Gambling can be an addictive, impulsive and potentially dangerous activity. It can also have a negative impact on your health and well-being, both short and long term.

Fortunately, it is possible to get help if you are experiencing a gambling problem. There are several different types of treatment available to help you. These include therapy, family counselling, inpatient or residential treatment and rehabilitation programs.

It is important to recognise that gambling is a problem when it starts to affect your life in a serious way, or when you start to lose control over your finances and relationships. There are several warning signs of a gambling problem, including: lying about gambling, not stopping or controlling your spending, spending excessive amounts of time on gambling and being preoccupied with gambling.

The risk of developing a gambling problem increases in younger and middle-aged people, but it can also affect older adults. This is because gambling is often an activity that people do to fill the gaps in their lives. It can also become a way to relax and relieve stress.

Recovering from a gambling problem can be difficult, especially in the Internet age when gambling is so easy to access. However, recovery is possible if you make a commitment to yourself that you won’t gamble again and stay away from tempting environments and websites.

If you are experiencing a gambling problem, it is important to seek help immediately. Contact your local authority, or the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 980 777. They will be able to tell you if you have a gambling problem and can refer you for treatment.

Inpatient or residential treatment and rehab programmes are aimed at those with severe gambling addictions who are unable to avoid gambling without round-the-clock support. These programmes provide help and advice to reduce or prevent relapses and will teach you to make healthy choices when you next gamble.

Your family can help you recover from a gambling problem by learning how to recognize a gambling problem, helping to set boundaries in managing your family’s finances and by being there for you when you need it most. It can be hard to understand and accept that a loved one is suffering from a gambling problem, but talking to others who have dealt with similar issues can make it easier for you to cope.

Learn to control your cash

When you’re gambling, it can be very easy to get caught up in the thrill of winning and losing. This can make it very hard to stop gambling, and you may start to spend more and more money than you know what to do with.

This can put you into debt, so it’s important to make sure that your cash is under control and only using it for gambling when you are certain you have enough. You should allocate a portion of your disposable income to gambling and ensure that it is a separate account from any money that you use for other things, such as your bills or rent.