People with a gambling addiction are twice as likely to die from suicide.
At least 500 people – mostly young men – kill themselves each year due to a gambling addiction.
Becoming a problem gambler can happen quickly, you may not realise you have a problem until its too late.
Think about how many times you have truly won?
Has it stopped feeling like a game?
Your gambling has gone too far if you:
- Are gambling to make yourself feel happy Feeling guilty about your gambling
- Feeling guilty about your gambling
- Try to win back the money you’ve lost
- Hide gambling from family and friends
- Need to gamble large amounts of money
- Have been criticised for your gambling by others
5 steps to manage your gambling
Even if you don’t think you have a problem, It’s important to be in control of your gambling.
- Allocate a budget and stick to it.
- Remember, gambling isn’t an extra source of income.
- Monitor your activity. Online sites should allow you to track your activity inclduing money and time spent on the site.
- Limit the amount of gambling content you have on social media.
- Ask for self exclusion. This can be temporary or permanent.
Struggling with gambling cravings?
Sometimes the urge to gamble can feel overwhelming. Try some of these tips to help manage the cravings.
- Avoid isolation. Speak to people around you so they can support you.
- Postpone gambling. Tell yourself that you will wait 15 minutes or an hour. The urge to gamble will pass or get weaker, making it easier to resist.
- Visualise what will happen if you give into the urge. Think of how you’ll feel if you lose the money.
- Try to distract yourself with something else.
Quitting for good
Gambling is a dangerous ‘game’. It will certainly impact your finances as well as potentially harming your mental health.
The only people who really win are the companies who earn the £14 billion that is spent ever year on gambling.
- Block all gambling payments with your bank.
- Self exclude yourself from all online gambling and gambling facilities.
- Identify your gambling triggers. This may be when you’re with certain friends or when you’re at the pub.
- Prepare for when you’re triggered or you feel the urge to gamble.
- Find what really drives your gambling. Often gambling becomes a problem to escape deeper mental health issues.
- Seek help. There’s lots of places you can reach out to for help.
Useful Links
