The signs of gambling harms
As anyone can experience problems with gambling, there is always a risk that it could become harmful.
Gambling harms can be anything that negatively impacts the life of the person gambling, or the life of those around them.
Gambling harms are often hard to spot. This means understanding the warning signs of problems with gambling is an important step towards getting the right support.
What are the signs?
We know that gambling impacts everyone differently. However, there are some signs that can help you tell if someone is experiencing gambling problems, also known as 'gambling addiction'.
Chasing losses
Chasing losses means trying to win back money that has been lost through gambling.
It might be tempting to try and chase losses, especially straight after experiencing a large loss, but this often leads to even bigger losses.
Spending more time or money gambling
People experiencing gambling harms might find it hard to stop or reduce gambling. This might lead to them spending more time and money on gambling than they can afford.
Feeling guilty, anxious or irritable
Gambling can have an impact on how someone feels, regardless of how much they gamble.
People experiencing gambling harms might feel they have little or no control over it. This can lead to feeling guilt, shame or low self-esteem.
They might also:
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worry about how their gambling is affecting others
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experience anxiety and depression
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notice changes in their sleeping pattern
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have mood swings
Thinking and talking about gambling
If someone is experiencing gambling harms they might think or talk about gambling more than other aspects of their life.
This can lead to problems with work and relationships because they might:
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struggle to concentrate
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lose interest in other activities
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neglect personal responsibilities
