Some 62% of Australia’s best-selling games – such as Angry Birds, Counter-Strike and Halo – include what is known as loot boxes. Loot boxes are virtual treasure chests, containing randomised items that help players advance more quickly in a game. All of these games require credit card payments to begin play, which more often than not means they are played with money which is borrowed. The results of a study of 1,954 young people (aged 12 to 24) funded by the NSW Government and recently published by CQ University in Australia showed that 93.2 per cent of the young people in the study had played ..read more

Participation in online gambling saw an increase, according to media reports, throughout the early months of COVID-19 restrictions with many sports suspended, and pubs, clubs and casinos temporarily closed. There was a risk that those who preferred to gamble in venue would turn to online gambling during this time. Several restrictions have now eased as clubs and hotels reopened for business and the NRL and AFL competitions resumed, meaning more gambling options are available again. While online gambling could have been a distraction from boredom during restrictions, some may continue to gamble ..read more

Callers to the Gambling Help telephone line often say, “I just have to have more willpower” as a strategy to manage their gambling.  Then, when exercising their willpower is not enough to reduce or stop gambling, they decide: “I am weak willed.”  In reality, neither statement is true.  When we are trying to change any habit — be it gambling, smoking, or eating chocolate — willpower alone usually isn’t enough. It is helpful to take the pressure off our willpower by setting up processes that promote the habits and behaviours we want to encourage.  For example, if we want to c ..read more

We find ourselves in a very strange moment. While some people are overwhelmed with the size of their to-do list, others are finding it difficult to find things to do at all. Some of us are stuck at home with our usual responsibilities sidelined and our favourite hobbies out of reach. Many might be feeling bored and finding that difficult to manage. Most of us will feel bored at some point in our lives, but that unpleasant state of feeling like you have nothing to do is usually fleeting. At the moment, without the structure of work and organised social lives, many of us might find ourselves ‘fe ..read more

When someone is struggling with a gambling problem, it is common for there to be a history of secrecy and hiding things — especially around money. A question for partners is “How can I trust that the gambling has stopped?” While there is no foolproof way to tell whether someone is gambling, there are strategies you can use to ease your mind about your partner’s current spending and your future financial position.  An important first step is to seek the help of a financial counsellor.   They can ensure the assets of each person are protected and help manage debts. A financial counsellor c ..read more

If you’ve been managing your loved one’s finances while they try to change their gambling habits, you’ve probably helped them far more than you know — but eventually, there will come a time when they’ll need to take their money management back and carry on independently. Hopefully you will have decided on an endpoint when you first agreed to the arrangement, but if not: how will you both know when the time has come? They may want to take back control before you think they’re ready, or, alternatively, you might realise they’re ready before they do. It’s important to have a plan that you both ..read more

Many people find it useful to have someone temporarily manage their money while they are trying to change their gambling habits. When it works, this is a fantastic strategy, but there can be times when this approach harms more than it helps. Whether you’re helping out a partner, friend or relative, controlling access to their money might be stressful for you and cause strain in your relationship — especially if they continue to gamble or repeatedly break the agreement you have with them. It might come to the point where you can no longer help them manage their money. Be prepared for the po ..read more

If a friend has reached out to ask you to help them manage their money, you may be confused about why and don’t quite know what to do. Asking a trusted friend or family member for help to handle money is a common strategy that many people use to stop or reduce their gambling. It’s important for you to know that helping someone manage their finances can provide wonderful support and peace of mind for them if they are affected by problem gambling, but it can also add an extra dimension of difficulty to your relationship. What do you need to consider before saying “yes, I will help you man ..read more

People who are trying to change their gambling habits can find that managing their money is especially difficult. Getting money on payday can lead to gambling, especially if money has been tight or you have recently received a large bill which triggers the urge to gamble to make money. Choosing someone to help you manage your money, even temporarily, can ease the burden. But who to ask? It’s important to choose someone you trust. Someone who makes sensible decisions with their money, who will listen to what you are trying to achieve, who will respect your privacy but also will not bow to ..read more

For many Gambling Help clients, the struggle with gambling can be a symptom of a broader issue: a reaction to a stressful experience in their life, such as grief or loneliness, or a response to an ongoing mental health issue. Sometimes we might not realise the connection until a counsellor helps ‘join the dots’. Some common triggers for issues with gambling include: Anxiety Depression Alcohol Trauma So what is the use in ‘joining the dots’ to look at the big picture, such as factors that might contribute to the urge to gamble? There is good news: all of the common triggers have effective and e ..read more