Gambling Harms

Gambling can harm many areas of life.  A person experiencing gambling harms may notice physical and mental health impacts. These can include anxiety, depression, and suicidal feelings. Gambling can harm relationships, lead to isolation, cause financial hardship and loss of social connections due to stigma. These harms can also be felt by family, friends, and colleagues.

Someone experiencing gambling harms may not notice all of these issues, or even realise the cause of them. By asking the right questions, you can support early identification of potential harms and direct them to appropriate help and support. Conversation can be powerful - it can help to reduce stigma, reduce feelings of isolation, and raise awareness about available help.

Very Brief Intervention

Ask

If appropriate, you could open up a conversation. People who have experienced harm from gambling talk about:

  • Not sleeping, feeling constantly restless
  • Feeling anxious a lot of the time
  • Not being able to take pleasure in ordinary things
  • Feeling stressed, irritable or angry about other people’s opinions
  • Not being able to stop gambling or thinking about gambling, despite wanting to
  • Feeling disconnected from people and situations
  • Not able to pay attention to people they care about
  • Feeling generally depressed
  • Suicide or having suicidal thoughts

You might notice these signs and symptoms in someone.

You could ask:

How does gambling make you feel?

Have you noticed any of these feelings? Might these be related to gambling?

You might also ask:

Has this affected anyone else around you or close to you? How?

You may be able to briefly explore this.

Gambling harm is often hidden. It can be hard for someone to talk about because of stigma or a fear of being judged – but give reassurance that there is lots of support available. It can be helpful to remain open-minded and focus on listening rather than asking ‘why’ or ‘how much’. Try to keep language and conversation blame-free.*

People affected by someone else’s gambling have described:

  • Feeling stressed or anxious
  • Relationship problems
  • Money struggles
  • Feeling the need to ‘cover up’ the gambling or impacts of it

If appropriate, you might ask:

Is someone else’s gambling worrying you? How?

Again, you may be able to briefly explore this.

Assist

Reassure the person that they are not alone, this is not their fault, and that talking about this takes courage and is a sign of strength.  They may also be helped by knowing that gambling harms can affect anyone – gambling products and environments are designed to make you want to gamble and keep on gambling even when it’s harmful.  People can be bombarded with marketing and incentives to gamble that are very difficult to avoid – these are also often targeted at people already at risk or experiencing harm.

It can be reassuring to know that it is possible to stop gambling, and that there is free, confidential and effective treatment available.

With permission, ask if the individual would like more information about gambling harms, how these can affect someone, and where to access further help and support. You can also offer to direct to guidance on self-exclusion and banning/blocking tools.

Act

If someone is in crisis and needs urgent help, especially if experiencing suicidal feelings:

  • Call Samaritans for free on 116 123 – whatever you are going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. They are there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
  • Text SHOUT to 85258 for confidential support if you prefer to talk to someone over text message.
  • Go to your nearest A&E or call 999, in an emergency or if you’re worried that you can’t keep yourself safe.

Support for gambling harms

Share sources of information and support appropriate to the person’s requests. These can include:

Chapter One

Chapter One is an information and support hub for everyone affected by gambling.

This is your place to find information that will help you understand the causes of gambling harm, and where to access the right help. The valuable resource contains details on help for an individual and others that might be affected by gambling.

Website: https://www.chapter-one.org/

*Chapter One has been developed by experts, research and lived experience and is free from gambling industry influence.

Free and confidential support is available from NHS specialists

NHS East Midlands Gambling Harms Service

We are the NHS East Midlands Gambling Harms Service. We offer specialist treatment and support to people struggling with problem gambling across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland.

Do you have a general enquiry about the East Midlands Gambling Harms Service? 

You can contact us in one of the following ways:

If you want support from our team with problematic gambling, please visit the refer yourself page.

Other Support services

National Gambling Helpline and Support

The National Gambling Helpline provides advisors who are available 24/7 online or via the telephone. They can signpost you to a range of confidential and free support services, such as counselling and therapy, as part of the National Gambling Support Network.

You can speak to an advisor or refer yourself to the National Gambling Support Network by contacting 0808 8020 133.

The National Gambling Helpline and Support Network is commissioned by the charity GambleAware, which receives voluntary donations from the gambling industry.

Website: https://www.begambleaware.org/ngsn

Peer support: Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous is described as a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others do the same.

Gamblers Anonymous operates local meetings of people who are affected. Each local group operates slightly differently. It is not a ‘treatment’ option, as it is not a registered mental health support service, but some have found Gamblers Anonymous meetings helped them to stop gambling.

Website: https://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk

Peer support: GamLearn

The Gambling Lived Experience and Recovery Network supports and empowers those who have experienced gambling-related harm.

Website: https://www.gamlearn.org.uk/

Peer support: GamFam

GamFam is a charity empowering individuals and families to reduce the impact of gambling harms and move towards a more positive future. GamFam offers free online peer support, including structured peer support groups for affected others and separate groups for those directly in recovery.

GamFam have created an opportunity for anyone affected by gambling harms to share experiences in a safe space, with no fear of judgement. Structured peer support groups provide information and support to help those affected learn and understand about gambling disorder.

GamFam is not a clinical service, it is an organisation that has lived experience at the heart of everything they do. Following a referral someone will reach out within a maximum of 24 hours with access to a group usually within a week.

Online Referral Form: GamFam Referral Form (office.com)

Gambling with Lives

A charity set up by families bereaved by gambling that provides support, raises awareness of gambling disorder’s devastating effects, and campaigns for change.

Website: https://www.gamblingwithlives.org/

Blocking tools and self-exclusion

Physical premises:

See Chapter One for guidance on how to self-exclude from physical gambling venues.

Online tools:

Gamstop
Signing up stops someone being able to use gambling websites and apps for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.
https://www.gamstop.co.uk/

Gamban
Signing up blocks access to gambling websites and apps on your devices.
https://gamban.com/

Gambling Commission
Information on how to block gambling payments with your bank.
https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-and-players/page/i-want-to-know-how-to-block-gambling-transactions 

Avoiding marketing

Visit account settings with gambling operators to unsubscribe from marketing emails.

Support with debt/financial concerns

If you have got into difficulty with money - these services can offer advice:

Citizens Advice - 0300 330 1313 - www.citizensadvice.org.uk

StepChange Debt Remedy - 0800 138 1111 - www.stepchange.org

*see this helpful guide for information about language and gambling harms:

Language guide by ecgmca - Issuu

Local Support and Contact Details