Gambling is a fun way to win money, but it can also lead to problems. It’s important to know the risks and how to avoid them.
The main dangers of gambling include loss of money, depression and a risk of suicide. These harms can be caused by spending too much, gambling too often or having other characteristics that put you at greater risk of them.
Using the Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines report to guide your decision when you gamble is the best way to avoid these risks. You can also ask someone you trust to help you manage your gambling if you think it might be causing harm.
It is important to understand that gambling has an impact on the wider community and society, not just on the person who gambles. The impacts of gambling are seen on a number of different levels and can have long-term effects and even pass between generations.
Individual level: Personal impacts are felt on the gambler’s own level and may affect people close to them, such as friends and family members. In the case of gambling, this can include escalating debt and financial strain, and increasing homelessness.
Interpersonal level: Impacts can be seen on a person’s own social network, affecting their friendships and relationships with other people. It can also have an impact on their work and education, causing them to feel stressed or depressed.
Societal/community level: These impacts can affect the larger community and are usually more difficult to measure than individual and interpersonal impacts, but they can still be important to consider when deciding whether or not to allow gambling. They can have a significant impact on the quality of life, social cohesion, and other aspects of community life that are valued.
Governments are responsible for regulating gambling. They can do this to protect the public and ensure that the industry is operating safely and efficiently.
In addition, governments can invest in research and training to improve the prevention and treatment of gambling related harms. This can help people get the support they need to stop gambling.
It is a good idea to set limits on how much you will spend and how long you will gamble for. If you spend too much, it could lead to other problems such as losing control of your finances and making poor decisions.
You can also help prevent gambling problems by teaching your children and teenagers to find healthy ways to relax or relieve their feelings. You can encourage them to find hobbies and activities that don’t involve gambling, such as taking up a sport or trying new things.
There are other healthy ways to deal with stress, such as exercising or getting a massage. You can also teach your children how to talk about their feelings in a healthy way, rather than through aggressive behaviour.
Keep a gratitude journal: Every day, try to remember things that you are grateful for. Keeping a list of the good things that have happened can help you stay positive about your life.