Gambling has been in the news a great deal recently, particularly around the exposure of children and young people to gambling advertising and the normalisation of betting in Australian sport. As a clinical psychologist, what concerns me is how easily gambling can move from something seen as harmless entertainment to something that affects a person’s mental health, relationships and life.
So, when should we worry?
Many Australians gamble occasionally. Someone might have a bet on the horses, buy a lottery ticket, play the pokies when they’re out with friends or bet on their favourite sporting team. This doesn’t necessarily mean they have a gambling problem. Gambling harm is about the negative consequences gambling can have on the person gambling and those around them. And it isn’t just about losing money.
A question I encourage people to ask is: What role is gambling playing in my life? It may be time to become concerned if you’re gambling more often or spending more than you intended, trying to win back money you’ve lost, hiding how much you gamble, borrowing money to gamble, or thinking about gambling a lot.
Another warning sign is when gambling stops being something you occasionally enjoy and becomes something you feel you need to do, perhaps to escape stress, sadness, loneliness or other difficult feelings. I’d also be concerned if gambling is affecting your sleep, mood, work, relationships or finances, or if people who care about you are starting to express concern.
What about our children?
For children and young people, prevention isn’t simply about saying, “Don’t gamble”. We need to help them understand why gambling carries risks. Talk openly about how gambling works. Gambling companies are businesses designed to make money, and, over time, the odds favour the gambling provider. Adults also need to think about what we model. If every sporting event involves discussions about odds, bets and wins, children can start to see gambling as simply part of enjoying sport. We can also teach young people to recognise gambling advertising for what it is, advertising designed to encourage people to spend money.
If you’re worried about someone
Approach them with compassion rather than criticism. Shame rarely helps people change. You might say, “I’m a bit worried about you. How are you going?” Importantly, don’t just ask about the gambling; ask how they’re feeling. Gambling can become a way of coping with anxiety, depression, loneliness, boredom or stress and unfortunately gambling losses and their consequences can then make these difficulties even worse.
Encourage the person to speak with their GP, psychologist or a specialist gambling support service. You can also seek support yourself if someone else’s gambling is affecting you.
We don’t need to wait until someone has lost enormous amounts of money or reached crisis point before taking gambling harm seriously.
Perhaps the simplest question is: Is gambling adding something enjoyable to my life, or is it starting to take something away?
