Evangelical Lutheran Social Service Hong Kong has been funded by Ping Wo Fund since 2020 to develop an innovative online counselling model to address the challenges stemming from gambling.
 
In 2024, we launched the “Smart i-Change Gambling Counseling Service” to support individuals and families affected by gambling issues. The name carries a symbolic meaning of “I can change” , reflecting our belief that people have the ability to exercise autonomy and take the first step toward change. The programme uses generative artificial intelligence technology to create the chatbot “Ah-Shun 阿信,” which focuses on handling gambling issues from debt management, self-assessment, and addressing with gambling disorder. It provides 24/7 support to help-seekers and further enhances their motivation to seek help. 
 
The Smart i-Change Gambling Counselling Service also covers community public education and online outreach services, proactively engaging with potential cases involved in gambling activities. Using communication media with broad reach and penetration, we aspire to raise public awareness of identifying the hidden gambling elements and the impact of emerging gambling activities.  Debt consultation and advice to people quitting gambling are provided to our service users to achieve upstream gambling reduction.
 
Alongside with gambling-related service, the organization established the i-Change Addiction Counselling Centre to expand the existing experience in addiction prevention education and counselling services to other addiction counseling services, helping those in need overcome addiction challenges and rebuild a healthy life.

Service Districts
Across the territory

Service Objective
Following the spirit of serving people in the name of Jesus Christ and incorporating elements of “human-centered counselling,” our aim is to assist individuals troubled by problem gambling to take the first step towards self-change and renewed life. We help them distance themselves from gambling, freeing them from its chains, and enable them to enjoy an autonomous and fulfilling life.

Service Recipients

1. Individuals troubled by problem gambling and their families
2. Those facing debt issues resulting from gambling
3. Community members (through preventive education work)

服務內容

■ 24小時人工智能輔導諮詢服務

■ 輔導員網上支援（逢星期一、三及四）

■ 社區及學校預防教育活動

■ 個案轉介

■ 個案、家人及小組輔導

■ 債務輔導

■ 中醫支援服務

■ 後續跟進服務

計劃簡介

§  24小時人工智能輔導諮詢服務

計劃由2020年開展至今，共支援了逾百多位賭博者或家人，其中超過半數求助者為年齡介乎20-30歲的賭博者，主要為就讀大專或在職的年輕成年人。從前線介入的經驗所得，受疫情影響下，大專/大學生及職青等，均容易受網賭宣傳手法及工作模式而參與賭博，繼而出現參與網上賭場、體育/電子競技賭博、加密幣及透過遊戲應用程式進行賭博的情況。對比傳統實體賭博，網上賭博方式更為方便快捷，並同時提供借貸渠道，容易令賭博者短時間累積欠債及面臨賭博失調影響。 

§ 網上討論區「圍爐傾」

i-Change 賭博輔導平台繼早前推出全港首個24小時網上賭博輔導平台，將於第二階段新增自我債務評估和網上討論區「圍爐傾」兩項功能，參加者可以透過電郵，短訊登入以匿名留言，保障私隱。網上討論區「圍爐傾」分為為有意戒賭及處理債務賭博者而設的「離賭區」，以及給賭博者家人求助及交流資訊的「親友傾訴島」。平台可以提供一個安全，不受賭博及借貸中介滋擾的圍爐空間。

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