Know the signs
How to recognise when gambling is no longer just for fun.
All types of gambling can be risky and cause harm – but signs of harm can be hard to spot. It is important to understand what the warning signs are, either for yourself or someone else.
Gambling harm can impact many parts of your life. It can affect your performance at work, your social life, and your personal relationships.
Any of these signs could point to gambling harm.
Chasing losses
If you try to win back money that you’ve lost by gambling even more, you are chasing your losses. It can be tempting to chase losses, and most forms of gambling make it seem possible – but this often leads to losing even more money.
Hiding or lying about gambling
You might feel shame about your gambling or worry someone will judge you. But if you find you are hiding your gambling or lying about it, you can end up losing more money and time to gambling.
Spending more than you can afford
You might find even when you set a limit on how much you can spend, it can be hard to stop. You end up spending more than you can afford.
Borrowing money to gamble
You might tell yourself you will be able to pay it back with a win, but once the borrowed money is lost, you are more in debt than before.
Losing track of time
It is easy to get so involved in your gambling that you don’t notice time passing. Most gambling products are designed to draw you in and keep you playing.
Feeling guilty about gambling
Changes in sleep patterns, mood swings, anxiety and depression can all be signs of gambling harm. You might worry about how your gambling and moods affect people around you – leading to feelings of guilt, shame or low-self-esteem.
Gambling to escape stress or loneliness
Gambling can seem like an escape and a chance to be around others. But gambling harm can quickly escalate, leading to more stress, isolation and loneliness.
Losing interest in other stuff
You may think and talk about gambling more often than other things in your life, always focusing on the last time or the next time you’ll gamble. You might struggle to concentrate on other things, neglect responsibilities, or lose interest in other activities.
Be honest with yourself. If any of these signs are familiar, it’s time for you to take a closer look.
If you’d like to speak to a professional about your concerns or experiences, there is free, confidential support available.
Related information
Check out these other pages for safer gambling support and guidance.