00:02Plasterer Jay Begic began gambling as a teenager, but his habit escalated when he started working
00:09in construction.
00:10Gambling is just as common on a job site as another hard hat.
00:14The now 38-year-old bet whenever he could, including on the job.
00:19Whether I was working in a scissor lift high up or working with heavy machinery, my mind
00:24not being there, it's like working in a cloud or in the fog.
00:28New research commissioned by the Construction Industry Drug and Alcohol Foundation has
00:33found alarming rates of gambling.
00:3589% of construction workers had gambled in the past 12 months, while the general population
00:41gambling average is 73%.
00:4443% of construction workers were classed as high risk, with a higher percentage among the
00:49youngest age group.
00:5139% of younger workers played online games for money, and 36% bet on sports.
00:57Very alarming, these are really high numbers.
01:01This rehabilitation centre provides support for construction workers facing alcohol, drug,
01:06and now gambling addictions.
01:08We see workers gambling during work, on their lunch break, and it's become the norm where
01:12people will talk about what bets they're putting on.
01:14Now they can be on site, and they can be betting, and being in a high risk position.
01:20It's a safety issue.
01:21One solution lies in addressing gambling not as a personal failing, but an industry-wide
01:27issue.
01:28At this building site run by Mervac, gambling risks are part of regular toolbox chats.
01:34They train, they refer, and they're committed to health and wellbeing on their sites.
01:41Seeking help before it's too late.
01:45Failure, which we're still doing.
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