Here at Sportsform we take responsible gambling very seriously. All of us enjoy the thrill of having a punt on the races or a sporting event but we also see the damage gambling can do when people let things get out of control. People often find they can't stop betting and end up losing large amounts of hard earned money and all of this has the potential to ruin close relationships with family & friends.
Like anything in life gambling should be done in moderation, provided you do that and bet within your means and you are sure too have an enjoyable time on the punt.
How do I know if I have a gambling problem?
Gamblers anonymous have put together a useful questionnaire which can help identify if yourself or someone you know has a problem, if you answer YES to more than seven of the following questions it is possible you may have a gambling problem.
1) Do you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2) Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3) Does gambling affect your reputation?
4) Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5) Do you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
6) Does gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7) After losing do you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
8) After a win do you have a strong urge to return and win more?
9) Do you often gamble until your last dollar is gone?
10) Do you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
11) Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
12) Are you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
13) Does gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
14) Have you ever gamble longer than you planned?
15) Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
16) Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
17) Does gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
18) Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
19) Do you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20) Have you ever considered suicide as a result of your gambling?
Self Help?
If your gambling is causing problems in your life, there are things you can do to stop it being an issue. You can take steps to change your life.
Set some goals - Setting short-term and long-term goals may help you to stay focused and clear about cutting down or giving-up your gambling.
Avoid high-risk situations - High-risk situations like use of credit cards, taking out loans, carrying large amounts of money with you, using gaming venues for socialising or gambling as a reaction to emotions will weaken your resolve to control or stop your gambling.
Talk about it - Talking about gambling problems with somebody you trust and someone who won't judge you can ease the pain of bottling it up. It can also reduce the stress that can cause you to continue to gamble.
Ask for help - If you are finding it difficult, you do not have to handle your issue with gambling on your own. Many people seek professional help. Gambler's Help has free, confidential help, advice and support services.
Face the feelings - Becoming aware that you could be a problem gambler may cause feelings of shame and guilt. Self-blame and self-harm can increase stress and may urge you to gamble more. However, acknowledging the problem and taking steps to seek help can help you change your life for the better.
Be kind to yourself - Stop beating yourself up over your issue with gambling and focus on the steps you are taking to overcome the problem. Acknowledge your positive achievements; write them down to remind yourself of your strengths and attributes.
Try to find an alternative to gambling - Many people gamble because they do not know what else to do. Try to find an alternative recreational activity or hobby.
Prepare for a lapse - A lapse occurs when you gamble again after deciding to stop. You do not have to continue to gamble if this happens to you. You can use this to learn more about what triggers your gambling. When a lapse occurs, examine what worked and what didn't work with your plan.
Gambler's Help - Try phoning someone close to you or see below for a list of counseling services in your state.
Where to get help?
The Counseling services listed below provide personal and confidential counseling 24 hours a day to gamblers, family members and friends who suffer the effects of addictive gambling behavior. They are all completely confidential and some operate in a variety of community languages including Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, Macedonian, Croatian and Vietnamese.
Simply select a counseling service in your state
New South Wales - G-LINE (Free Call) 1800 858 858.
Victoria - Gamblers Help (Free Call) 1800 858 858.
Queensland - Gambling Help (Free Call) 1800 222 050.
South Australia - Problem Gambling (Free Call) 1800 060 757.
Western Australia - Problem Gambling Helpline (Free Call) 1800 622 112.
