Helping Someone With a Gambling Problem
Gambling is a form of risk-taking where you stake money or anything else of value on a game of chance, such as betting on a horse race or football match, scratchcards, online games, dice games, or poker. If you win, you get the money or whatever else was staked. If you lose, you’ll usually feel a low (‘the runner-up blues’). Some people use gambling to escape from feelings of depression or other mental health problems, but it can actually make these worse.
‘Problem gambling’ or ‘gambling disorder’ is defined as gambling behavior that is damaging to you or others, disrupting your daily routine, or making you unable to work or care for yourself. It’s estimated that 2.5 million U.S. adults (1%) meet the criteria for problem gambling, and that another 5-8 million (2-3%) have mild or moderate gambling problems.
Problem gambling can happen to anyone, but it’s most common in young men and those who start gambling at an early age. The Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends that all children should be educated about the risks of gambling and how to seek help. Those at higher risk of developing a gambling problem include those who spend lots of time playing video and mobile games, which often require micro-payments and deposits. People who have lost their job or are living in poverty also tend to be at greater risk of gambling problems, as can those who have been involved in domestic violence or other traumatic events.
The first step in helping someone with a gambling problem is to discuss it with them, but this can be difficult because of the stigma attached to gambling addiction. The best way to do this is by framing it as a health issue, rather than a lifestyle choice, as this will reduce resistance and make them more likely to accept help.
You can also try to limit their access to money, putting them in charge of household finances, limiting access to credit cards and online betting sites, or closing their accounts altogether. You can also encourage them to take regular breaks from gambling, and remind them of the other things they’re missing out on by doing so. You might suggest that they set a timer for themselves, and when the time is up they move on to something else.
A key thing to remember is that you cannot control how much you’ll win or lose, because it’s completely down to luck. Avoid chasing your losses by thinking that you’re about to get lucky and recoup what you’ve lost, as this will only make the lows more intense. Instead, learn to enjoy the highs and congratulate yourself on the wins, while accepting the losses as inevitable. You can also find help through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which will examine your beliefs about gambling and how you react to it. Then you’ll be in a better position to make a plan to change your gambling behaviour for good.