Support charity

The Gordon Moody Association, one of the UK’s largest gambling support charities, has announced the launch of the first ever live multi-lingual service on its Gambling Therapy e-helpline (www.gamblingtherapy.org), which offers online contact with trained advisors, forums and support groups.

The online service will open up the issue of problem gambling to all ethnic groups and cultures in the UK and around the World.

Launched ahead of the Government’s new gambling licensing laws due later this year, the service which goes live on Monday 12th March 2007, will be manned by a highly trained team of counsellors and advisors. Uniquely, the multi-lingual team will be able to translate and offer help and advice to emails in 13 different languages, with support for more languages imminent.

Kevin Farrell-Roberts, Chief Executive of the GMA, formerly the Gordon House Association, commented, “Problem gambling is a widespread issue that unfortunately suffers from a lack of internationally-accessible support. The launch of our multi-lingual service brings the GMA to the forefront in providing help to cultural groups that have previously had no access to gambling support. Our extension of support will help more people across the globe who are affected by problem gambling.”

As part of this initiative, the GMA, together with existing supporters such as Betfair and William Hill, is calling for widespread international adoption of responsible gambling measures. Through the inclusion of the GMA’s STOP! sign, an online link to the Gambling Therapy e-helpline, online operators can help showcase their support for the cause.

Kate Stewart, Social Responsibility Manager at Betfair added, "As the world’s largest online betting exchange, we are committed to supporting the GMA’s efforts in a bid to help those who gamble irresponsibly. We are extremely proud to be the first operator to show our dedication by displaying the STOP! sign on our website and hope the rest of the industry joins us in taking such steps to tackle problem gambling."

The charity has recently re-named itself in honour of its celebrated founder, the Rev. Gordon Moody, M.B.E. (1912–1994) who first established Gamblers Anonymous in the UK before later founding The Gordon House Association.