Contact us via Alfred Health
Contact us via Alfred Health
03 9076 9888
Australians’ love of gambling comes at a cost. Recent gambling statistics show Australians lost $24.8 billion in 2018/2019, a 5% increase on the previous year. Every year more than half a million Victorians experience some form of gambling related harm.
Gambling harm is any harmful consequence or side effect that comes from gambling. It considers all levels of harm across a spectrum, from a person who may experience a few negative consequences up to a person feeling a loss of control.
When gambling begins to consume more money and time than a person can afford, it can affect many parts of their lives, including physical and emotional health, finances, relationships, work, and study.
Gambling harm includes the impact on others, not just the person gambling.
For every - one person experiencing gambling-related harms, there are between five and ten others who are negatively affected.
Despite these harms – help is available to help people get their life back in control.
If you are experiencing any of these harms, we encourage you to seek free and confidential help to stop the cycle of gambling and harms.
The main indicator:
Other indicators include:
If left unchecked, these harms can escalate.
Speak to someone who can help you begin the conversation to access free and confidential help to help change your gambling behaviours for good.
There is a strong link between gambling and mental health problems with around 3/4 of people affected by gambling also experiencing mental illness.
The most widespread emotional and psychological harms relating to gambling are shame and stigma.
Gambling harm can co-exist with a range of mental health problems including:
Almost 1/5 of people affected by gambling harm can experience suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts about suicide it is important to reach out. Your local area mental health service can be contacted 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
When there are concerns regarding co-existing gambling and mental health issues, gambling minds can work with services to address both issues together.
If a person gambles more than anticipated, they may no longer able to afford to buy essential or luxury items.
Eventually, their ability to buy non-essential items or even essential expenses such as the mortgage and utilities can become affected.
As gambling becomes more out of control, the person may experience an inability to purchase food, essential medications, medical care, clothing, children's education requirements, and transport.
Some may even opt-out of insurance cover, neglect repairs, and maintenance of assets such as homes and vehicles.
If you are experiencing any of these impacts on your finances, you can speak to a free financial counsellor who can help you develop a plan to get on top of your financial problems.
As the person spends increasing time gambling, there can be a loss of time available for close relationships and combined with gambling related problems this can cause significant conflicts, breaches of trust, disagreements, or arguments. Eventually, these issues can lead to a relationship breakdown.
As a consequence of this conflict the affected other can become withdrawn and less engaged in the relationship.
If you notice any of these impacts on your relationship, you can seek free and confidential support and advice from Gambler's Help, or our family therapist,
If left unchecked, these harms can escalate, yet when there is a problem with gambling you can recover.
The sedentary behaviours associated with gambling can contribute to health risk factors, including increased smoking and alcohol consumption, increased blood pressure, reduced personal hygiene poor nutrition and sleep practices.
Long periods in front of a gambling screen can lead to headaches or migraines and exacerbate existing conditions such as diabetes and depression.
Sticking to a routine helps keep people's minds occupied, so they feel more in control. Creating a daily routine can help provide the accountability needed to develop a healthy lifestyle.
If you are struggling with gambling talk to your GP about a mental health and physical check-up.
When gambling becomes a preoccupation, people can experience reduced functioning due to tiredness and distraction. Some may eventually experience a loss of employment and subsequent loss of wages which exacerbate financial issues associated with gambling.
Affected others can become tired and distracted at work or study because of the ongoing emotional or psychological distress associated with supporting a person experiencing gambling-related problems.
If you notice your work or study is impacted by gambling, it is essential to reach out for help so that you can get back on track.
If you notice conflict with gambling and your cultural beliefs, help is available to discuss how to back a connection to your culture and your community.
Involvement in criminal acts because of gambling is often associated with gamblers trying to address deficits in funds. The gambler tries desperately to gamble to chase past losses to resolve a difficult financial situation.
Other criminal activities include negligence such as child neglect, duress crimes to repay debts such as drug trafficking or prostitution, and crimes of opportunity, such as petty theft from family members, illicit lending, and fraudulent efforts to attain funds.
This criminal activity can lead to shame and stigma and considerable ongoing harms such as the impact of a criminal record, and custodial sentences on both the perpetrator and affected others.
Help is available from professionals who can help you address these issues before they get out of hand.
Find out how you can get help or help others.
17.6% of people affected by gambling harm can experience suicidal thoughts.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, contact Lifeline.
Your local area mental health service can also be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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