The impacts of gambling
Gambling harms are the negative consequences someone faces after gambling. These harms occur in all sorts of areas, from mental and physical health, money and relationships, to education, work and beyond.
If you're close to someone who has been harmed by gambling, you may be feeling the effects too.
It’s important to know that it’s not their fault or yours. The gambling industry has designed addictive products that make people want to gamble and keep gambling.
Knowing what to look for in someone who may be experiencing gambling harm can be a helpful first step in protecting yourself or someone else. Some signs include:
- feeling anxious, down, or depressed
- being stressed or irritable
- not sleeping well
- having thoughts of suicide or previous suicide attempts
- gambling or thinking about gambling often
- not being able to stop gambling, despite wanting to
- having arguments with family or friends about money and gambling
- chasing losses or gambling to get out of financial trouble
If you think any of these things are happening, you might benefit from some extra help.