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Gambling-related harm

What is gambling?

Gambling means risking the loss of money or something of value on an activity where the outcome is uncertain – when there is no guarantee that you will win.

Casinos, scratch cards, bingo, fruit machines, sports betting, and the lottery are all kinds of gambling. By law, you have to be 18 or older to take part in these activities, but sometimes younger people do get drawn into gambling. Some activities in gaming – like loot boxes – can lead to harmful gambling too.

What is the impact of gambling?

Gambling can harm a young person’s physical and mental health, their relationships with family and friends, how much money they have, their school/college work or their job. These are sometimes called gambling-related harms.

Harms can be experienced by the person that gambles, or by the family, friends, and colleagues of someone who gambles.

Some of the signs of harm in children and young people include:

  • Having less time or money to spend on things they enjoy
  • Having reduced savings for big items such as university, holidays, or a first car
  • Increased use of alcohol or drugs
  • Taking a lot of sick days or days off, or missing extra-curricular commitments due to time spent gambling
  • Relationship problems, or being isolated

How might gambling affect your child’s mental health?

Gambling can affect your child’s mental health in many ways. You might find that your child chooses to gamble to escape from things that are worrying them, or from other difficult feelings. Here are some of the ways gambling might affect your child’s mental health:

  • Showing signs of withdrawal and lack of interest in the activities they normally enjoy e.g. sports, arts, music, spending time with friends.
  • Grades slipping at school or college, or finding it harder to concentrate in lessons
  • Feeling worried or upset for no reason
  • Getting quickly frustrated
  • Feeling hopeless and worried about the future
  • Finding it difficult to unwind, relax or sleep well
  • Forgetting to eat well or look after their physical health because they’re worrying about gambling

You might start to notice these effects before you realise the financial impacts.

Talking to your child about gambling and gambling-related harm:

  • If you plan to have a conversation about gambling with a child or young person, make sure to create a safe space where they can feel free of judgment.
  • Be open and honest and encourage the young person to do the same.
  • Try to learn about the activities that your child plays, particularly if online, and understand how they work.
  • Don’t save your payment details to the device that your child or young person uses.
  • Look out for changes in your child’s behaviour. If they’re feeling irritable, frustrated, or worried, it might be a sign that they are spending too much time on certain gambling activities.
  • If you or your child need help or support and are worried about spending too much time or money on gambling activities, there are a number of advice and treatment services available. Support is available for young people and for adults – both for their own gambling and if you are affected by someone else’s gambling.

Get Help Now!

Here are a list of services that can help. The icons below tell you the type of support available.

Which services can I access?

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