Community Attitudes to Gambling: Bloggers Speak Out

As community perceptions seem to be moving more and more towards the position that something needs to be done about the effect that poker machines are having on the community, opinions have been appearing in the blogosphere (the world of weblogs) in blogs that aren't specifically about problem gambling.

Mallrat, sent me this link Bloodsucker awards to a post on 'its' blog which apart from being outraged at the impact on the community examines the policies of the various political parties on the issue.

The Coober Pedy News is discussing on their blog their communities campaign to stop poker machines coming to the outback town. Pokies voted out mentions that 800 people have signed a petition against the introduction of pokies, a significant proportion considering that their are only 904 people that voted in the last election.

Gary Sauer-Thompson in his blog, Public Opinion discusses last years Four Corners report on Tattersalls. A great cartoon is presented with this article.

He also expresses surprise at how little is done to minimise the harm from gambling.

Also the blog Coporate Engagement mentions the AAGM class action that has just been launched in a post titled Generous Pokies.

The views from the blogosphere make interesting reading, and as there is a large online support community for those negatively affected by their own or someone elses gambling it is just a matter of time before blogs on this subject become more common on the web. (Currently mailing lists and discussion boards are the tools of choice among this group.)

One example is Getting Past Gambling which is a blog which is updated almost daily with advice for problem gamblers as well as being the front page for a yahoo groups discussion board/mailing list which has about 50 members. For those concerned about their gambling who are looking to talk online with others about their recovery, this is a good place to start.

The internet can be a valuable tool for both opinion and support. Hopefully GuruBlog also fits this role.

GG