Understanding “Near Misses” and the Psychology of Almost Winning
Understanding “Near Misses” and the Psychology of Almost Winning One counterintuitive finding in gambling research concerns near misses. These outcomes count as losses but look close to a win. They can motivate people to keep gambling as much as an actual win, and sometimes more. This helps explain why gambling sessions can last far longer […]
Setting Healthy Boundaries: What Responsible Gambling Really Means
Setting Healthy Boundaries: What Responsible Gambling Really Means People often use the term “responsible gambling”, but it’s worth defining what it means in practice. It can help occasional gamblers stay within safe limits and spot when those limits start to slip. Principle What it looks like in practice Fixed budget, set in advance Treating the […]
Gambling Addiction in the Workplace: Signs Employers Should Know
Gambling Addiction in the Workplace: Signs Employers Should Know Gambling addiction doesn’t stay confined to personal life — it frequently shows up at work, sometimes in ways that are mistaken for unrelated performance or conduct issues, which can delay appropriate support being offered. Why the workplace is affected Financial pressure from gambling debt, sleep disruption […]
The Link Between Gambling and Depression
The Link Between Gambling and Depression Depression often accompanies gambling addiction, and understanding the connection can help explain why recovery rarely means simply stopping the behaviour — and why relapse can sometimes follow when people don’t also address the underlying mood difficulties. How gambling can lead to depression The financial losses, broken trust, and secrecy […]
High-Risk Periods: Major Sporting Events and Gambling Triggers
High-Risk Periods: Major Sporting Events and Gambling Triggers Certain times of year bring sharp increases in gambling activity and advertising. Understanding why can help people in recovery and the wider public navigate these periods more safely. It can also help people prepare for predictable triggers. Factor Effect during major events Advertising volume Increases dramatically around […]
Loot Boxes and Gaming: A Gateway to Gambling for Young People?
Loot Boxes and Gaming: A Gateway to Gambling for Young People? Loot boxes — in-game purchases that offer a randomised reward, common in many popular video games — have become one of the most debated topics in gambling research, precisely because of how closely they resemble traditional gambling mechanics, while sitting largely outside formal gambling […]
The Link Between Gambling and Anxiety
The Link Between Gambling and Anxiety Anxiety and gambling addiction often occur together. The relationship works both ways. Anxiety can drive gambling, while gambling can create new anxiety. It isn’t always clear which came first. In practice, addressing both issues at the same time often works better than looking for one starting point. Gambling as […]
Building a Relapse Prevention Plan
Building a Relapse Prevention Plan Relapse is a common part of many addiction recovery journeys, including gambling addiction — and having a specific plan in place for high-risk moments significantly improves the chances of staying on track, or recovering quickly if a lapse does happen, rather than allowing a single difficult moment to undo weeks […]
The Impact of Gambling Addiction on Children and Families
The Impact of Gambling Addiction on Children and Families Gambling addiction rarely affects only the person gambling. Children and family members can experience significant, long-lasting effects, even when parents try to shield them from the details. Financial instability Children may notice sudden changes — less money for essentials, missed bills, tension around spending — without […]
Life After Gambling Addiction: Steps Towards Financial Recovery
Life After Gambling Addiction: Steps Towards Financial Recovery Stopping gambling is a critical milestone, but for many people, the financial damage takes considerably longer to repair — and having a clear, structured approach can make that process feel manageable rather than overwhelming, even when the total scale of debt initially feels daunting. Step Purpose 1. […]