The centre will be built next to the existing Foundation House site at Callan Park, Rozelle, and is expected to open late 2008 or early 2009.

Fairfield RSL has committed $500,000 to the project over three years.

Foundation House already provides residential drug and alcohol treatment and Fairfield RSL was instrumental in establishing the Sydney Problem Gambling Centre with the Salvation Army.

The new centre will provide cross access to drug and alcohol programs where needed.

Fairfield RSL Club chief executive Anthony Sobb said problem gambling needed wider attention.

``This unique initiative will help us take the treatment of problem gambling in Australia to the next level,'' Mr Sobb said.

``It will be based on the treatment program I observed during my attendance at the Los Vegas problem gambling centre headed by Dr Rob Hunter.''

Foundation House co-ordinator Trevor Sharpe said services like assessment, counselling, after-care support and relapse programs were proving successful.

``The facility will play a vital role in helping people turn their lives around,'' he said.

Last week, statistics showed Cabramatta was a ``lucky'' area with plenty of residents winning lottery jackpots.

But Fairfield councillor Thang Ngo said the wins simply reflected the higher number of tickets purchased by locals.

``It's very misleading because it doesn't show just how much of people's income is going on gambling,'' Cr Ngo said.

``With more than 75percent of disposable income in Fairfield being spent on gambling, this issue is not going away.''

Cr Ngo and council candidate for The Greens, Bill Cashman, hosted a gambling summit in May and are working to develop a resultant action plan.

If you have a problem with gambling, call the problem gambling centre on: 97238134.