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 Welcome to Congozaire, an
intervention service dedicated to helping families and loved ones
address the compulsive gambler in their lives. At Firstep Intervention
we realize the magnitude and destruction of a gambling addiction
because each of our Intervention Professionals have been there. We
understand that compulsive gambling is a rapidly growing addiction that
has been recognized as a "silent killer". Families and lives are in
crisis, often destroyed and torn apart. No ONE has to be alone in
dealing with a problem as consuming as a gambling addiction,
and for that reason Congozaire
Intervention was created.Silversands casino is
probably South Africa’s most popular online casino, this is
no surprise as they offer some of the
online
promotions for the South African gamblers for freeMany
people who did not go to a formal treatment program have been
successful through Gamblers Anonymous. For others, however, the disease
has progressed to a point where they need the added structure, support
and clinical services that are provided in a more formal program in
south africa.For help in finding free counselling or a support group
near you, contact The National Responsible Gambling Programme 24 hour
Hotline - 0800-006-008 Should you require any assistance please call:
The Gamblers Anonymous Hotline from 08h00 to 17h00 and make use of the
after hour voice mail or in an emergency call numbers in the voice
message: 0861 233 578
Gambler's
Anonymous is South Africa, at
present, can
only be reached by obtaining
their telephone number from 1023.
For help in finding free counselling or a support group near
you, contact The National Responsible Gambling Programme 24 hour
Hotline - 0800-006-008
Gamblers Anonymous Africa
(GA)
 
Is Pathological Gambling
Biologically Caused?
There is some evidence that there are biological differences in
pathological gamblers, but it is unclear whether these differences are
the cause of the disorder or caused by disorder.
Some research suggests that there may be a link between serotonin and
norepinephrine problems and PG. Serotonin may be related to feelings of
well being. Norepinephrine may play a role in the feelings of arousal
associated with being "in action."
Some research has also found genetic differences in the dopamine
receptor genes of pathological gamblers.patients participate in an
intensive program to treat gambling addiction. A key component to our
program is individual one on one therapy. Therefore, we can treat both
men and women, and each sex can feel comfortable in their therapy and
surrounding. Men and women typically would feel awkward discussing
certain issues among the opposite sex. Our individualized treatment
approach allow all of our patients to feel safe and as though there
able to discuss their own issues candidly. We have found that at the
patients discretions there are positive effects by having men and women
being able to share certain situations amongst themselves should they
desire. Whether male/female, this is an insidious disease that destroys
lives, and our treatment approach has been proven successful for both
men and women.
African Gambling story:
wagering of money or other item of value on an uncertain event that is
dependent either wholly on chance, as in roulette, or partly on chance
and partly on skill, as in certain card games and in sporting contests.
Gambling has been practiced by people throughout history.
Anthropologists, who have found evidence of games of chance among early
peoples, contend that the attitude of early humankind toward gambling
derived from their general attitude toward the environment. To these
people the world was a mysterious place controlled by supernatural
beings whose favor or disfavor was manifested through chance situations
and the outcome of such events as hunts, wars, and games of chance;
instruments of divination frequently included objects used in gambling.
As people gradually acquired knowledge of the nature of their
environment and interpreted it in terms of cause and effect, their
attitude toward gambling changed. Games of chance became pastimes, but
the ancient belief that a lucky gambler was favored by the gods
persisted. Among the upper classes of the peoples of antiquity,
gambling was frequently associated with extravagance and
licentiousness. During the Middle Ages, in times of trouble, rabbis in
European Jewish communities banned dice games and other games of
chance. Gambling was also proscribed by some Eastern religions, such as
Confucianism, by the Qur'an (Koran) of Islam, and by the moral codes of
many Protestant denominations.
II Modern
Forms
 
Today gambling occurs in practically all nations and takes a great
variety of forms. Among the most widespread practices are betting on
the outcome of horse and dog races; of bull, cock, and prize fights; of
wrestling matches; and of such games as baseball, football, basketball,
and hockey. Attempts on the part of professional gamblers to fix the
outcome of such games have caused numerous scandals and provoked many
representatives of organized sports to oppose professionally arranged
betting on such events. Other common forms of gambling include
roulette, card and dice games, and bingo. Games of this type, as well
as slot machines, constitute a major industry in
Nevada—especially in the cities of Las Vegas and
Reno—where gambling was legalized in 1931, and in Atlantic
City, New Jersey, which legalized casino gambling in 1978. In the early
1990s such gambling, with certain limitations, was legalized in South
Dakota and several other states and on some Native American
reservations. In 1991 gambling on Mississippi riverboats was revived in
Iowa. The most famous European gambling resort, the casino of Monte
Carlo, venezia, Saint Tropez, Monaco, Sanremo in Italy with
Gioco
Responsabile new Gambling Act in 2011 provides le legal
online casinos in aams monopoly statal control. The lottery,
a form of gambling that dates from ancient times, is used as a
money-raising technique by religious groups, charities, and
governments, including most states in the United States and most
Canadian provinces. Gross revenue from state and local lotteries in the
United States in 1990 exceeded $20 billion.
III
Government Control
In general, the attitudes of governments toward gambling have
been that the practice should be discouraged or regulated. In
1845, for example, the British Parliament passed an act
providing that the courts could not be used to recover gambling
debts. Similar legislation has been enacted throughout the
United States; some states have considerably more restrictive
laws against gambling and betting, particularly if
professionally organized. Nevertheless, all but a few states now
have legalized at least some forms of gambling, mandating strict
controls.
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Denial is a stage in which the gambler faces numerous negative
consequences but denies that the gambling is a problem. At this stage,
gamblers often believe that they can "stop at any time" or just need to
play a little longer until their "luck turns around."
This stage can be very frustrating to those around the gambler who see
the damage caused by the addiction. At this time there are a number of
things to remember:
- It is important to contain your frustration. This anger can
lead to defensiveness, which makes it harder for the gambler to admit
it is a problem.
- It is important to listen to that frustration. You must
deal with the feelings this brings up in you since it may be weeks,
months, or years until the gambler accepts that it is a problem. You
may seek support from GamAnon ( a support group) or a local therapist.
At some point, if the gambler refuses to change, you may be faced with
the decision of whether or not to continue in a relationship with this
level of frustration.
- Although you cannot force a gambler to get help, there are
things you can do to assist them. Help them to see how the gambling has
directly caused the financial problems and the problems in your
relationship. Help them to see the specific effects of the gambling in
as much detail as possible (ie. You lost X dollars, you haven't spent
time with the children for X days, etc). As the gambler comes to see
this, it becomes easier for them to accept help.
You may also want to consider contacting us to
conduct an intervention on your loved one at this point. We
often see with compulsive gamblers -if they are left untreated, the
amounts and consequences will grow greater and the periods in between
the episodes will grow shorter.
WHAT IS
COMPULSIVE GAMBLING?
Compulsive gambling may also
be referred to as addictive gambling, pathological gambling, excessive
gambling.
Gambling is unlike any other
addiction as it is a "process" addiction. It is different to
"substance" addictions such as alcohol, drugs, cigarettes etc, as there
are no replacement substances to reduce cravings.
The Gambling Addiction Counselling Service encourages clients who seek help to face the
problem head on by examining every aspect of their day to day lifestyle
and to bring about changes on all levels.
Research indicates that the
majority of compulsive gamblers have unresolved underlying issues.
These underlying issues which can include loneliness, boredom,
unemployment, abuse, unhappy personal relationships or grief, are often
masked when the person turns to gambling to escape the pain.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS?
There is reason for concern
when a person continues to gamble even though the behaviour is causing
harm to themselves or others. It can take on many forms, including:
- gambling until all
financial resources are exhausted
- gambling disrupts family
or personal activities
- absenteeism from
workplace in order to gamble
- binge gambling for hours
or days on end
- criminal activity to
finance gambling pursuits
You could be at risk if you
answer 'yes' to the following questions:
- Do you gamble several
times in the one week?
- Do you regularly lose
more money than you can afford?
- Do you gamble alone?
- Do you say you are
elsewhere when you are in fact gambling?
- Have you stayed away from
your work and gambled instead?
- Have you stolen money to
gamble?
- Have you pawned
possessions to raise money to gamble?
- Have you taken money from
special savings or trust accounts?
- Have you spent money on
gambling instead of paying bills?
- Does the thought of
gambling constantly occupy your mind?
- Do you borrow money to
finance your gambling?
- Do you feel a sense of
helplessness each time you gamble?
f you answered 'yes' to any of these questions you
certainly have the potential for a gambling problem which, if untreated, will
certainly increase.
Addiction is a complex disease that impacts people physically,
emotionally and psychologically, so some people's treatment needs are
more severe than others. A person's ability to function, attitude
toward treatment, and maturity level all impact the treatment plan and
how he or she progresses. At the beginning of treatment, the initial
assessment defines the treatment plan. As patients progress through
treatment, their needs are continually re-evaluated and the treatment
plan updated to reflect their changing condition. Ultimately the length
of time they spend in the program is determined by clinical progress
and readiness for discharge.
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HELP FOR CONGO ZAIRE
AND SOUTH AFRICAN FAMILIES
It is not easy when someone you care for is
gambling to excess. People relate a feeling of helplessness in
knowing what to do or where to turn for help. This is justifyably so as the phenomenum of compulsive gambling is very
difficult to understand. It seems that you are talking to a brick wall
when attempting to convince another person to stop gambling. It is very
painful when your loved one promises you faithfully that they will
never gamble again and seems unable to keep that promise.
SIGNS TO LOOK FOR Unlike substance
addictions, excessive gambling can be hidden for many years. However
some warning signs would include:
- Is the person
regularly unable to account for missing money?
- Have they
reported that their money or wallet was lost or stolen?
- Do they have
regular mood swings?
- Are they
constantly arriving home late or not keeping appointments?
- Do they report
that bank statements have not been received?
- Do they sometimes
leave the home or workplace unexpectedly?
- Are they
regularly asking to borrow money from you?
- Are they avoiding
friends or spending time in their room alone?
- Do they always
want to stay longer at gambling venues (when others are ready to
leave)?
- Do they always
ask to include gambling in social activities?
- Have you noticed
them looking tired or drawn?
- Are they
neglecting their personal appearance e.g. grooming or clothing?
- Are household
chores being neglected on a regular basis?
- Do they suffer
from acute insomnia?
- Loss of libido?
Caution: All of the above are possible indicators that
a person may have a gambling problem, but should not be viewed as
symptomatic of every compulsive gambler.
HOW CAN YOU HELP
ANOTHER PERSON TO QUIT GAMBLING
You have already
started this process by contacting our website. As many gamblers avoid
acknowledging that they have a problem they defer seeking help until
they have reached total despair. They may initially react angrily but
will appreciate your help in time. Don't wait, start getting help NOW.
We suggest you do
the following:
- Print out a copy
of "What is Compulsive Gambling?" and
sit with your loved one while they read it for the first time. Keep
calm and offer encouragement.
- Print out a copy
of "The Gain Control Program
Content" . Ask your loved one to read it and query if they think it
would be of help to them in the future.
- Invite them to
visit our website or call us and just have a chat. Please feel free to
call us yourself. We are happy to answer any queries you may have.
- Caring for a
person who is gambling to excess can be extremely stressful and we
suggest that you may need to consider consulting your own health
practitioner.
- Insist on having
access to all family financial matters.
- Offer support and
encouragement wherever possible. It is not easy changing old habits and
the gambler may have the occasional slip. Keep re-enforcing the need
for them to start over again. Start the Gain Control Program
and call us for support and motivation.
- Do not cover up
for lies and stolen money or goods. Your loved one must take
responsibility for their actions. You are not helping them by making
excuses.
- Ensure that you
have the crisis telephone number in your state (in front of white pages
telephone book) readily displayed in case of an emergency.
Gambling Treatment Outcome
Monitoring System
MISSION
The Gambling Treatment Outcome Monitoring System
(Gambling TOMS) provides scientifically
valid evaluations of the effectiveness of gambling treatment programs.
Addictions and mental
health problems cause severe pain and suffering, as well as dramatic
costs to society in terms of
health care expenses and lost productivity. Treatment programs attempt
to reduce both the
human and economic costs of these disorders, and as a result are
interested in their effectiveness
in treating these disorders and how they may improve their
effectiveness. The evaluation
information is invaluable for developing a clearer picture of the types
of clients served and for
improving programs to better serve the needs of clients. Treatment
programs are also interested
in providing information about their effectiveness to potential
consumers, third-party payers, and
regulatory agencies. We are committed to providing evaluation services
in a manner that is
practical, user-friendly, non-intrusive and economical. It is also
important that this information be
provided by an objective research organization, rather than the
treatment program itself.
SPECIFIC AIMS
(1) Describe the demographic and clinical
characteristics of clients seeking treatment;
(2) Measure the effectiveness of treatment;
(3) Measure the level of client satisfaction with
specific treatment components and
the program in general; and
(4) Identify variables that predict treatment
completion, aftercare participation, and outcome.
METHOD
Treatment effectiveness is examined by comparing
client data collected at admission, discharge,
and follow-up. Outcome is assessed with a multidimensional assessment
battery that includes
measures of the following client variables: addiction problem severity,
psychopathology,
vocational/educational functioning, marital/family relations, criminal
activity, peer and social
relations, health care utilization, and select clinical problems. We
provide comprehensive written
reports and face-to-face presentations may be arranged.
Gambling
commission Treatment Outcome Monitoring System:
he treatment outcome report includes the following:
-executive summary
-description of your treatment program
-admission rates by month
-client demographics and clinical history
-gambling problem severity
-substance use problem severity
-treatment intensity
-changes in psychosocial functioning between intake
and discharge
-changes in gambling problem severity (e.g., gambling
frequency) between
pretreatment and follow-up
-comparison of your program outcome with similar
programs
-client ratings of treatment helpfulness and
satisfaction with treatment
-outcome of treatment noncompleters
-comparison of treatment completers to noncompleters
on outcome
-posttreatment service utilization
-summary and recommendations
A friend needs help, but
doesn't want to talk about it. Should we do an intervention?
An intervention can be a helpful tool for a family member, colleague or
friend who is resistant to addressing his or her problem. At one time
there was an attitude that people couldn't be helped unless they "hit
bottom" but that has changed. Often people who are resistant and enter
treatment due to an intervention do very well. Anyone who calls the
Harbour Pointe Information Center to request an intervention will be
encouraged to talk to a counselor first, as often times an intervention
is not necessary. However, there are times when an intervention is
critical and Harbour Pointe can provide you with options.
Functions
of the Board
The main functions of the Board are to oversee and control
gambling activities in the Province, including:
- Licensing of individuals and companies, to conduct gambling
and related activities
- Registering of persons engaged in such activities
- Registering of all gambling devices
- Collecting the appropriate taxes and levies
- Ensuring compliance with legislation in connection with
gambling
- Advising the Member of the Executive Council of the Limpopo
Province responsible for the administration of the Act, on matters
relating to gambling.
Vision
The Limpopo Gambling Board envisages a credible gaming
industry in the Limpopo Province, which contributes to exciting
leisure, economic opportunities and economic development.
Mission
The Limpopo Gambling Board is commited to the establishment
and management of the gaming industry in the Province by:
- Regulation in terms of ethical practices
- Promotion of appropriate leisure opportunities
- Insisting upon equitable local economic development
- Eradication and uprooting of illegal gambling
- Collaboration with the National Gambling Board and other
provincial Boards, to efficiently and effectively manage the gambling
industry.
Our
Philosophy is:
- To operate in accordance with the highest moral and ethical
standards
- To accept our responsibility towards our most important
resources - our employees - and to maximize the development and
utilization therof
- To strive towards a healthy relationship with our
stakeholders
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