Gambling doesn’t start as a problem. For most people, it starts out as a
good thing, for example, as a bit of excitement, an opportunity to socialise,
or time away from the pressures of work or family. However, gambling can
sometimes grow without people realising how their gambling habits have changed.
Problem gamblers may spend 10 to 20 hours or more a week gambling. They also
spend a lot of time thinking and worrying about their gambling.
Triggers for gambling
A significant change or stress is commonly the trigger for gambling to
spiral out of control. A big win can also have the same effect. Even without
specific stress, gambling can increase.
People often find that they have to gamble with increasing amounts of money
to achieve satisfaction. Also gambling, through its increasing demands on time,
energy and money, can strain relationships, work and finances. If you’re
worried about your gambling or someone else’s, get help sooner rather than
later.
Assess your gambling
If gambling has stopped being fun for you and started to feel like a
problem, think about the reasons why you gamble. Write a list. Common reasons
include:
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To win money
•
For entertainment
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To be sociable
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To forget troubles
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For something to do
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For excitement
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To avoid talking to people.
Sometimes, people may gamble as a habit. The reasons they started are
forgotten, but the habit goes on. You can take steps to break the habit.
Signs that gambling may be a problem
You do not have to gamble everyday or lose money every session to have an
issue with gambling. A person who has a problem may:
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Gamble to avoid dealing with problems or disappointments
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Skip work or study to gamble
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Spend more time gambling than with family and friends
•
Think about gambling every day
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Gamble to win money, not just for fun
•
Gamble to win back money lost by gambling
•
Feel depressed because of gambling
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Lie or keep secrets about gambling
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Borrow money to gamble
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Argue with family and friends about gambling
•
Gamble for longer periods of time than originally planned
•
Gamble until every dollar is gone
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Lose sleep due to thinking about gambling
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Not pay bills and use the money for gambling instead
•
Try to stop gambling, but can’t
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Become moody when trying to stop or cut down on gambling
•
Try to increase the excitement of gambling by placing
bigger bets
•
Break the law to get money to gamble.
Keep a gambling diary
Problem gamblers often have no idea how much they win or lose in the long
term, but fool themselves into believing they are in front. Keep a gambling
diary. A faithful record of your gambling habits will:
•
Help you to be honest with yourself about how often you
gamble and how much you lose
•
Allow you to develop self-awareness, the first step in
changing your behaviour
•
Give you the information you need to weigh up the pros
and cons of your gambling
•
Identify the thoughts, feelings and situations that occur
before and during a gambling session, so you can start to understand the causes
of gambling
•
Point out your ‘triggers’, which will help you address
your gambling habit.
Making the decision to cut back or quit
Some people who are problem gamblers can return to a controlled level of
gambling. Most people prefer to abstain, which means giving up gambling for
good. There are no rules for determining whether you should reduce or stop your
gambling. However, giving up may be your best option if you are:
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Losing more money than you can afford
•
Accumulating debts
•
Suffering mentally, physically or socially.
Family and friends can help
You are more likely to succeed if you have help from your family and close
friends. Make an effort to explain your problem to the people closest to you.
Most people can understand the problem of addiction. Once you can admit that
your problem may have hurt them, and you can tell them so, they will be more
likely to support you.
How to change your gambling habits
Suggestions include:
•
Tell others about your decision – you are more likely to stick
to decisions if you tell other people about them. When looking for support,
choose carefully and talk to people you can trust.
•
Set limits and stick to a budget – decide how much money you
want to spend (that means ‘risk losing’) on gambling each week. Think of it as
entertainment money, not an investment. If you choose to spend $20 at the TAB
or on the poker machines, spend only that amount.
•
Spend any winnings – if you win, do not add the
winnings to your initial stake. Spend it another way, such as on bills.
•
Manage your debts – include regular debt
repayments as part of your budget. Set repayments as low as you can so you
don’t end up short of money, which could add pressure and make you want to
gamble more.
•
Be proud of yourself – when you start to make
changes to your gambling habits, say good things to yourself. What we say to
ourselves is important because it helps to change old habits.
How to fill the gap
When you give up or cut back on gambling, you need to fill the gap it
leaves.
Suggestions include:
•
Make extra time for family and friends if you have
neglected them while gambling.
•
Take another part-time job.
•
If you are a lunchtime gambler, go somewhere different
with workmates, arrange to meet someone, take a sandwich and read a book, or go
for a walk or a jog.
•
Take up a hobby or a sport.
•
Set short-term and long-term goals that don’t involve
gambling.
•
Look at other things you can do to ‘treat’ yourself.
•
Make your home an interesting place to be in, with
interesting things to do.
•
Do the things you may have stopped when you started to
gamble too much.
Get professional help
If you are finding it difficult, you do not have to handle your issues with
gambling on your own. Many people seek professional help.
Gambler's Help is a free service for people who are affected by gambling.
There are Gambler's Help services available throughout Victoria that provide:
•
Free, professional, confidential counselling for people
for whom gambling is an issue
•
Counselling for the family and friends of people for whom
gambling is an issue
•
Financial counselling to help people with
gambling-related money problems
•
Advice on self-exclusion programs and other support
services
•
Community education to help communities reduce the
negative effects of gambling.
Where to get help
•
Your doctor or other health professionals
•
Gambler’s
Help Tel. 1800 858 858, TTY 1800 777 706 – 24-hour telephone
counselling service
•
Gambling Help
Online – for problem gambling counselling and support
(Australia-wide), 24 hours, seven days
•
Gamblers Anonymous Tel. (03) 9696 6108 – support group
for people with a gambling problem
•
Gamble Aware
– information about the odds of winning, how gambling works, and when to stop
•
Financial and Consumer Rights Council Tel. 1800 134 139
or (03) 9663 2000
•
Lifeline Tel. 13 11 14
•
SuicideLine Victoria Tel. 1300 651 251
Things to remember
•
Gambling can sometimes grow without people realising how
their gambling habits have changed.
•
You do not have to gamble everyday or lose money every
session to have an issue with your gambling.
If you’re worried about your gambling or someone else’s, get help sooner
rather than later.
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