Worried about a family member or friend's gambling?
It can be hard to know what to do or how to help. Here's a rundown of the warning signs of gambling harm and some practical steps you can take.
Do you recognise any of these warning signs?
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Losing all their gambling money
Do they regularly lose the money they put aside for gambling?
-
Eating into money for bills
Have they gambled with money for groceries or everyday bills?
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Gambling on credit
Have they skipped a credit card or loan payment or used their credit card to gamble?
-
Wasting their savings
Have they gambled with money they'd saved for a car, renovations, a holiday or a new home?
-
Asking friends or family for money
Have they asked you or someone you know to loan them money so they can gamble?
-
Falling out with friends
Have they lost friends because they've borrowed money or a friend tried to tell them their gambling is harmful?
-
Losing their car or home
Have they defaulted on a car loan, the rent or their mortgage in order to gamble?
-
Risking the trust of loved ones
Have they lied and lost your trust or even become estranged from you or their family due to gambling?
If you can get
the person you're worried about to recognise the warning signs
and accept that their gambling is
harmful, that's the first step. After that, there's a range of resources and support available to help.