Registered charity GamCare will take part in January's EAG International Expo in London in order to raise awareness and address the issues associated with gambling addiction.
Throughout its 14-year history, it has supported those with gambling problems while working closely with the industry, participating in numerous events. Head of training and development for GamCare Trade Services, Teresa Tunstall, said: "We've always taken the view that we are affiliated to every part of the coin-op, amusement and gambling industries.
"Attending the previous EAG International Expos proved to be very productive for GamCare. We cannot carry out our work in isolation and the show provides an excellent opportunity to engage with manufacturers, operators and trade associations. It's a very well-rounded show."
The GamCare annual conference took place in November 2011, so the EAG International Expo will deliver the perfect opportunity to discuss proceedings.
"Our current initiatives are around training and certification. No funds from our treatment work are used to support this; we charge operators on a cost recovery basis keeping charges to a minimum - any small profit goes straight back into treatment," continued Tunstall. "We train operators' front-line staff to identify someone who may be at risk and signpost them towards help. Staff need to be comfortable with this and good training is the key.
"Our experience is that the vast majority of operators are highly responsible and eager to play their part. In fact in the year 2009/10, over 40 per cent of people contacting GamCare were directed to us by the industry," she revealed.
Registration for the EAG International is now open. The show takes place at the ExCel exhibition centre from January 25-27.
