Gambling's no game

JESSIE COLQUHOUN

TWO mystery teenagers helped pokies addict Harry Paniona quit gambling for good.

He started using pokie machines when he was living in Melbourne in 1991 and his habit quickly spiralled out of control.

Mr Paniona spent an average of $500 a week – sometimes up to $1000.

At one stage he was working three jobs to support his addiction.

He reckons he lost about $50,000 over 20 years.

"I won little jackpots but lost a lot of money. I just got hooked."

But a chance meeting in Otahuhu finally made Mr Paniona see how bad his addiction had become.

Two Otahuhu College girls walked into the bar he was in and asked the woman sitting next to him for money to top up their phone.

On their way out one teenager asked the other if she wanted a go at the pokies.

"Nah," she replied. "That's a loser's game."

"That rung some bells," Mr Paniona says.

Those five words inspired him to go home and ring the Problem Gambling Foundation and finally quit the pokies.

Mr Paniona has been pokies-free since March.

And to show how serious he is about quitting he decided to smash a pokie machine in Manukau Square to mark Gamblefree Day on September 1.

"The hardest thing a gambler can do is admit he has a problem," he says.

"I've never gone back and I really intend on not going back."

At the height of his addiction Mr Paniona says he could still put food on the table but he got behind on paying his bills.

And he knows his habit was hard on Millie, his wife of 24 years.

"I don't know how she stuck with me for that long," he says.

Mr Paniona says New Zealand's gambling problems can't be solved without getting rid of the source.

So he wants pokie machines taken out of the community.

"These are destroying people's lives."

And there's one more thing Mr Paniona wishes he could do – thank the two Otahuhu College teenagers who unknowingly helped him to quit.

"At the end of the day they probably saved me from total destruction.

"If it wasn't for them I'd probably still be hardcore gambling."

See www.pgfnz.org.nz for more information about problem gambling.

PROBLEM GAMBLING IN NEW ZEALAND Pokie machines are the most harmful form of gambling They're the main form of gambling for more than 78 percent of problem gamblers Between 10,000 and 60,000 adults are problem gamblers One in five regular pokie players has a gambling problem A 2009 Health Ministry study shows pokies are concentrated in poorer areas with high Maori and Pasifika populations In Auckland, areas with the most pokies also tend to have the most foodbank clients Around a third of foodbank clients are either problem gamblers or affected by problem gambling Each pokie machine takes $47,500 on average from gamblers' pockets Around $2.6 million is lost every day on non-casino pokies In 2009, pokies outside casinos took $889m compared to $107m in 1991 The gambling helpline took 15,412 calls last year, including 2159 new callers. The Problem Gambling Foundation offers free, professional and confidential counselling. Phone 0800-664-262, the Asian hotline 0800-862-34 or email help@pgfnz.org.nz for help.

- © Fairfax NZ News