Responsible Gaming

Gambling has been part of Australian culture for a long time, in fact some people argue that colonising Australia was a huge gamble in itself!

Statistics on gambling in Australia show that since the 1997/98 financial year, gambling expenditure (player losses) has risen from $11 billion to over $16 billion in 2003/04.

So gambling is a normal and accepted part of our culture. Yet those people who are experiencing problems due to gambling often feel rejected, misunderstood and isolated because there is little knowledge in our community about the potential dangers of gambling.

Anybody who gambles has the potential to develop problems. People often begin to lose control when difficult personal issues arise and gambling becomes a coping strategy. Problem gambling is characterised by a strong pull or compulsion towards gambling which becomes more and more difficult to resist. People describe this as the urge to gamble and say that despite all the logical arguments they have against gambling, this urge will not go away until it is satisfied (by gambling).

People often become frustrated with themselves and carry feelings of guilt, shame and embarrassment. Excessive gambling can lead to significant problems which may harm relationships, finances, work, physical health and mental health. At this point, gambling is described as problem gambling.

Warning Signs

The following are some of the signs that gambling has become a problem:

• Gambling more money than is affordable
• Being preoccupied with gambling (reliving past gambling experiences, thinking of ways to get money for gambling etc)
• Making repeated, unsuccessful attempts to cut down or stop gambling and being irritable or restless during these attempts
• Gambling to escape problems or to relieve negative feelings
• Chasing losses (gambling more money to try to win back losses)
• Lying to others to conceal the extent of gambling
• Obtaining money illegally to gamble
• Risking relationships and work or educational opportunities due to gambling
• Borrowing from friends, family or financial institutions to finance gambling or gambling related debts
• Gambling alone
• Gambling a significant proportion of income on pay day
• Feeling stresses during and/or after a gambling session
• Gambling being the only source of fun

Gambling can affect:

• Personal life: Feeling depressed and gambling to escape pressures or conflict. Feelings of loneliness and isolation from family and friends.
• Family life: Relationships suffering. Family members covering up addictive behaviour by paying debts. Lying to keep the extent of gambling a secret.
• Financial situation: Borrowing money to delay disaster. Gambling until all the money is gone. Gambling to chase losses, even when in debt. Financial difficulties possibly leading to legal problems.
• Work life: Loss of concentration. Lost time from work due to gambling. Decreased work productivity. Working long hours to obtain money to gamble.
• Health: Stress related illness, such as headaches, back pain, inability to sleep, mood swings and hypertension. Loss of control over gambling can trigger feelings of guilt and desperation which can lead to thoughts of suicide.
• Values: Thoughts of “borrowing” from employers or friends, committing fraud or forgery. Lying about the amount of time and money spent on gambling.
• Social life: Preferring to gamble alone. Little time for socialising. Avoiding friends who have lent money.

Strategies to Control Gambling

Following are some suggestions for reducing the harm associated with gambling:

• Work out how much you can afford to spend on gambling and budget for it.
• Be careful to stick to your gambling budget. One way to do this is to only take the amount of money you have budgeted for gambling.
• Only use your own money.
• Practice delay in responding to the urge to gamble by doing something else or finding long term alternative enjoyable activities.
• Gamble in company – not alone.
• Develop a support network of family or friends to talk to when you want to resist the urge to gamble.
• Sometimes, even after trying some of these strategies, dealing with gambling problems can be too difficult to do alone. This is when the extra support of someone who specialises in gambling counselling can be very helpful.

Gambling Counselling

Counselling provides people with an opportunity to discuss issues or concerns with a professional in a safe, confidential, non-threatening and accepting environment.

The counsellor’s role is to assist people in resolving their own problems and in exploring options. There are many different styles of counselling.

For counselling to be beneficial it is important that the person feels comfortable with both the counsellor’s style and the counsellor themselves. You must be comfortable in order to be open and honest and speak your mind. If this is not the case, it is vital that you discuss your feelings with the counsellor and negotiate any changes.

Lifeline Gambling Care

Lifeline Gambling Care (formally called the Gambling and Financial Counselling Service) is a free counselling service provided to members of the community who are experiencing problems with gambling and the associated financial difficulties that are often encountered as a result. Call Lifeline on 131114 for further information.

Gambling Helpline

The Gambling Helpline is a free, confidential telephone help service which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Helpline can offer information and assistance over the phone, crisis support and referral for clients to their closest Gambling Help service for face to face counselling.

Gambling Help is a support service which operates during business hours across Queensland. The services they offer are free and confidential.

Gambling Help offers:

• Professional, confidential and free counselling
• Addictions, relationship, financial and group counselling
• Sessions can be individual, couple or family based
• Counselling for both the person with the gambling problem or their families
• Referral to other agencies, where appropriate
• Culturally appropriate assistance

Clients may be offered individual, couple, family or group counselling sessions. Gambling Help employs professional psychologists and social workers to discuss issues and concerns in a safe, confidential and accepting environment.

The counsellors will assist clients to draw on their own strengths and resources, enabling them to resolve problems. It is the development of this partnership between client and counsellor which will reap the greatest benefits.

For counselling to be successful clients must recognize that it is not a magic fix. Clients should commit to a minimum of 4-6 sessions in an attempt to effect a resolution for their problems.

People attending counselling benefit from the opportunity to talk to someone who listens and cares and who can provide information assistance and guidance.

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from a gambling problem. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling.

Our primary purpose is to stop gambling and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same.