Responsible Gambling

St Helena Hospice is committed to using its lottery to raise important and vital funds in a responsible way.

St Helena Hospice recognises that whilst the risk of 'problem gambling' associated with its lottery is extremely small, there may be circumstances that arise whereby players or their families may wish to discuss gambling related problems with specialist support advisers.

St Helena Hospice as a member of the Hospice Lotteries Association (HLA) which financially supports the work of the Responsibility in Gambling Trust which provides such support.

The Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RIGT)

The Responsibility in Gambling Trust is an independent charity that was established in response to recommendations made by the independent Gambling Review Body in the Budd Report, commissioned by the Government in 2001.

The report recommended that an independent Trust should be set up, and provided with voluntary funding by the gambling industry, to research and limit problem gambling. This recommendation was made as part of proposals for major changes to the legal framework for gambling, which became the Gambling Act 2005.

The Trust was initially known as the Gambling Industry Charitable Trust (GICT) but changed its name to Responsibility In Gambling Trust (RIGT) in 2004 to reflect its independence.

RIGT aims

The Trust aims to make it less likely for people to become problem gamblers, and easier for those who do experience problems to get the help they need. We do this by funding treatment services, by commissioning and supporting research on problem gambling, and through education and awareness programmes.

Treatment

RIGT is the only/main funder of gambling treatment services in Britain. These include telephone helplines, face-to-face counseling and online advice services provided by GamCare, and residential services provided by Gordon House. The services we fund are available nationwide, free of charge, and open to everyone.

Education and public awareness

RIGT heads a national taskforce set up to improve public awareness of the dangers of gambling. We are developing a national campaign to help people manage their gambling and to let them know where they can get help if they have a problem. We are also funding education programmes aimed at schoolteachers and young people.

Policy and research

RIGT funds research into the treatment and prevention of problem gambling. We contribute to the development of gambling policy, and we act as an information resource for government, the media and the industry who want to understand more about problem gambling.

Help and support

Visit http://www.rigt.org.uk/ for further information on RIGT.

If you have problems with gambling, or know someone who does,

call the GamCare helpline on 08456 6000133

or visit http://www.gamcare.org.uk