Category: Gambling & Addiction

Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world. Almost 30% of our population was born overseas, and nearly every single country from around the world was represented in Australia’s population in 2020.

Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.

Harmony Week (March 21st – 27th) encourages us to celebrate this diversity, and highlights the importance of respect, inclusivity, and creating a space where everyone belongs. This Harmony Week, we’ve teamed up with Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast (MCCGC) and cultural leaders from around the world to share insights on gambling in different countries, and what gambling looks like in Australia within culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

 

Gambling Around the World

It’s amazing just how differently gambling is viewed in different cultures.

While it may be considered a positive social activity in some countries, it’s strictly prohibited in others, such as Poland, Singapore, Cambodia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Whether it’s accepted or not, gambling is a part of many cultures around the world – and Australians are widely reported to be the world’s biggest gamblers.

“With gambling being so prevalent in Australia, particularly Queensland, many people who move here from other countries can perceive gambling as a big part of Australian culture,” explains Gambling Help Services Community Educator Amy.

“These individuals may engage in gambling as a way to integrate into the Aussie lifestyle.”

We spoke to some cultural leaders to learn about the attitudes toward gambling in their country of heritage compared to their experience of gambling in Australia.

 

Ping – China

“It’s a good thing. It’s accepted. But there are limits.”

Ping explains that China has a very big gambling culture – especially during Chinese New Year.

She says card games are very popular in China, with everyone knowing how to play cards but not always gambling for monetary value. She also notes that it’s common for seniors of the Chinese community who live in Australia to go to the casino.

“It’s seen as a positive thing for seniors for social engagement. It doesn’t have to be a negative thing,” Ping explains.

“It can be a positive thing – especially for seniors – as long as you have the right education. It’s very important to educate people about limits.”

Ping stresses the importance of educating the next generation about safe gambling.

“It’s important for our leaders to educate and guide in the right way – especially with kids gaming online,” she says. “Start with teenagers in high schools and universities.”

 

Antonella – Argentina

“We have a big and powerful gambling industry.”

Antonella explains that gambling is a big issue in Argentina, with a lot of casinos in the country.

“I never thought that it would be a very safe place for community groups to be in,” she explains.

Antonella also notes that in Argentina, the casino is a popular place for international students and refugees to meet.

 

Yasuko – Japan

“We need more support for the mental impacts.”

Yasuko describes how gambling is viewed in a negative light in Japan. There currently aren’t any bright and flashy casinos like in Australia, and generally, only men participate.

“Gambling seems to be more appealing and positive in Australia, with bright lights, conversation, dressing up and drinking. It’s a social thing here,” she says. “Japanese people don’t dress up for the horse races like Australians do.”

Yasuko explains that in Australia, she has worked in aged care, where she has taken clients to the casino. “They really enjoyed it. It’s positive for entertainment. But more education and support is needed.”

 

Frederik – Netherlands

“Once poker machines arrived, hell broke loose.”

Frederik reminisces on life before casinos opened and gambling became more common in the Netherlands.

“Before the casino opened, family relationships were positive. We enjoyed outdoor activities. Once poker machines arrived, hell broke loose.”

He explains how gambling and drug issues brought more crime to the country, and that “drugs and gambling go hand in hand.”

 

Maria – Hungary

“Gambling is hidden in Hungary, but it’s really in your face in Australia.”

Maria highlights that gambling must be really sought out in Hungary, while it’s extremely accessible in Australia in comparison.

“It’s very hidden in Hungary, and it’s very much in our face in Australia,” she says. “It’s very casual to go somewhere and find pokie machines, for example. It creates a different norm and coping methods for people. The lights and noises are designed to get you in. And once you get high on winning, it’s hard to walk away.”

Maria states that in Hungary, casinos are associated with criminal activities and the upper class. “It’s a hidden world,” she says.

“I believe education is needed regarding the odds and how these games are set up to create compulsive behaviours, taking more reality into this “glamorous” world.”

Maria explains that she believes gambling is a dangerous hobby, and it’s very easy to lose control.

“Most people who participate in gambling in Hungary are vulnerable people who cannot really afford to play or lose big,” she says.

“It would be nice if staff were trained at pubs, where they recognise problematic behaviours. The 24/7 helpline is also a good idea.”

 

Gambling and CALD Communities in Australia

Research funded by the Office of Responsible Gambling found culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities are vulnerable to increased risks of gambling-related harm.

Individuals from these communities generally participate in gambling less than the overall population but when they do, they’re more likely to experience problems.

“These communities may have existing stressors such as learning another language and integrating into a new culture, feeling disconnected from community groups, and not knowing who to reach out to for help,” Gambling Help Services Community Educator Amy explains.

“These can all contribute to higher risks of gambling harm.”

 

Gambling Support for CALD Communities

If you or someone you know is experiencing problems with gambling, free, confidential, and culturally appropriate help is available. You can talk to a counsellor by calling the 24/7 helpline on 1800 858 858.

Gambling Help Queensland can provide translator services and help connect you with your local multicultural services. The website can be translated to six other languages and offers information about problem gambling and where to access help.

“The Gambling Help Service can help you explore options and ideas, support you to get through the hard times, and work with you to achieve positive results,” Amy says.

If you need to connect with your local organisation or community group representing your culture, Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast can help.

There are a lot of different perspectives and experiences of gambling around the world. Coming to Australia where gambling is common and normalised may contribute to increased risk of gambling harm. It’s important for us all, as a community, to be aware of these risks and to know where to get support.

Has gambling become a problem for you?

When enjoyed responsibly, gambling can be a fun form of entertainment. But if it gets out of control, it can start to cause problems in your life and relationships.

We hope this advice helps if you’re having a hard time keeping your gambling under control and want to know how to stop yourself from gambling.

 

Recognise Risky Behaviours

Knowing the common signs of problem gambling can help you keep an eye on your gambling habits.

Some signs your gambling might be unhealthy include:

• Arguing with family and friends after gambling
• Borrowing money or selling assets to gamble
• Considering getting money to gamble through illegal means
• Feeling guilty about gambling
• Gambling to escape your problems or feelings
• Hiding the extent of your gambling
• Losing and having an urge to return as soon as possible to win back losses
• Missing work or social events to gamble
• Spending more time or money gambling than planned.

 

Know Your Triggers

Take note of the people, places, and activities that trigger your gambling urges, and what you can do to avoid gambling in that situation. You might like to keep a table like this:

Trigger	Thoughts	Feelings	Coping Strategy
Going to the pub with a workmate	We usually have a few beers and go on the pokies	Nervous, worried	Plan a different activity away from a gambling venue

 

Delay

Urges come in waves and will eventually pass.

If you feel an urge to gamble, try to delay the decision to give in. Instead of gambling as soon as you feel the desire, try to wait at least half an hour. If you’re feeling OK, try waiting another half an hour, and so on.

Delaying your gambling provides a chance for the urge to pass.

 

Distract

Gambling urges can be overwhelming. It might feel like gambling is all you can think about.

Start by taking some deep breaths and trying to relax, then do something to take your mind off gambling. Distracting yourself with other activities can help you remove yourself from the experience of a craving and engage in something else.

For example, you might like to go for a walk, watch a TV show, call a friend, or take a shower or bath.

 

Fill Your Days

Boredom can be a breeding ground for gambling urges.

Plan ahead and keep yourself busy and fulfilled to avoid boredom. Sitting around might increase your risk of giving in to gambling to stimulate your brain, so fill your days with things you enjoy.

Find some fulfilling interests and hobbies, maintain your friendships, and focus on self-development.

 

Remember Your ‘Why’

Don’t lose sight of why you want to reduce your gambling. Is it impacting your relationships? Your work? Your mental health? Is it getting in the way of your financial goals?

It can help to keep a list of the reasons why you made the decision to take action, as well as the things you could achieve if you changed unhealthy habits. Read your list every time you feel an urge to gamble.

 

Seek Professional Help

If you need some extra support to fight gambling urges, help is available.

You can learn about our counselling options here, or call the free and confidential Gambling Help QLD helpline on 1800 858 858.

You can find more self-help tips here.

It can be really hard to stop gambling. And once you’ve stopped, it takes ongoing work to resist urges to gamble again.

It’s normal to feel the urge to gamble even years after you’ve stopped. The important thing is how you respond to these urges to resist falling back into dangerous gambling habits.

There’s no reason why you can’t fight your gambling urges and maintain your new way of life, and it can help to have a few strategies up your sleeve when things get tough.

We hope these tips help you fight your gambling urges, one day at a time.

 

Identify your triggers

When you know what triggers your gambling urges, you can work on how to avoid them and/or respond to them in a healthy way. Take notice of when you most feel like gambling and if you can identify a pattern.

Your urge to gamble might increase when you:

• Get paid
• Are bored
• Have a bad day
• Are worried about bills/debt
• Experience relationship stress
• Have been drinking or using drugs.

This daily monitoring sheet from Gambling Help Queensland can help you keep track of your gambling and pick up on any trends. For example, if you notice that you feel like gambling when you drive past a gaming venue on your way home from work, you might like to take a different route to avoid the temptation.

 

Stay busy

Boredom can be a dangerous state for anyone with an addiction. Just think of the people addicted to their smartphones who can’t sit still for five minutes without mindlessly scrolling through social media apps!

Being bored can make you crave some fun and stimulation, and this is when gambling urges can arise.

You can avoid this by staying busy with fulfilling hobbies and activities. Fill your days with the things you enjoy, whether it’s playing sport, working on a puzzle, or catching up with your loved ones. You may find your urges to gamble decrease when you have an enjoyable routine that keeps you busy and happy.

 

Remember why you stopped

When those gambling urges get a hold of you and it’s all you can think about, it can be helpful to focus on why you wanted to stop gambling in the first place.

What are your motivations for breaking free from compulsive gambling? Could it be your family? Your job? Financial freedom? More time to spend on the important stuff?

You might like to make a list of these things so you can remember your ‘why’ and all the benefits of being free from harmful gambling behaviours.

 

Find ways to manage your stress

Stress can be a major contributing factor to problem gambling behaviours. Everyone experiences some level of stress at work and at home, and it’s important to find healthy ways to cope.

Some common ways to manage and reduce stress include:

• Exercise
• Meditation
• Breathing exercises
• Taking a quiet bath
• Listening to relaxing music
• Talking to a trusted friend or family member
• Talking to a professional.

We offer some helpful strategies to manage work stress in this blog post.

If you need someone to talk to about gambling or any other concerns, our counsellors can provide a safe, private, and judgement-free environment. Learn more about our free Gambling Help Services here, or call 1300 364 277 for more information on how we can help you.

Aussies love to gamble. From having a slap on the pokies to picking the first try-scorer in the footy, gambling is a popular – and widely accepted – form of entertainment in our culture.

But when does gambling go from harmless fun to a dangerous compulsion? How do you know if you have a gambling problem?

If you’re worried about your gambling habits, knowing the signs of a gambling problem can help you decide what action to take.

 

Signs of a Gambling Problem

These are just some of the common signs of a gambling problem.

Financial Signs

• Borrowing or stealing money from friends and family to gamble
• Selling belongings for money to gamble
• Spending all disposable income on gambling
• Spending more money than planned on gambling
• Trying to chase losses with more gambling
• Lying or being secretive about how much is spent on gambling
• Constantly planning how to get more money to gamble
• Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to get the same thrill
• Avoiding social activities that cost money so you have that money to gamble
• Considering getting money to gamble through illegal means

Behavioural Signs

• Lying to people to hide the extent of the gambling
• Less involvement in hobbies and leisure activities
• Skipping work/school/important commitments to gamble
• Spending more time gambling than planned
• Using drugs and alcohol more often/excessively
• Changes in sleeping, eating, or sexual relationship patterns
• Constantly checking the odds
• Trying to cut back on gambling, without success

Emotional Signs

• Arguing with friends and family after or about gambling
• Feeling guilty about gambling
• Gambling to escape problems or feelings
• Not feeling interested in friends, family, or normal activities
• Feeling preoccupied with thoughts of gambling
• Feeling worried, agitated or upset for no apparent reason
• Feeling hopeless, depressed or suicidal

 

Support for Gambling

Gambling Help Queensland offers free and confidential support to anyone impacted by gambling. If gambling has become a problem for you or someone you know, you can call the 24/7 helpline on 1800 858 858 to talk or book an appointment with a counsellor.

Worried someone you care about might have a gambling problem?

A gambling problem or gambling addiction can have serious impacts on the gambler and the people around them. These impacts aren’t just financial, either. Problem gambling can lead to relationship breakdowns and can negatively impact mental health, causing depression and anxiety.

Recovering from a gambling problem isn’t easy, and the right encouragement from friends and family can make a significant difference. But where do you even start?

It can be hard to know how to help a loved one with unhealthy gambling habits. We hope this advice helps you better understand what they may be going through, provide support, and encourage them on the road to recovery.

 

Know the signs

A gambling problem can be easy to hide. Some signs of a gambling problem can be so subtle that even the gambler may not think they have an issue.

Not all gambling is a problem. But if someone you care about is displaying these signs, it may mean gambling has become a problem for them.

• Hiding the extent of their gambling
• Trying to win back their gambling losses
• Feeling guilty or remorseful about gambling
• Arguing with family and friends after gambling
• Withdrawing and disconnecting from their loved ones
• Spending more time or money gambling than planned
• Borrowing money, getting a loan, or selling their things to gamble
• Finding it hard not to gamble at every opportunity, or to stop gambling once they’ve started
• Neglecting other activities to gamble (e.g. work, time with friends and family, their regular leisure activities).

These are just some behaviours that might indicate a gambling problem or compulsion.

 

Understand problem gambling

It’s important to remember that gambling is the problem – the person is not. As well as knowing what warning signs to look for, it may help to deepen your understanding of why your loved one might be gambling in the first place.

Knowing more about their situation can help you develop understanding and compassion – even if you’re angry or upset with them for their gambling behaviours.

Some common reasons people gamble include:

• Out of boredom or loneliness
• To escape worries, problems, and negative emotions.

Many problem gamblers feel shame and guilt around their behaviour and how it impacts those around them. Unfortunately, these overwhelming emotions can lead to ongoing gambling.

 

Start the conversation

Raise the topic in a private setting when you’re one-on-one. You might like to gently bring it up after you’ve already been talking about other things to ensure they’re comfortable and relaxed.

Try to voice your concern in a respectful and calm way, and avoid coming across as accusatory or judgemental. This can make them become defensive or shut down entirely. Instead of pointing the finger, use “I” statements to tell them what’s been worrying you.

For example:

• “I feel like gambling is affecting our relationship.”
• “I’ve noticed you’re spending a lot of time on gambling apps.”
• “I’m worried betting is causing stress for you.”

 

Suggest helpful resources

You can’t force your friend or family member to stop gambling. Instead, offer some relevant resources to encourage them to start their journey to recovery.

• Check Your Gambling – This short online quiz allows users to check whether their gambling is becoming a problem based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index.
• Spend Calculator – This gambling spend calculator requires users to think about how much they really spend on gambling, and what that money could be buying them instead.
• Self-Exclusion – A self-exclusion or self-ban allows users to ban themselves from specific gambling providers, products, or services.
• 1800 858 858 – This gambling helpline is available 24/7. Anyone impacted by gambling can call to talk to a gambling counsellor over the phone or book a face-to-face counselling session.

 

Get support for yourself

Those close to someone with problem gambling behaviour can often experience feelings of sadness, stress, anger, and hopelessness. It’s important to prioritise your own emotional wellbeing and seek help if needed.

It’s easy to focus all your energy and attention on trying to change the behaviour of the gambler – but this can mean your own self-care and needs are forgotten.

Friends and family of problem gamblers are also eligible for counselling support. This support may help you to develop strategies to care for yourself while supporting your loved one, take care of your own mental health and wellbeing, and learn ways to reduce the harm caused by your loved one’s gambling behaviour. You can learn more about our Gambling Help Program here, or call us on 1300 364 277 to make an appointment.

 

Is gambling a common argument topic in your relationship? Learn how to have a healthy argument and what to avoid in the heat of the moment with our article How to Fight Fair in a Relationship.

Aussies love to gamble. In fact, research shows around 6.8 million Australians are regular gamblers, spending money on one or more gambling activities each month.

From having a flutter on the pokies to backing our favourite team in the big game, gambling is a widely accepted and enjoyed form of entertainment in our culture.

But when gambling goes from harmless fun to risky behaviour, it can have serious impacts on the individual and the people around them.

Responsible Gambling Awareness Week (RGAW) is an annual event that encourages gamblers to stay within their limits and highlights the support available to people who are worried about their gambling, or that of someone they know.

This year, RGAW will be held in Queensland from 27 July to 2 August 2020.

The theme is Getting help is a safe bet. This is a reminder to stop, take a breath, and think about your gambling.

Normal RGAW events have been cancelled due to social distancing restrictions, but we’ll be sharing helpful information and resources on the RAQ Facebook page throughout the week.

If you need help with your gambling, Relationships Australia QLD provides free and confidential help through the Gambling Help Service program. You can learn about the program here, or call the 24/7 Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858.