Gambling counselling for individuals

For partners & family members please scroll down

Gambling harm affects thousands of Australians every day. While many people gamble recreationally, for some it can begin to impact finances, relationships, mental health and overall wellbeing.

Australia has one of the highest rates of gambling expenditure in the world, with Australians losing an estimated $31.5 billion on legal forms of gambling in 2022/23. Sadly, gambling-related harm continues to rise, leaving many individuals and families struggling in silence.

Many people experience feelings of stress, guilt, shame, or hopelessness, making it difficult to reach out for support.

If you are experiencing gambling harm, it is important to know that this is not simply a matter of willpower or personal failure. Gambling products are highly sophisticated, heavily marketed, and designed to keep people engaged.

By learning how gambling works and gaining a better understanding of yourself, your triggers, and your patterns, you can regain control of your life and create more good days ahead.

How gambling counselling can help

What gambling counselling can help you achieve:

• Learn how gambling works

• Explore your beliefs and perception towards gambling

• Identify triggers and manage urges

• Reduce anxiety, stress and emotional distress

• Strengthen your relationships and communication

• Develop healthier coping strategies

Signs gambling may be becoming a problem

Gambling can become problematic gradually, often without you realising the impact it's having. You may be:

• Spending more money or time gambling than intended

• Finding it difficult to stop or cut back

• Chasing losses by gambling more

• Hiding gambling from family or friends

• Borrowing money or experiencing financial stress

• Feeling anxious, depressed, irritable or guilty about gambling

• Experiencing strain in relationships, work or daily life

Some facts about Gambling in Australia:

• “Australia is home to less than half a per cent of the world’s population but has 20 per cent of its pokies – and 80 per cent of those located outside casinos” (source)

• There are nearly 200,000 gaming machines in Australian hotels, clubs, and casinos.

• NSW is home to just under half of all pokies machines in Australia (88,828 as of 2023 or one for every 75 NSW resident

• The odds of winning a typical $5,000 prize on a $1 poker machine are 9,700,000 to 1

• Lotto tickets are the most common form of gambling but pokies are the most harmful, followed by sports betting

• Gambling harm is on the rise, with 15% of people who gamble experiencing gambling harm in 2024 (source)

• "$238.63 million was spent on gambling advertising on free-to-air TV, metro radio and online (including social media) between May 2022 and April 2023" (source)

Gambling counselling for partners & family members

Gambling doesn't only affect the person gambling. Did you know that for every person experiencing high-risk gambling, an average of 6-10 other people are affected?

Often when partners, family members and close friends discover that someone they care about has a gambling problem, they keep it to themselves due to fear of judgement from others.

If you are a loved one of someone who gambles, you may experience feelings of betrayal, emotional stress, financial pressure and uncertainty. It can be incredibly difficult to navigate these experiences on your own.

Gambling counselling can help loved ones:

• Have a safe space to talk about how their loved one's gambling has affected them

• Process the grief of the person or life they thought they knew and had

• Understand the gambling mindset and how it influences behaviour

• Develop healthy boundaries

• Improve communication skills

• Rebuild trust

• Learn practical coping strategies

It is commonly understood that we can't change someone who doesn't want to change. However, we can support people in moving towards change when they are ready.

The main focus of gambling counselling for loved ones is helping you take care of yourself first and foremost, while processing and repairing the ruptures that gambling may have caused within your relationship.

Take the first step

Whether you're worried about your own gambling or you're supporting someone affected by gambling harm, you don't have to face it alone.

At More Good Days Therapy, we provide a compassionate, non-judgemental space to help individuals, partners and family members understand what they're experiencing and find a path forward.

If you'd like to learn more or book an appointment, get in touch today.