Problem Gambling Solutions Inc
Being a compulsive gambler can harm your health and relationships, and leave you in serious debt.
It runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) and also offers face-to-face counselling. National Problem Gambling Clinic If you live in England or Wales, are aged 13 or over and have complex problems related to gambling, you can refer yourself to this specialist NHS clinic for problem gamblers. See if you meet the criteria for this service. However, gambling can become a problem for some people when they have trouble setting limits on the time and money involved. If you’re worried about your gambling, find out more about gambling problems and how you can get them under control. Problem gambling is an urge to gamble continuously despite negative consequences or a desire to stop. Problem gambling is often defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others, rather than by the gambler's behaviour. Severe problem gambling may be diagnosed as clinical pathological gambling if the gambler meets certain criteria.
If you have a problem with gambling and you'd like to stop, support and treatment is available.
Are you a problem gambler?
Try this questionnaire:
- Do you bet more than you can afford to lose?
- Do you need to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling?
- Have you tried to win back money you have lost (chasing losses)?
- Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
- Have you wondered whether you have a problem with gambling?
- Has your gambling caused you any health problems, including feelings of stress or anxiety?
- Have other people criticised your betting or told you that you had a gambling problem (regardless of whether or not you thought it was true)?
- Has your gambling caused any financial problems for you or your household?
- Have you ever felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?
Score 0 for each time you answer 'never'
Score 1 for each time you answer 'sometimes'
Score 2 for each time you answer 'most of the time'
Score 3 for each time you answer 'almost always'
If your total score is 8 or higher, you may be a problem gambler.
Help for problem gamblers
There's evidence that gambling can be successfully treated in the same way as other addictions. Cognitive behavioural therapy usually has the best results.
Treatment and support groups are available for people who want to stop gambling:
GamCareGamCare offers free information, support and counselling for problem gamblers in the UK.
It runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) and also offers face-to-face counselling.
National Problem Gambling Clinic If you live in England or Wales, are aged 13 or over and have complex problems related to gambling, you can refer yourself to this specialist NHS clinic for problem gamblers.
See if you meet the criteria for this service.
Gordon Moody Association The Gordon Moody Association offers residential courses for men and women who have problems with gambling – email help@gordonmoody.org.uk or call 01384 241292 to find out more.
It also runs the Gambling Therapy website, which offers online support to problem gamblers and their friends and family.
Gamblers Anonymous UKGamblers Anonymous UK runs local support groups that use the same 12-step approach to recovery from addiction as Alcoholics Anonymous. There are also GamAnon support groups for friends and family.
Self-help tips for problem gamblers
Do:
- pay important bills, such as your mortgage, on payday before you gamble
- spend more time with family and friends who don't gamble
- deal with your debts rather than ignoring them – visit the National Debtline for tips
Don't:
- view gambling as a way to make money – try to see it as entertainment instead
- bottle up your worries about your gambling – talk to someone
- take credit cards with you when you go gambling
For more self-help tips, see the Royal College of Psychiatrists website.
If you're affected by someone's gambling
If you're having problems because of another person's gambling, it's best to be honest with them about it. They need to know how their behaviour is affecting you.
Support is also available to people who are worried about someone else's gambling:
GamCare Gamcare offers support and information for partners, friends and family of people who gamble compulsively.
GamAnon
Local support groups for anyone affected by someone else's gambling problem – find your nearest group.
Real stories of recovery from gambling
Problem Gambling Solutions Inc Scam
Tell your own story and post messages of support in the GamCare recovery diaries forum.
Page last reviewed: 31 December 2017
Next review due: 31 December 2020
Problem gambling is an issue in every country that's legalized gambling, and even in some places that haven't legalised it. There's no arguing that some British players are having trouble staying out of the casinos, even when it's causing problems in their lives. In fact, as many as 500,000 British players are estimated to be problem gamblers this year, and that figures only going up. If you suspect that you suffer from gambling addiction, or if you know someone else that does, it's up to you to try and get help.
The Signs Of Problem Gambling
If you exhibit any of these symptoms of a problem gambler you could be adversely affecting your life by heading to casinos or playing online.
You Feel Like You Have To Hide Details About Your Gambling
If you feel like you either have to keep it secret from everyone that you gamble or talk down the amount of gambling that you do, you could very well have a problem that needs to be resolved. Gambling isn't something that you should be ashamed of, and if it is a source of shame you should consider that you might have a problem.
Learning to control gambling addiction is a long-term process.
It's Hard To Control Gambling
If you're having a difficult time controlling when you gamble, and when you stop playing you likely have a problem. Casino games can be quite addictive and some people have a hard time walking away, but if you can't bring yourself to do it when you know you should, that's an issue.
You Gamble Even When You Can't Afford To
Gambling addiction is even more of a problem when you can't afford to gamble any longer. If you are failing behind on bills and other responsibilities because you're using your money to gamble, that is a serious issue. That doesn't mean people who can afford to gamble don't have a problem though, if you have some of the other symptoms you're still likely a problem gambler even if you can afford the habit.
Getting Help
If you know someone that suffers from problem gambling, or you feel like you might have problems with gambling there is a resource you can use for help known as GamCare. The organisation provides a self-assessment tool making it easy to determine whether or not you actually need help.
After going through the test and finding out if you need help with problem gambling, you can use the service to get the support you need.
Counselling
Sometimes talking over the phone just isn't enough to solve a problem. That's when face-to-face interaction is the way to go. If you need more help than what the phone line can provide you, there is free counselling offered at a number of locations around the UK. You can visit this website to find counselling locally and get help to fix the problems gambling has caused in your life.
A variety of therapeutic methods are used throughout a counselling session, so you can get to the root of the problem on work on solutions that are going to help you.
Using The Helpline
Problem Gambling Solutions Inc Corp
One of the best ways to get immediate help to figure out your problem and how to take back control of your life is the Helpline. By dialling 0808 8020 133 you can get the help that you need between 8am and midnight every day of the week. Calling this number is absolutely free from all UK landlines, and also free for a variety of mobile services such as Orange, Virgin Mobile, T-Mobile and O2.