cause in their community,” she says.

In Papakura there are 227 pokie machines situated in 14 venues and last year the total spending on pokies was $13,646,801.

“The money being lost on pokies comes out of our poorest communities with 47% of pokie machines located in decile 8, 9, and10 areas,” Pesio says.

“Gamble-Free Day is a good opportunity for the Papakura community to question whether they can afford to be losing this money on gambling.”

Several community organisations are involved in the event including the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand (PGF), ProCare, the Salvation Army, Framework Trust, Raukura Hauora and the Health Sponsorship Council.

Gamble-Free Day started in 2005 and has been held every year since then on the 1st September to raise awareness of problem gambling in New Zealand. Organisations concerned about problem gambling have asked communities not to gamble on September 1st and organised a range of events to raise awareness of the harm problem gambling can cause.

For further information visit www.pgfnz.org.nz
For free and confidential help with problem gambling call the Problem Gambling

ENDS

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