For some gambling is all fun and games, but mix the right personality with the wrong information and it can turn disastrous.

To address this issue the B.C. Lottery Corporation will host Responsible

Gambling Awareness Week on the West Shore from Jan. 14 to 18 to help prevent the potential pitfalls of gambling.

The initiative, created by BCLC and the province, is an attempt to help inform people of the risks of gambling and the resources available for those who struggle with gambling addiction.

B次元官网网址淭he more you know the better equipped you are to make healthy decisions around gambling,B次元官网网址� said Caroline Wakefield, senior communications officer for BCLC. B次元官网网址淲e want to raise that awareness and really connect people to community services and support, should they need it.B次元官网网址�

The week will kick off on Tuesday, Jan. 15 with a breakfast launch at 9:30 a.m. at View Royal Casino, featuring speeches and some eats.

Throughout the week the Myth Busting Kiosk will be set up at various locations throughout the West Shore, including grocery stores, malls, seniorB次元官网网址檚 centre and a Victoria Grizzlies game.

BCLCB次元官网网址檚 intention with the kiosk is to dispel myths about gambling and provide information. For example, a common myth is that there are B次元官网网址渉otB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渃oldB次元官网网址� slot machines, and a slot machine that hasnB次元官网网址檛 given money for some time is B次元官网网址渄ue for a win.B次元官网网址�

Some people will keep playing, and keep losing, waiting for that elusive win.

As the information at the kiosk helps explain, this isnB次元官网网址檛 true. The results of a slot machine spin are determined completely randomly every spin and there are no patterns or B次元官网网址渟treaks,B次元官网网址� therefore a machine can never be B次元官网网址渉otB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址渃old.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淧eople can learn about randomness or how slot machines work or things like that,B次元官网网址� said Westfield. B次元官网网址淲e try to make it fun and interactive so that itB次元官网网址檚 interesting to learn this information, and at the same time give people a chance to learn a little bit more B次元官网网址榖ehind the scenesB次元官网网址� of how these games work.B次元官网网址�

The main event will be an open house on Saturday, Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre. At the event experts in the field of gambling will give talks, starting at 10:30 a.m., and provide responsible gambling tips. Coffee and snacks will be provided.

BCLC hosted the first Gambling Awareness Week last year in Vernon, at the cityB次元官网网址檚 request. This year five communities will host events and Westfield said interest has been expressed in expanding further.

There are a number of resources available regularly for people looking for information on gambling or grappling with a gambling addiction.

BCLC hosts the GameSense.ca website, a responsible gambling information centre that offers a wide variety of resources. The province hosts BCResponsibleGambling.ca, another website with information about gambling and gambling addiction.

At every casino, including the View Royal Casino, there is a Game Sense information centre with information on gambling and advisors available to talk about responsible gambling.

For problem gamblers BCLC has a self-exclusion program, through which people can voluntarily choose to be denied admittance to casinos for a certain amount of time.

B次元官网网址�(These resources) really are part of our commitment towards responsible gambling so we like to make them available,B次元官网网址� Wakefield said. B次元官网网址淲e continue to support them to ensure that people have the access they need to all these resources and any support, if they need it.B次元官网网址�