When is it problem gambling?
Whilst most people gamble to relax and have fun,
for some people gambling can change and develop into a problem. When that
happens, gambling can play too big a role in a person’s life and hurt
them, their family, friends and the people who care for them.
Some typical problem gambling
behaviour
Gambling may be a problem if you are:
- Spending more money and time on gambling than intended
- Hiding your gambling from other people
- Borrowing money to pay for living expenses – e.g. phone bill,
gas bill, groceries, petrol
- Losing interest in other activities (except for gambling)
- Finding work or your role as a parent is affected
- Starting to lie about your gambling
- Not going to work or not home as often
back to top
Risk Behaviour
People with gambling problems typically engage in a variety of risky behaviours
such as:
- Spending more money than intended or could afford to spend
- Regularly spending more time gambling than they meant to
- Building opportunities to gamble into daily routines
- Chasing their losses, and
- Borrowing money to gamble or obtaining money in unethical or illegal
ways.
back to top
Hazardous Thinking
People with gambling problems typically hold thoughts or beliefs that support
their behaviour, including:
- Beliefs about fated luck
- Superstitions related to winning
- Illusions of control
- Misunderstandings about the nature of probability and randomness.
If you think that your gambling
behaviour might be turning into a problem, go through a self-assessment
test.
back to top
