Understanding gambling addictions and how to find support

Whether it be sports betting, using ‘pokie’ machines or betting at casinos, gambling can trigger the brain’s reward system, similarly to drugs or alcohol, making it easy to repeat the behaviour. 

Although 73% of Australians participated in gambling in the last 12 months, when gambling begins to take over a person’s life, it follows the same patterns as other addictions.  

Signs gambling may be becoming harmful include: 

• Preoccupation: thoughts about past gambling, planning opportunities to gamble, etc. 
• Loss of control: attempts to cut down or stop are unsuccessful  
• Tolerance: a need to gamble with increasing amounts to achieve desired excitement 
• Withdrawal: restlessness and irritability when attempting to cut down or stop  
• Escaping/coping mechanism: gambling as a strategy to relieve distress or low mood
• Chasing losses: returning to gambling as a method to win back lost money to get back to zero – “then I will quit”   
• Lying: concealing the extent of gambling from loved ones or therapists, etc.  
• Risking relationships or opportunities: jeopardising or losing significant relationships and job or career opportunities due to gambling 

Why veterans may be at greater risk 

For some veterans, betting and gambling habits were formed during their time in service and normalised as part of the military culture. These behaviours, coupled with Australia’s entrenched gambling culture, can become a problem. 

Research says that veterans are almost twice as likely to experience gambling harm – a negative consequence experienced as a result of gambling. 

As the veteran community is more likely to experience mood disorders and trauma related disorders such as PTSD, this can result in unhelpful methods to cope with this distress such as drinking and gambling. Reduced help-seeking, which is common within the military culture due to shame and stigma, can then strengthen these coping methods. 

Additionally, more than 13% of transitioned veterans face gambling-related issues. Leaving Defence can be an immense upheaval after years in a highly structured environment, where identity, routine and connection are closely tied to service. Without that structure and support, gambling venues can sometimes fill the void. 

For veterans who are young, male, unemployed, from junior ranks, or who have been medically discharged, this risk increases further.  

• Younger males tend to be at higher risk of developing gambling related problems due to a natural increase in risk taking, impulsivity and thrill seeking in the younger populations. 
• For medically discharged veterans, an increase in gambling addictions can be due to the risk that comes with lump-sum payouts – when combined with mental health concerns and stigma related to help-seeking, this can lead to seeking harmful methods of coping such as gambling.
• Unemployed veterans who are not engaged in meaningful work or volunteering can find themselves with no way to structure their day after discharge, leading to social isolation and seeking connection in clubs and venues with pokie machines.   

The impact of gambling on wellbeing 

As well as financial concerns, gambling addictions can seriously impact a person’s mental, physical and social health. 

The mental impacts of gambling addiction can vary widely, but generally it can create a sense of anxiety related to keeping the extent of the gambling hidden, chasing losses and immense guilt and shame. There can be an increase to suicidal risk as a result.  

Physically, gambling addictions can result in chronic stress, sleep disruption and neglect of self-care. Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, insomnia, immune suppression, malnutrition, IBS-like symptoms and chronic pain can be linked to problematic gambling.  

Long-standing problematic gambling has major social consequences. Family breakdown, erosion of trust with family members and family violence are also all associated with problem gambling. Additionally, workplace issues like absenteeism, job loss and unemployment can add to already existing financial distress.

Social isolation and alienation from peers is also a concern, with the cycle of borrowing money from peers and family leading to interpersonal conflict and loss of supports. 

First steps towards support 

It can be confronting to acknowledge if you’re experiencing gambling harm, but support is available, and you do not need to manage this alone. 

If you are concerned that you may have a gambling addiction, or if you have a loved one showing signs, a great starting point is GamblingHelpqld.org.au. It offers self-help strategies, screening tools, online counselling and other supports, including a short self-assessment of gambling behaviours. It also has a section for family and loved ones of problem gamblers. 

For veterans and their family members, Mates4Mates mental health clinicians are here to help either at a Veteran & Family Wellbeing Centre or via telehealth.   

Mates4Mates psychologists and counsellors are equipped with the skills to support people experiencing gambling harm, the same with other addictions. They can help formulate plans, explore stuck points and motivation, and help people develop adaptive methods to cope with any distress that may be prolonging the behaviour itself. 

Addictions often occur alongside other conditions as well, therefore by treating all underlying conditions and the addiction as a coping mechanism at the same time, we can achieve significant reductions in harm related to gambling and a general improvement in wellbeing.  

The Mates4Mates Understanding Addiction Program is also available in select locations and teaches practical strategies relating to addiction and recovery. 

To find out how Mates4Mates can help support you, reach out to us on 1300 4 MATES (62 837) for a confidential chat.   

Written by Jonathan Moscrop, Mates4Mates Clinical Lead – Psychological Services and Psychologist