Recognising the signs of gambling harm

Gambling harm isn't always easy to recognise. It can develop gradually and affect your finances, relationships, health, work, study and everyday life.

You don't have to gamble everyday or lose large amounts of money for gambling to cause harm. Early warning signs can include changes in your thoughts, feelings or behaviour around gambling.

Recognising the signs early can help you take action and access support.

What are the signs of gambling harm?

There are many signs that gambling may be affecting your life. You might notice changes in your finances, relationships, behaviour, mood or daily routine.

Changes in our gambling

You might:

• gamble for longer than planned
• spend more money than intended
• find it hard to stick to limits
• gamble more often or increase the amount you bet
• chase losses by trying to win back money you've lost
• think about gambling frequently or plan your next bet
• feel restless or irritable when you try to cut back
• struggle to reduce or stop gambling
• gamble when you're stressed, lonely or upset
• put gambling ahead of other activities or responsibilities.

Signs gambling may be affecting your money

Financial problems are one of the most common signs of gambling harm. You might:

• gamble with money needed for bills or essentials
• bet more than you can afford to lose
• borrow money or use credit to gamble
• sell belongings to fund gambling
• have less money for everyday expenses
• cut back on essentials such as food or healthcare
• believe a win will solve financial problems
• hide gambling losses, debts or transactions.

Financial impacts can continue even after gambling has stopped, especially if debts have built up.

Signs gambling may be affecting your relationships

Gambling can affect partners, family members, friends and other people close to you. You might:

• spend less time with people you care about
• miss important family, social or community events
• argue about gambling or money
• hide how much time or money you spend gambling
• avoid conversations about your gambling
• become withdrawn from others
• notice people are worried about your gambling
• put gambling ahead of relationships or responsibilities.

Gambling harm can affect the whole family, not just the person gambling.

Signs gambling may be affecting your mental health

Gambling can affect how you feel as well as what you do. You might experience:

• stress or anxiety about gambling or money
• guilt, shame or regret after gambling
• anger or frustration about your gambling
• feelings of losing control
• difficulty concentrating
• low mood after losses
• using gambling to cope with difficult emotions
• spending a lot of time thinking about gambling.

Gambling can also affect your physical wellbeing. You may lose sleep, skip meals, become less active or neglect your health.

Signs gambling may be affecting work or study

Gambling is a problem when it starts affecting your responsibilities. You might:

• struggle to concentrate at work or study
• spend time checking betting apps, odds or results during work or study
• fall behind on tasks or deadlines
• regularly feel tired because of gambling
• take time off due to gambling
• miss important commitments
• find it difficult to think about anything other than gambling.

How can you tell if gambling is becoming a problem?

Ask yourself:

• Am I spending more time or money gambling than I planned?
• Have I tried to cut down or stop but found it difficult?
• Have I chased losses by gambling more?
• Am I borrowing money or using credit because of gambling?
• Do I hide or minimise how much I gamble?
• Is gambling affecting my relationships?
• Am I gambling to cope with stress, anxiety, loneliness or other difficult feelings?
• Do I spend a lot of time thinking about gambling?
• Is gambling affecting my work, study, sleep or health?
• Do I feel regret, shame or distress because of gambling?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be worth taking a closer look at how gambling is affecting your life.

What can you do if you're worried about your gambling?

There are practical steps you can take to reduce gambling harm. You could:

• take a break from gambling
• set limits on the money and time you spend gambling
• remove gambling apps or block gambling websites
• talk to someone you trust
• seek support for gambling, financial concerns or other issues affecting your wellbeing.

GambleAware offers free and confidential support for people affected by gambling, including people who gamble and their family and friends.

Is someone else's gambling affecting you?

You don't have to be the person gambling to experience gambling harm. If a partner, family member or friend is gambling, you may notice:

• financial difficulties at home
• arguments about money or gambling
• increased stress within the family
• the person becoming secretive or withdrawn
• spending less time together
• broken promises or changes in behaviour
• worry about the impact of their gambling.

Support is available for people affected by someone else's gambling too.