Gambling addiction is a recognised mental health condition that can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, or income. It develops when gambling stops being a form of entertainment and begins to negatively impact your wellbeing, relationships, finances, or daily life.
If you recognise several of the signs below in yourself or someone you care about, it may be an indication that professional support is needed. Seeking help is a positive first step, and recovery is possible.
Frequently thinking about gambling or planning the next bet.
Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to experience the same level of excitement.
Repeatedly trying to reduce or stop gambling without success.
Feeling restless, anxious or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling.
Emotional and behavioural changes.
Gambling to cope with stress, anxiety, depression or other difficult emotions.
Hiding or lying about the extent of your gambling.
Continuing to gamble despite knowing it is causing problems.
Chasing losses by gambling more in an attempt to recover money.
Borrowing money or relying on others because of gambling-related financial difficulties.
Experiencing conflict, damaged relationships, or the loss of important opportunities because of gambling.
Recognising these signs does not mean you have to face them alone. If gambling is affecting your life, confidential and professional support is available. Our trained counsellors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide guidance, assessment, and referral to treatment where needed.
Toll-Free Counselling Line: 0800 006 008
This programme provides FREE treatment to individuals who have been referred to our network of Treatment Professionals (External and Internal) via our counselling services (Telephone Counselling Helpline and WhatsApp). These individuals then attend counselling sessions with our Treatment Professionals.
The purpose of financial literacy is to empower problem gamblers who are receiving treatment with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed and effective decisions about their personal finances. Financial literacy includes understanding personal financial management, budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt.
The Foundation offers four core financial literacy and counselling sessions free of charge, covering an introduction to financial counselling, household financial needs and tracking income and expenses, budgeting, and debt in the context of gambling. An optional fifth session is available where additional support is required, particularly in relation to debt counselling strategies and the debt review process.
Budgeting helps clients to plan and manage the flow of money into and out of the household, gain greater control over spending, prioritise essential expenses, and identify opportunities to save.
In cases where a client is diagnosed with gambling disorder and other psychiatric illnesses such as depression, suicidal ideations, substance abuse etc.
A psychiatric/admission form is completed then sent to the Manager (Treatment, Counselling and Social services) for approval and then the client is referred for either hospital/rehab admission or psychiatric evaluation for further consideration to admit the client.
The client will then stay for a length of 21 days at a rehabilitation or hospital institution.
