1800 858 858
1800 858 858

Should I be worried?

It can be difficult to know if someone is gambling too much. It is common for problem gamblers to feel ashamed about their gambling. They may even try to hide the problem from close family members.

What are some of the signs that gambling may be a problem?

 

01

BEHAVIOUR CLUES

  • Decreased involvement in leisure activities

  • Relying on others to pay for them in social situations

  • Using drugs or alcohol more often/more excessively

  • Constantly checking their phone

02

MONEY CLUES

  • Money missing from bank accounts, wallet/purse or money jar

  • Household items and valuables missing

  • Regularly short of money even though they earn a wage

  • Borrowing money on a regular basis

  • Having many loans at the one time

  • Being secretive about financial records or payslips

  • Unpaid bills/disconnection notices

  • Lack of food in the house

03

RELATIONSHIP & EMOTIONAL CLUES

  • Seeming worried, distant or preoccupied

  • Seeming not interested in family and friends

  • Changes in sleeping, eating, or relationship patterns

  • Using threats or lies to get what they want from others

  • Reporting feeling hopeless, depressed or suicidal

04

SIGNS AT HOME

  • Becoming withdrawn from others/family events

  • Seeming worried, agitated or upset for no apparent reason

  • Reporting feeling hopeless, depressed, frustrated or suicidal

  • Changes in personality – sleeping, eating, or sexual relationship patterns

  • Controlling and/or manipulative behaviour

  • Using threats, lies or charm to manipulate others

05

TIME CLUES

  • Spending more and more time gambling

  • Being secretive about unexplained absences

  • Often being late for commitments

  • Taking a lot of sick days or days off

  • Taking an unusual amount of time for simple tasks (e.g. taking two hours to get the paper from the shops)

06

WORK CLUES

  • Performance at work is being affected

  • Missing deadlines

  • Taking a lot of sick days or days off

  • Seeming worried or distracted, unable to focus on work tasks

  • Accounts not balancing due to missing funds or other irregularities

Contact us

If gambling has become a problem for you, or someone you care about, get some help. It’s free and confidential.

Call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 anytime 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Click for face-to-face counselling locations

Click for online counselling and real time chat