Should I be worried?

It can be difficult to know if someone else's gambling is harmful. It is common for individuals to feel ashamed of their gambling and attempt to hide it from their family and friends.

SIGNS OF GAMBLING HARM

 

01

BEHAVIOURS OF GAMBLING HARM

  • Decreased involvement in leisure activities

  • Relying on others to pay for them in social situations

  • Using drugs or alcohol more often/more excessively

  • Constantly checking their phone


02

FINANCIAL SIGNS OF GAMBLING HARM

  • Money missing from bank accounts, wallet/purse or money jar

  • Household items and valuables missing

  • Regularly short of money even though they earn a wage

  • Borrowing money on a regular basis

  • Having many loans at the one time

  • Being secretive about financial records or payslips

  • Unpaid bills/disconnection notices

  • Lack of food in the house


03

RELATIONSHIP & EMOTIONAL SIGNS

  • Seeming worried, distant or preoccupied

  • Seeming not interested in family and friends

  • Changes in sleeping, eating, or relationship patterns

  • Using threats or lies to get what they want from others

  • Reporting feeling hopeless, depressed or suicidal



04

BEHAVIOURS AT HOME

  • Becoming withdrawn from others/family events

  • Seeming worried, agitated or upset for no apparent reason

  • Reporting feeling hopeless, depressed, frustrated or suicidal

  • Changes in personality – sleeping, eating, or sexual relationship patterns

  • Controlling and/or manipulative behaviour

  • Using threats, lies or charm to manipulate others


05

TIME-SPENDING BEHAVIOURS

  • Spending more and more time gambling

  • Being secretive about unexplained absences

  • Often being late for commitments

  • Taking a lot of sick days or days off

  • Taking an unusual amount of time for simple tasks (e.g. taking hours to do regular grocery shopping)


06

BEHAVIOURS AT WORK

  • Missing deadlines

  • Taking a lot of sick days or days off

  • Performance at work is being affected

  • Seeming worried or distracted, unable to focus on work tasks

  • Accounts not balancing due to missing funds or other irregularities

Contact us

If gambling is impacting your life or a loved one's life, it's okay to reach out for help. It’s free and confidential.

Call the 24/7 Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858

Face-to-face counselling locations