The Salvation Army's Harbour Light has begun to treat gambling addiction after counsellors recognised a growing problem in Bermuda.

"Gambling is the silent addiction,'' programme director Nelson Bascome said this week.

"When you question individuals on the extent of their involvement there is also a high level of denial.'' The problem is usually compounded by other addictions and has often gone untreated -- but like other addictions, it has underlying causes.

Mr. Bascome said that Bermuda has many avenues for abuse for gamblers but there was little recognition of its effect on people in all its forms.

"Gambling does not present itself as violent or disruptive,'' he said, "the most noise a gambler makes is when they shout out Bingo!'' The problem of the lack of facilities to treat gambling addiction arose in January at a Supreme Court sentencing of a career criminal.

Mr. Bascome told Chief Justice Austin Ward the 47-year-old man would have to go to the Toronto Harbour Light facility because Bermuda could not treat his gambling addiction with his drug addiction.

On May 12, the man opted to join the Prison Service's Offenders Substance Abuse Pre-release Programme (OSAPP).

OSAPP would cycle him into the local Harbour Light pending approval of a visa application for entry into Canada.

At that time Mr. Bascome told Mr. Justice Ward the local Harbour Light had recently started to treat gambling addictions.

"I know about the extent of it because when I was in private practice I had people from all walks of life,'' he said. "I've updated my skills and we now have a counsellor in training who has been sent overseas for training.

"They have football lotteries (pools), off-track betting, bingo, video lottery machines and there are illegal gaming houses spread throughout the island,'' he added.

Mr. Bascome said denial of the dangers of gambling often played a part in causing addiction.

"The old figure of speech `I bet you' has become a way of life,'' he added.

"For a gambler the main thrill is to win. The addiction is when they try to maintain that lie of the one big win.'' Mr. Bascome also said gambling addiction cuts a predictable path through families and in the individual's life.

Like all counselling programmes, treatment will aim at changing behaviour and giving the afflicted person coping skills.

Mr. Bascome said three levels of gambling addiction have been identified and are equivalent to other stages found in substance abuse.

Social gamblers participate in gambling for its excitement and are often involved because it requires little investment and has few negative consequences.

Problem gamblers deal with their negative emotions and often go on binges.

And compulsive gamblers take increasing risks to achieve their desired result or escape.