The signs of gambling harms

People experiencing gambling harms might find it hard to stop or reduce gambling. This might lead to them spending more time and money on gambling than they can afford. 

Chasing losses means trying to win back money that has been lost through gambling.

It might be tempting to try and chase losses, especially straight after experiencing a large loss, but this often leads to even bigger losses. 

Gambling can have an impact on how someone feels, regardless of how much they gamble.

People experiencing gambling harms might feel they have little or no control over it. This can lead to feeling guilt, shame or low self-esteem.

They might also:

• worry about how their gambling is affecting others
• experience anxiety and depression
• notice changes in their sleeping pattern
• have mood swings

If someone is experiencing gambling harms they might think or talk about gambling more than other aspects of their life.

This can lead to problems with work and relationships because they might:  

• struggle to concentrate 
• lose interest in other activities 
• neglect personal responsibilities 

When someone is gambling, it might start to impact their:

• performance at work
• personal relationships
• social life

A symptom of problems with gambling could be someone acting in ways that might seem out of character or feel hard to explain. It can also cause people to seem more distant or quieter than normal.

If you find that gambling is causing relationship issues, Relate have practical advice that can help your rebuild relationships.

Gambling can cause feelings of shame. This can lead to people keeping their gambling a secret out of a fear of being judged, but this often makes it easier to lose track of time or money.

Talking openly about gambling can be a great starting point to help people who might be experiencing gambling harms.