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Problem Gambling
Resources and advice for when gambling is a problem
What is Problem Gambling?
Not everyone who gambles has a problem! However...
According to the Australian Productivity Commission's Inquiry into Australia's Gambling Industries (1999):
- 2.1% of the Australian adult population or around 293,000 people have a significant gambling problem.
- On average around seven other people are affected by a severe problem gambler's behaviour. That's around 2 million Australians.
Problem Gambling is clearly a major public health issue in Australia.
Gambling becomes a problem if someone spends more time or money than they can afford to, or if it is having a negative impact on their relationships.
Is gambling affecting your health?
Most people enjoy gambling but sometimes it can affect our health. Take this Quiz to check if gambling could be affecting your health.
- Controlling your urge to gamble
- If you want to control your urge to gamble, what can you do?
- Be honest with yourself about how much you are losing (keep a record).
- Only gamble if you can afford to lose the money.
- Do not have your EFTPOS or credit card with you if you gamble.
- Break the negative powers of the secrecy by telling a close friend or loved one about your experiences with and feelings about gambling, or alternatively, call a telephone counsellor in your area.
- Manage your stress by eating regularly; cutting back on stimulants such as caffeine and/or nicotine.
- Do not drink alcohol while gambling.
- Have a friend go with you when you are shopping.
- Arrange a bill paying service with a bank or credit union.
Assistance is available
If gambling is affecting your health and you are feeling anxious or depressed, or if gambling is negatively impacting on your relationships, help and support is available.
Relationships Australia has two specialist programs called Break Even and Gambler's Help devoted to problem gambling. They provide:
- face-to-face counselling services for people with a gambling problem and/or partners and relatives impacted by problem gambling behaviour
- assistance in overcoming a gambling problem, like exploring the extent and nature of the gambling behaviour and the factors which trigger the behaviour or encourage its continuation
- controlling gambling behaviour through strategies that minimise the harm resulting from gambling and strategies to avoid relapse into uncontrolled gambling behaviour
- financial counselling, to address debts, cope with creditors, and reorganise financial affairs generally
- counselling to address the underlying issues linked to gambling and the impact of gambling on relationships and family life and steps to relieve that impact.
Find out about Relationships Australia's Problem Gambling services.
Further resources
Information Pack for people seeking help on Problem Gambling (pdf).
Please note that this pack was developed for people living in South Australia and contains service information for that area, but is provided here as a general resource as it contains much helpful information for people affected by problem gambling.
