Gambling is part of our culture; there aren’t many people who could truthfully tell you they have never gambled. Whether it be a flutter on the horses on a big race day, a quick go on a fruit machine whilst waiting for friends to arrive at a bar, or simply buying a lottery ticket. Gambling is a well established and acceptable social activity.

But what happens when an occasional bit of fun turns into a daily need? When friends and family, employment and financial security all become secondary to that all important bet?

When all you can think about is gambling? Then you have a problem.

Problem gambling is a recognised addiction. It is a psychological problem that can take hold of your life. The financial consequences are obvious, but to properly understand problem gambling, and learn how to control it, it is important to look at the root cause of the problem. The factors that contribute to the onset of this often crippling addiction are more complicated than simply wanting to win money and add excitement to everyday life. Similarly the negative effects of the addiction are more complex than losing some money that could have been put to better use elsewhere.

Gambling addiction can be as damaging to the life of the gambler and those around him or her as any other addiction. Although the immediate physical damage an alcoholic or drug addicted person subjects themselves to is absent in the case of problem gamblers, the psychological and life damaging effects can be just as serious. As the addiction takes hold the gambler must learn ways of keeping the problem a secret from those around them. The deception needed to hide problem gambling from friends and family grows, and trust is broken down. Relationships suffer, families are put at risk. Financial stress and the inability to think about anything other than gambling can seriously affect the gambler’s working life. The gambler may loose his or her job, which in turn leads to financial desperation. Sometimes it becomes necessary to break the law in order to feed the addiction. The downward spiral is familiar but often not easy to recognise until it is too late.

Accepting that a problem exists is the first step in overcoming problem gambling. And as with all first steps, it is the hardest one to take. The gambler will deny that a problem exists, they will fool themselves into thinking everything is fine. Self deception of this kind can reach a level where the gambler truly believes that the changes and problems in their life are the fault of others. Realising that a problem exists is often a consequence of some kind of crisis. Sometimes the gambler may make an independent decision that he or she has a problem, but more often than not it happens when there is no alternative. When the lies and deception have all been broken down and the problem can no longer be hidden.

Help for problem gambling is available. There are organisations and charities offering support and advice. Help can be sought privately and confidentially over the phone and on the internet. Relief from the isolation of the ‘hidden addiction’ can be instant - breaking the dependency in the long term will be a much longer process. Self help groups and private counselling are available through charities and local healthcare services. The care and support needed to solve problem gambling exists, but the gamblers themselves must decide to seek and accept it.