What is Gambling?
Gambling is when people risk money or anything of value to predict the outcome of a game involving chance, such as on football matches, fruit machines, poker, or betting with friends etc. If you predict the outcome correctly, you win money. If you’re wrong, you lose the money you gambled.
Why would you need support?
Gambling can be fun, but when the fun stops and it gets out of control it can cause several issues including financial problems, mental health problems and affect all areas of your life. According to a Census wide survey in 2021, 80% of students have gambled, with 41% saying that it has negatively impacted their student experience resulting in poor academic performance, missed lectures and deadlines and a lack of social life.
On average students are spending £31.52 per week on gambling, with 18% having an average spend of £50 per week. These findings suggest that gambling has become an issue severely affecting the student population.
What is “out of control”?
“Out of control” is when you are betting more than you can afford to lose and you are unable to stop yourself from gambling. Essentially you are addicted to gambling as it has no longer become a choice but a need.
When you bet more than you can afford, you may get into financial difficulties as you are using money which should be used for rent, bills, food etc and therefore you may need to then borrow money to pay for your day-to-day costs which then places additional pressure on finances. This spirals which can then affect your mental health and your studies.
Signs your gambling is “out of control”
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Being preoccupied with gambling, such as constantly planning gambling activities and how to get more gambling money
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Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to get the same thrill
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Trying to control, cut back or stop gambling, without success
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Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut down on gambling
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Gambling to escape problems or relieve feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety or depression
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Trying to get back lost money by gambling more (chasing losses)
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Lying to family members or others to hide the extent of your gambling
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Risking or losing important relationships, a job, or school or work opportunities because of gambling
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Asking others to bail you out of financial trouble because you gambled money away
How can gambling affect mental health?
Gambling is associated with mental health in many ways. Gambling has been used by people to escape from their problems or bad feelings. However, when gambling gets out of control it can cause anxiety and depression, which are two of the most common mental health concerns. Although a lot of people gamble to escape feelings of depression or other mental health problems, gambling can make these conditions worse.
Signs that gambling could be affecting your mental health
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You feel stressed, anxious, or depressed
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You feel isolated, ashamed, or guilty
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You’re not sleeping or eating well
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You’ve started drinking alcohol or taking drugs, or doing this more often
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You are withdrawing from social situations
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You can’t be bothered to go out, do activities or see people
What are your options?
If you continue to gamble beyond what you can afford then eventually there will be a point in which you will lose more than money, you could lose everything which is important to you.
The first step to regaining control is to self-exclude yourself from gambling sites and places to reduce your access to gambling. This can be done by using GAMSTOP which can make self-exclude easier from online gambling sites.
This video explains the GAMSTOP registration process: https://vimeo.com/744918291.
Support available
Northumbria Students’ Union - Come and speak to a member of the Advice or Wellbeing team about your situation.
Northumbria University - Need help NOW – Access the mental health and counselling team to obtain the support you need.
GamCare – Provide free, confidential advice and support. Call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133
GAMSTOP - By signing up to GAMSTOP you can block yourself from all gambling sites licensed in Great Britain for a period of your choosing, for free.
GamBan - Blocking software to block gambling apps from your devices.
Gamblers Anonymous - Get support from others also struggling with gambling.
YGAM- YGAM have a student hub with information about gambling specifically created for students.
RecoverMe- A free app that helps you manage a gambling problem from your pocket.