What’s the go with gambling in Australia?
In the 2017-2018 financial year, Australians lost 24 billion dollars on gambling. 24 billion.
While for many Aussies gambling isn’t something they’d consider an issue, 6.8 million of us are regular gamblers, which is why we decided to dedicate an entire episode of the show to unpacking just how addictive and destructive gambling can be.
If you like, you can listen to Georgia and Victoria’s chat here, or you can flick through some of the main talking points of the pod below.
Why do people gamble?
People gamble for lots of reasons, but according to Gamblers Help, there are four main reasons people gamble:
1. For social reasons – lots of people enjoy a punt with their mates, but it’s not necessarily something that has a negative impact on their lives
2. For financial reasons – to win money and to get on top of their finances, even though it usually makes things worse
3. For entertainment reasons – because they like the feeling and the high they feel when they win
4. For coping reasons – for someone to forget their worries, because they feel more self-confident, or because it helps when they are feeling nervous or depressed
What’s the difference between a casual punt and a ‘proper’ addiction?
There are some signs that your gambling could be getting out of hand - Gamblers Help say that common signs include being kept awake at night thinking about gambling, feeling you’re out of control, building up debts you can’t pay, betting more than you can afford, feeling you can’t talk to anyone about your gambling and hiding evidence of your gambling activity. If you’re someone who puts the occasional bet down on a sporting match or gets excited at spring racing time, that’s fine so long as there are parameters in place. Just keep in mind that it can be a slippery slope and if you’re someone who has an addictive personality or who does display impulsive behaviours, you may be more vulnerable to gambling addiction.
What to do if you think you may have an issue.
Lean on distractions. If you feel yourself craving a trip to the pokies, go and catch up with a friend instead. If you’re feeling low and deflated and just want to reach for the betting app on your phone, go for a walk or a run around the block and get some endorphins in your system. Identify other things that make you feel good and that are constructive and fill your time with those instead. Gamblers Help suggest resisting urges by thinking of them as waves - they’ll come and they’ll go. Just ride them out. If you fall off the wagon after a period of saying no to gambling, then don’t be hard on yourself; instead reflect on where you fell down and what you’ll do differently next time. If you are in debt, please don’t just continue to gamble in the hopes of winning back your losses. Talk to Gamblers Help, talk to the National Debt Helpline and create a plan to change your situation.
What to do if a loved one needs help.
In terms of broaching the conversation with them, know that they might deny the issue, they might be ashamed and break down or they may be oblivious - the key is to talk to them without blame and to go gently.
Some tips on what to avoid:
- Avoid calling them the problem
- Avoid blame
- Avoid lecturing them or telling them what to do - figure out your solution together.
Gamblers Help are incredible in this space - they offer so many free incredible resources including: counselling over the phone, online or face-to-face, they have a peer support program and more. You can give them a call on 1800 858 858 or visit their website.
SOTM’S take…
If gambling is something you have under control and that doesn’t have a negative impact on your life, then it’s fine to work into your budget. However (and it is a large however), we strongly recommend putting parameters around what you spend to ensure your gambling doesn’t get out of control.