Weston home to UK's first residential treatment centre for gambling addicts

Gambling addicts can now receive help with the launch of Britain's first residential treatment centre in Weston-super-Mare.

Broadway Lodge in Oldmixon Road has been offering treatment for eating disorders, drug and alcohol addition for the past 35 years.

Now it is extending to become the first centre in the country to offer residential treatment for gamblers.

The complex will take on about 30 such people this year after it received funding from GamCare, a charity funded by the gambling industry.

It is an organisation set up to offer help to those people who have become addicted to gambling.

Addicted gamblers will stay for eight weeks of treatment from next month and the centre has already received some referrals.

Broadway Lodge chief executive Brian Dudley said the centre was chosen because of its record and national accreditation.

He said: "We are about to become the first short-term residential centre in the country that has been funded by the gambling industry.

"At present the industry provides funding to Gamcare, which offers one- to-one advice and help.

"Last year its helpline received 47,000 hits and Gamcare also offered counselling to 9,000 people.

"But there is nothing that offers more intensive help.

"The gambling industry has recognised that there is an issue with increasing numbers of people addicted to gambling and, because of our record and the fact that we are accredited, we have been chosen to offer that needed residential side.

"Those referred to us will stay for eight weeks and receive one-to-one counselling, group counselling and we will also offer family programs, so we can deal with a whole range of issues.

"This treatment programme is an important step and it is great to be able to pilot it."

There is a global fear that problem gambling could get worse in the coming months.

The recession has caused many people to lose their jobs and officials believe that some of these people could turn to gambling to try and keep their financial freedom.

Mr Dudley said: "In a recession it has been proven both gambling and alcohol addition levels go up.

"A lot more people are requiring help and we will soon be offering that extensive help.

"It is a one-year contract starting in April and we estimate we will help 30 people a year but we don't know exactly as this figure may increase.

"We already have a couple referrals in the pipeline.

"We have fantastic success rates, 7,000 people have been treated here in 35 years."