All gambling carries some risk, but some types of gambling carry more risk than others. This page provides information about which types of gambling are most commonly linked to gambling harms or problems. You’ll also find support services and information on the signs to look out for if you or someone you care about is struggling.
Being able to empathise with someone who’s gambling is the first step towards helping them. We’ve put together some useful information to help you understand what they might be going through.
It can be difficult as a parent or guardian to know what to say to a young person who is gambling. Here you can find practical advice to help you have open and positive conversations with children and young people about gambling.
To be able to support someone you care about, you have to take care of yourself too. If someone’s gambling is affecting you in any way, there’s help and support available for you.
"No one ever talks about losses. So, it's really hard to even know if someone's got a problem or not, because if you haven’t won for a while – you just won’t say anything...Hearing other people’s stories that are similar to mine kind of makes you think ‘Wait a minute’… you realise you’re not a million miles away from it."
"I try and set myself limits to keep it under control. You can sit there and say you’re in control – but sometimes you’re not. Having a spend calculator is really helpful….it visually shows how much you’re spending. You can’t ignore it."
"I never thought I had a problem. I didn't want to be seen like a gambler and addict. But they're all the things that I was...I think now knowing that I can pick up the phone to someone, or I could reach out to someone and get help straight away…it might have been easier."
"At first I wouldn’t say anything because actually... it's not really my place to say, it's not my money. Then I thought I could help him, but I realise now that's not the case and I should have looked after myself first… I still sometimes have to remember to do that."
"I never talked about anything. I wish I had, just saying stuff out loud makes such a difference… I went to group meetings and the more I spoke about my story, the more open I was. And the more I was getting asked questions and getting more involved. It was that that helped me in my recovery."