Problem Gambling

It is estimated that more than 300,000 Australians have a problem with gambling. This can impact on financial and emotional wellbeing and make it hard to sustain healthy relationships. The good news is that there are support services available that can provide effective help. Many problem gamblers are able to regain control and turn their lives around.

What is problem gambling?

Problem gambling occurs when a person is dominated by a persistent strong urge to gamble - this urge can become an addiction or obsession.  Some problem gamblers equate the experience to being caught in a whirlpool. At the start of the whirlpool, it’s easy to escape. As you get sucked further in, it becomes much harder and ultimately escape becomes more and more difficult, as the sheer velocity of the whirlpool takes effect.

Anyone can become a problem gambler, and problems can develop quite quickly. This is not a problem that discriminates based on age, income, education, or ethnic background. 

Worried about your own gambling?

Early indicators of a gambling problem developing include:

• Going to gambling venues alone and more often
• Staying at gambling venues longer than you intended
• Spending more time on gambling than other favourite pastimes or interests
• Gambling every last dollar
• Thinking about gambling every day
• Trying to win back money you have lost with more gambling
• Reaching the point where you no longer enjoy gambling
• Finding it difficult to stop yourself spending too much
• Starting to lie to friends and family about your gambling and how much you have spent
• Feeling depressed because of gambling and having trouble sleeping
• Gambling is having a negative effect on other areas of your life, such as family and work

Adapted from the Salvation Army booklet Dealing with Problem Gambling

If you believe you have a gambling problem, seek help as soon as possible.  It is easier to recover from problem gambling if you take action before you get into a crisis. Many people who go through treatment programs experience a complete turn around and a new quality of life.

Worried about someone else?

If your own safety or wellbeing is at stake then it is important that you get professional help before trying to address the gambling issue. If you have concerns about someone else's gambling it might help to talk to a counsellor before talking to the person you are concerned about. When talking to the person who gambles, try to avoid being confrontational, show concern without lecturing or criticising. If the person agrees that he or she has a problem, here are some tips:

• Help them make contact with organisations who can help (see below)
• Be supportive and encouraging of their attempts toward change, however small
• Expect that there may be steps backward as a normal part of the recovery process
• Encourage activities that are not associated with gambling, and try to support them by limiting or stopping your own gambling
• Find out more about problem gambling – become informed on the subject

Strategies to Control Gambling

Following are some suggestions for reducing the harm associated with gambling:

• Work out how much you can afford to spend on gambling and budget for it 
• Be careful to stick to your gambling budget. One way to do this is to only take the amount of money you have budgeted for gambling and leave debit and credit cards at
• Only use your own money
• Practice delay in responding to the urge to gamble by doing something else or finding long term alternative enjoyable activities
• Gamble in company - not alone
• Develop a support network of family or friends to talk to when you want to resist the urge to gamble

A variety of self help resources are available including quiz tests, booklets, books and online support programs. Useful websites include:

• Relationships Australia
• Amity Community Services
• The Salvation Army Problem Gambling Centre

Sometimes, even after trying some of these strategies, dealing with gambling problems can be too difficult to do alone. This is when the extra support of someone who specialises in gambling counselling can be very helpful.

Contact Details for Gambling Services

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