TheBritish Columbia government announced on Wednesday that it is revamping the way it provides gambling support to residents.
Effective April 1, B.C. will upgrade its Gambling Support BC program with what it describes as a new integrated, provincewide service-delivery model, intended to provide people with faster and easier access to resources no matter where in the province they live.
Delivered through a partnership with Telus Health, the updated service will combine the existing 24/7 Gambling Support Line and clinical counselling services into one coordinated system.
“The evolving nature of the gaming industry, such as the growth of online gambling, means we need to change the way gambling supports are provided,” said B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger in a news release issued on March 25. “The new service-delivery model will make accessing supports easier and more responsive for British Columbians in the moments when they need it most.”
Immediately accessible help
The government said that people seeking support will be able to access immediate information, support and referrals, available 24/7 via a single online access point.
Gambling Support BC focuses on several main services, including prevention and outreach, tailored education and training and clinical services such as counselling. It offers a self-assessment program for users as an initial starting point for people to understand their own gambling behaviour.
The revamped program will include the ability to connect with trained professionals at any time without the need for an appointment, short-term transition-focused counselling, connections to longer-term community supports, and other help that is tailored to people based on their needs.
The free-of-charge, publicly funded services will be available in multiple languages, including English, French, Punjabi, and Chinese.
The government release added that the changes are part of the province’s broader effort to ensure that services remain up-to-date as gambling behaviours evolve, to ensure that individuals struggling with gambling can get support that works for them whenever and however they need it.
“We recognize that problem gambling is a complex issue that impacts individuals, families and communities,” said Telus Health Chief Mental Health Officer Dr. Matthew Chow. “Through our customized telephone and web-based counselling services, we’re thrilled to provide accessible, free support to help people on their path to recovery.
“This agreement with Gambling Support BC represents our continued commitment to social purpose, alongside our dedication to supporting the health and well-being of all British Columbians.”
Indigenous-specific supports
In addition to the general changes, the provincial government will also strengthen Gambling Support BC’s Indigenous-specific services by improving funding flexibility and enabling community-driven service design, in partnership with the Ministry of Health.
The government said those changes support “culturally grounded, self-determined approaches to care” for Indigenous communities.
The Indigenous service stream provides specialized prevention, outreach, and therapeutic counselling through a land-based healing approach for Indigenous groups – a population that research has shown to be one of the most at-risk for gambling-related harms.
A core focus of the Indigenous-facing program will be mental health and substance use.
Leger to study gambling harms
Another piece of the updated program will include what the government called a gambling prevalence study.
The province has commissioned research firm Leger to conduct a study aimed at identifying trends related to gambling harms experienced by people in British Columbia, particularly in the context of the growth of online gambling in B.C. and beyond and other changes within the gaming industry.
The study is already underway and a full report will be published this spring.
