What is gambling harm

Gambling harm is when gambling has a negative effect on your life or the lives of people around you.

It can affect your finances, relationships, health and wellbeing, work or study and connection with family, friends and community.

Gambling harm can happen to anyone. It can build up over time or happen quickly and you don't have to gamble every day or lose a lot of money for harm to occur.

What can gambling harm look like?

Gambling harm can include:

• Money problems, such as debt, losing savings or having less money for everyday needs.
  
• Relationship problems, such as arguments, loss of trust or spending less time with family and friends.
  
• Emotional distress, such as stress, anxiety, guilt or shame.
  
• Physical health problems, including poor sleep, stress and neglecting your health.
  
• Problems at work or study, such as difficulty concentrating or keeping up with responsibilities.
  
• Loss of connection, including feeling less connected to family, culture, community or spiritual life.
  

Gambling harm can affect people who don't gamble

Gambling harm doesn't only affect the person who gambles.

Partners, family members, friends, colleagues and others close to them can also be affected by financial pressure, relationship conflict, emotional distress or concerns about their wellbeing.

What can increase the risk of gambling harm?

There is no single reason why gambling becomes harmful.

Your risk can be affected by how often you gamble, the types of gambling, how much you spend, why you gamble, your financial and personal circumstances, and other challenges in your life. The more often you gamble, the greater your risk, but frequency is not the only factor.

Some people may gamble to cope with stress or difficult feelings, while for others it may become part of their routine.

Having a big win early on can also affect how someone thinks about gambling. However, a win does not mean you are more likely to win again. Gambling outcomes are unpredictable.

Gambling harm can be difficult to talk about

Many people affected by gambling harm find it difficult to talk about their experiences or ask for help because they fear being judged. Shame and stigma can make it harder to recognise harm, speak openly and seek support early.

People may hide their gambling, financial difficulties or concerns from family and friends. Stigma can also affect partners, family members, friends and others impacted by someone else's gambling.

Gambling harm is complex. It is not simply about willpower or self-control. Life circumstances, stress, financial pressures and the gambling environment can all play a role.

Creating safe, respectful and non-judgemental spaces can help people talk openly about gambling harm and access support when they need it.

When should you get help?

Consider getting support if gambling is affecting your finances, relationships, health, work, study or wellbeing or if you're worried about someone else's gambling.

You don't need to wait until things become serious. Talking to GambleAware early can help you understand what's happening and explore practical ways to move forward, before gambling leads to significant debt, relationship problems or a crisis.