The Sheng Kung Hui Macau Social Services Coordination Office hosted a guidebook launch yesterday, aiming to help parents discuss the risks of gambling with their children.
The launch took place at the office’s Taipa Youth and Family Integrated Service Centre on Rua do Regedor.
Sheng Kung Hui (聖公會) is the Cantonese pronunciation of the Chinese name for the Anglican Church. In a literal sense, the characters translate to “Holy Universal Church”.
According to a statement released by the office during the event, the organisation noted that preventing children from being exposed to gambling has become an urgent priority for parents, particularly with the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place later this year.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place between June 11 and July 19 across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Based on the principles of tertiary prevention*, the organisation developed the Chinese-language guide, titled “‘Gambling Talk’: Parent-Teen Interaction Guide”. The publication offers concrete and practical communication strategies. Its launch has been sponsored by Macau’s Social Welfare Bureau (IAS).
The statement further explained that the guide aims to assist parents in establishing positive interactions with young people, enabling them to work together to address the various risks and challenges encountered during adolescent development.
Posso Ip Kam Po, service director of the office, noted in a speech that the office has been operating for 29 years, while its 24-hour Hotline & Online Gambling Counselling Services are now in their 11th year.
He emphasised that the office remains focused on the physical and mental wellbeing of young people. Given their natural curiosity regarding gambling, he expressed the hope that the guide would help parents educate their children on how to accurately understand gaming odds, recognise the symptoms of addiction, and establish a “safety net” to prevent problem gambling.
Mimi Lao Mei I, a certified gambling counsellor in charge of the office’s hotline and online counselling services, told reporters on the sidelines of the book launch that while only around seven percent of gambling helpline callers are under the age of 24, most callers aged between 25 and 39 first encountered gambling during their secondary school or university years.
She emphasised the need of “early prevention”, as young people often begin with “social gambling” – such as capsule toy machines, blind boxes, or mahjong - without recognising the inherent risks.
Lao urged parents to take advantage of everyday situations to discuss “probability and self-control”, and to remain vigilant for signs of obsession or financial loss. With the World Cup approaching, she warned that casual sports betting can escalate into addiction if core beliefs about gambling are not addressed early.
She also noted an increase in non-local residents seeking assistance, highlighting the growing need for responsible gambling support beyond Macau’s borders.
*Tertiary prevention refers to interventions that occur after a problem or condition is already well-established. The goal is to reduce the severity, duration, or negative impact of the condition through rehabilitation, preventing further deterioration, and improving the quality of life for individuals and their families. - DeepSeek
Copies of the office’s “‘Gambling Talk’: Parent-Teen Interaction Guide” guidebook are displayed during yesterday’s book launch at the centre. – Photos: Armindo Neves
Mimi Lao Mei I, who heads the Sheng Kung Hui Macau Social Services Coordination Office’s Hotline & Online Gambling Counselling Services, speaks to reporters at the office’s Taipa Youth and Family Integrated Service Centre on Rua do Regedor yesterday.
