Gambling
Many people enjoy gambling, whether it is at the pokies, betting online, or purchasing a lottery ticket.
However, for some people, gambling can stop being a source of occasional entertainment and become a serious problem.
The term ‘problem gambling’ is most commonly used to describe an individual’s inability to control the amount of money and/or time spent gambling which results in negative consequences for their social, family, and work life.
Some forms of gambling are more likely to lead to problem gambling. For example, electronic gaming machines (i.e., pokies) have been shown to be ten times more likely to lead to problem gambling than other lottery style games. Online sports betting and electronic casino gambling are also becoming increasingly concerning, particularly due to their availability, immersive environment, and ability to bet in private.
Although there are no consistent symptoms of problem gambling, instead there are a number of cognitive, emotional, behavioural, and financial signs that might indicate that a person is experiencing a gambling problem. These include:
Cognitive and emotional
- frequent thoughts about gambling
- feeling irritable and restless when attempting to stop gambling
- gambling in order to escape problems/feel better
- gambling more and more money in order to achieve feelings of excitement.
Behavioural
- arguments with family or friends as a result of issues relating to gambling
- relationship issues related to money or financial hardship
- hiding and/or lying about gambling behaviours
- experiencing difficulties at work or with study as a result of gambling behaviour
- repeated unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling
- difficulties resisting the urge to gamble.
Financial
- relying on others to resolve financial troubles caused by gambling
- legal issues related to debt or financial troubles
- gambling in order to win back lost money.
Research has shown that a number of psychological strategies are helpful in the treatment and management of problem gambling, with the most effective being cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and motivational enhancement therapy (MET). These programs can be administered face-to-face or virtually and included immersive and brief therapeutic options. These strategies are described below.
If gambling is affecting you or a family members’ work, school, home life, or relationships, our Psychologists are trained and qualified professionals, skilled in diagnosing and treating a range of concerns, including problem gambling. We can help you to identify and address factors that might be contributing to your gambling behaviour or the behaviour of someone you care about.
Our Psychologists usually see clients individually but can also include family members to support treatment where appropriate.