Could gambling be causing problems for you or someone close to you?

Gambling harms can be anything that negatively impacts the life of the person gambling, or the life of those around them. Gambling harms are often hard to spot. This means understanding the warning signs of problems with gambling is an important step towards getting the right support. We know that gambling impacts everyone differently, however, here are some common signs:

What are the signs? 

• Feeling anxious, worried, guilty, or irritable - Gambling can have an impact on how someone feels, regardless of how much they gamble. People experiencing gambling harms might feel they have little or no control over it. This can lead to feeling guilt, shame or low self-esteem.
• “Tried to cut back or stop, but couldn’t?”. Some people find it hard to stop gambling even when they want to. They might keep trying to cut back without success, which can feel frustrating or hopeless.
• Have gambling habits caused tension or arguments with people close to you?” Gambling can affect relationships with family and friends. It might lead to conflict, broken trust, or emotional distance.
• Neglecting work, school, or family - Gambling can become all-consuming, leading someone to miss responsibilities, be less present at home, or underperform at work or study
• Feeling hopeless, depressed, or even suicidal - When gambling harms build up, it can lead to serious mental health struggles. Some people feel trapped, overwhelmed, or like there’s no way out.
• Chasing losses - Chasing losses means trying to win back money that has been lost through gambling. It might be tempting to try and chase losses, especially straight after experiencing a large loss, but this often leads to even bigger losses.
• Thinking and talking about gambling - If someone is experiencing gambling harm they might think or talk about gambling more than other aspects of their life. They may struggle to concentrate, lose interest in other activities and/or neglect personal responsibilities
• Hiding or lying about gambling - Gambling can cause feelings of shame. This can lead to people keeping their gambling a secret out of a fear of being judged, but this often makes it easier to lose track of time or money.