The Hollywood Foundation has partnered with the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) to commemorate National Responsible Gambling Awareness Month. This will be done through a sponsorship of a counsellor who will be on standby for 24 hours, 7 days a week, for one year to assist callers who have a gambling addiction.
SARGF’s National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) actively seeks to curb gambling addiction through an array of services, including counselling and strategy advice for change, such as setting goals, avoiding high-risk situations and finding an alternative to gambling. As a non-profit organisation that prioritises the needs of the community, the Hollywood Foundation aims to enhance the NRGP by ensuring that the counsellor will be readily available to provide guidance and bring about change in many South African households.
The counsellor will be on the line to promote responsible gambling within various communities by offering professional, confidential and free services. These services include an initial referral assessment, a referral to the nearest treatment professional, a cognitive assessment by the treatment professional, and an analysis and application of the types of treatment required for the callers who seek assistance. Representatives from both organisations, as well as the counsellor, met at the SARGF’s offices in Parktown, Johannesburg, on 16 November 2022, to cement their relationship and work towards safer gambling activities in the country.
“SARGF is delighted and thankful to see the Hollywood Foundation being proactive in working with the NRGP beyond license conditions. The contribution made by the Hollywood Foundation is a first of its kind and will go a long way in the NRGP’s quest to educate, prevent, treat, and provide counselling to South Africans impacted by the potential harmful effects of discorded gambling,” said Sibongile Simelane-Quntana, SARGF Executive Director.
“Empowerment of communities through education is at the heart of our organisation. The Responsible Gambling initiative and our partnership with the SARGF will assist in raising awareness on gambling and empower communities to partake in activities, responsibly. The counsellor will immediately attend to callers and provide relevant measures to their aid. This is our contribution to ensure that people gamble responsibly,” said Vuyisile Ngobese, the Public Relations Officer for the Hollywood Foundation.
