BETTER CHANGE peampath/Adobe Stock
Changing the conversation
O 28 OCTOBER 2022 is tften the person experiencing the addiction he last person to suffer from their
problem, and it is close family and friends who experience this harm primary. Although you might be aware that someone
close to you has developed an unhealthy relationship with gambling, the person that the concern is about will likely be excusing their habits. Common Problem Gambling Excuses
● Rationalising Gambling to Make it Okay - “I deserve a treat”
● Minimising the Harm – “One bet won’t hurt” ● Beliefs About Control – “I’ll only have one bet” ● Gambling as a Way of Improving Mood “I’ve had a bad day and need cheering up”
● Gambling as a Way of Improving Life of Self and Others “If I win, then I can pay for the holiday”
● Feeling Lucky – “I am due a change of luck” At Better Change we are very aware of this. Being
connected to affected others with lived experience has given us the insight we use to help others. We are looking to run several projects for affected others and to raise this awareness as it is an area which is often ignored.
David Richardson, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Better Change, spoke to Casino International about ways to identify problem gambling and the approach to take when helping those showing signs of gambling related harm.
How to have a conversation with someone where gambling is causing harm We understand reaching out to help a loved one with a gambling disorder/problem is not easy. It can be overwhelming and a shock when discovering the gravity of someone you think might have an addiction. You might hope that when confronted with the situation; the gambler will eventually see sense. But the issue of a gambling problem will not go away, and it is crucial family members seek to protect themselves from further gambling related harms.
Intervention and approach Take a caring approach rather than an aggressive one when engaging with the gambler. Rather than accuse, ask ‘Do you consider there to be any problems with your gambling?’ Communicate your feelings carefully and openly. Accept the difficulties your loved one is facing in a non-confrontational manner and avoid judgments. But be firm on the impact and consequences of their behaviours and implement strict boundaries and stick to them as not to enable the gambler.
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