Australia has always been adamant about its gambling policies, imposing especially strict conditions on online telephone betting services and sportsbook gambling.  One company, TabCorp, is permitted to offer a limited range of gambling services, which it has always done so in a very responsible manner.  Now, TabCorp has created an innovative problem gambling prevention and treatment service called BetCare, which not only offers gamblers counseling services, but also gives them the choice of of permanently banning themselves from TabCorp's betting system.

TabCorp, which is one of Australia's leading betting establishments, has taken problem gambling prevention measures to a new level.  The company recently unveiled its newest service, called BetCare, which enables gamblers - who feel they might have a betting addiction, to permanently close their telephone betting and casino accounts.  The service has been released in Victoria, and will have larger accessibility by the end of 2005.

In Australia, where casino gambling laws are extremely strict, TabCorp is one of few companies permitted to provide telephone and online casino betting services to the general public.  Considering this a large responsibility, TabCorb is doing all it can to conform and go beyond the gambling laws which call for underage and problem gambling prevention and remedy.  In addition to the self-prohibition services, BetCare provides gamblers access to counselors and a highly trained support team over the telephone.

The company operates several betting terminals which bettors can access at any time.  Now, starting in Victoria, subscribers to the service can close their accounts, while keeping themselves from opening a new account again at a later time.  This has been a frequent occurrence for problem gamblers in the past, who would seek help for a short while, only to relapse into their old habits once they had enough resources to do so again.

Many consider addictive gambling a disease, which cannot be cured overnight.  BetCare, it seems, is taking this into consideration, and doing all it can to tackle problem gambling in a long-term effort.  And although casino gamblers may find a way around the system, it is more likely that bettors will seek to feed their addiction elsewhere.  With TabCorp leading the way, hopefully other gambling operators, such as online casino companies and sports betting services will follow suit.

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