Gamblers Anonymous Group At Leeston

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30530, 27 August 1964, Page 1

Gamblers Anonymous Group At Leeston

A man who was a “compul- i sive gambler” had formed a group of "gamblers anony- , mous” along the lines of ] Alcoholics Anonymous, the i North Canterbury Methodist ! synod was told yesterday. J A letter from the man, who , lived in the area of the Lees- , ton Methodist circuit, was read to the synod when the , report of the church’s public , committee was ■ being considered. , The members of the group, five in all, had been unable to overcome their craving for gambling any more than an , alcoholic could resist alcohol, the svnod was told.

The report, which was adopted, said the committee was concerned at the way the Totalisator Agency Board had become part of the “New Zealand way of life, even though- there had been r.n advantage in the displacement of bookmakers." State sponsorship cast over gambling an aura of respectability which could have

serious consequences, said the report. “Gambling undermined the will to work, which is the most essential basis of economic welfare. There is a strong temptation, especially with big lotteries, for people to waste money which should be spent on meeting the needs of the family. “There is a danger that many legitimate calls on people's generosity will suffer. Also, people may increasingly seek something for nothing. “To lose large sums can be disastrous; to win large sums can be demoralising. “Not all gambling is on a large enough scale for those

considerations to be fully relevant. In small-scale gambling, motives are usually mixed. Often, a good cause is used as the motive for buying a raffle ticket; but if the prize if won, is not refused. “The best giving is that which costs the giver something, and the New Testament enjoins us to give without expecting any return.”