Gambling Help has now become GambleAware, which will place an emphasis on setting up personalised programs to help people deal with their problems.

Change is needed in the region, with recent data revealing Tamworth punters lost more than $6 million on poker machines in just three months between March and May this year.

GambleAware clinical regional manager for the Hunter New England (HNE) Tim Rawson explained a new, broader, multi-staged model will be used across the state and even within certain regions to address the issue.

He said given the HNE area is so large and diverse, it will be necessary to take unique approaches.

"The overarching model is the same but we do have local teams in the areas, so the team in Newcastle is different to the team that is in Tamworth," he said.

"So our community activities and engagement strategies and what we're doing on a local level is different."

The service will run its program through Centacare, and counsellor for the HNE, Jake Plowes, will base himself out of the Armidale and Tamworth offices.

READ ALSO:

He said it will be important to personalise help as much as possible, in order to deliver the best outcomes.

"Each area focuses on the needs of their own clients ... so really just seeing individual clients and looking at what each client's needs are," he said.

Mr Plowes said people face a wide range of issues, so there is not one blanket rule that can be applied to everyone who uses the service.

Reasons range from using gambling as an escape from other problems, to doing it for a quick thrill in order to avoid depression, anxiety or other unwanted feelings.

"The approach I like to take is looking at what need that gambling behaviour is doing for that client," he said.

"It's about trying to identify ways that they can fulfil that need in a way that is more helpful for them, and doesn't have the detrimental side effects of gambling, like financial issues."

For more information on GambleAware, please visit its website.