When is gambling a problem?

People will often gamble as a means of having fun or relaxing, however for some people gambling can turn into a problem. If gambling does become a problem it can have a big effect on a persons life. It can hurt them, their loved ones, their work and their educational opportunities.

Any of the below may indicate that gambling is a problem for you:

• If you think a lot about gambling or spend more time and money on gambling than what you want to.
• If you feel restless or irritable or uneasy when you try to stop or cut down on your gambling.
• If you are gambling to get away from your problems or from feelings such as sadness.
• If you are not being honest with others about your gambling, for example how much you have won or lost or that you have been gambling.
• If you have taken part in something illegal in order to obtain money to gamble with.
• If you have relied on other people to help relieve a financial situation caused by your gambling.
• If your relationships, job or education is suffering due to your gambling.

Some Statistics:

(Productivity Commission, 1999):
21% of the world's poker machines operate in Australia
70% of problem gambling is associated with poker machines
333,000 Australians are problem gamblers
For every one problem gambler, there are at least five and up to 10 people that are affected.
The average spend of a problem gambler is $12,000 per annum, compared with $625 for the rest of the gambling population.

(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2005):
The total net takings from gambling in the year 2004-05 were $15.5 billion