Loot boxes – Are they grooming youth for gambling?

A recent study examined the link between in-game 'loot boxes' and gambling for young people. Counsellor Sam discusses the results.

Why online gambling isn’t worth the risk

People who preferred to gamble in venues may turn to online gambling during this time. Find out why that's risky.

Power up: How to support your willpower

Callers to the Gambling Help telephone line often say, “I just have to have more willpower” as a strategy to manage their gambling.  Then, when exercising their willpower is not enough to reduce or stop gambling, they decide: “I am weak willed.”  In reality, neither statement is true.  When we are trying to change any …

In the Zone: Boredom in the time of Coronavirus

We find ourselves in a very strange moment. While some people are overwhelmed with the size of their to-do list, others are finding it difficult to find things to do at all. Counsellor Sam discusses the role of boredom in changing your habits.

Rebuilding Trust: How to tell if your partner has stopped gambling

When someone is struggling with a gambling problem, it is common for there to be a history of secrecy and hiding things — especially around money. A question for partners is “How can I trust that the gambling has stopped?”

I think my loved one might be ready to manage their own money, but how do we decide?

If you’ve been managing your loved one’s finances while they try to change their gambling habits, you’ve probably helped them far more than you know — but eventually, there will come a time when they’ll need to take their money management back and carry on independently. Hopefully you will have decided on an endpoint when …

I don’t want to manage their money anymore. How do I tell them?

If you've been helping a friend to manage their money while they try to change their gambling habits, it might come to the point where you decide you can no longer help. Here are some tips to help you have the conversation.

You’ve been asked to manage someone’s money: Now what?

If a friend has reached out to ask you to help them manage their money, you may be confused about why and don’t quite know what to do. Asking a trusted friend or family member for help to handle money is a common strategy that many people use to stop or reduce their gambling. It’s …

You can bank on your buddy: Ask a friend to hold your money

People who are trying to change their gambling habits can find that managing their money is especially difficult. Getting money on payday can lead to gambling, especially if money has been tight or you have recently received a large bill which triggers the urge to gamble to make money. Choosing someone to help you manage …

Join the Dots: The connection between mental health and gambling

For many Gambling Help clients, the struggle with gambling can be a symptom of a broader issue: a reaction to a stressful experience in their life, such as grief or loneliness, or a response to an ongoing mental health issue. Sometimes we might not realise the connection until a counsellor helps ‘join the dots’. Some …