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. […]
Slot Machines and Fruit Machines: Why They’re So Addictive
Slot Machines and Fruit Machines: Why They’re So Addictive Slot machines — whether physical fruit machines or online slots — are consistently identified by researchers as one of the most addictive forms of gambling. This isn’t accidental; their design draws directly on principles known to maximise engagement, refined over decades of commercial development. Design feature […]
How Gambling Addiction Affects Mental Health
How Gambling Addiction Affects Mental Health Gambling addiction and mental health often affect each other in a cycle. People may use gambling to cope with existing mental health difficulties. Gambling can then create or worsen mental health problems. Understanding this two-way relationship is essential, because treating gambling as a purely financial issue — while ignoring […]
Understanding Pathological Gambling as a Recognised Disorder
Understanding Pathological Gambling as a Recognised Disorder “Pathological gambling,” now more commonly called gambling disorder, is a formally recognised behavioural addiction. Major diagnostic manuals include it alongside conditions such as substance use disorders, reflecting the similar effects these conditions have on the brain and behaviour. Understanding this formal recognition matters, because it shifts gambling addiction […]
Self-Exclusion Schemes Explained: GamStop and Beyond
Self-Exclusion Schemes Explained: GamStop and Beyond Self-exclusion is one of the most practical, evidence-based tools for people who want to reduce or stop gambling. Understanding the different schemes can help people choose the right combination for their needs. No single scheme covers every form of gambling access. Scheme Coverage Duration options Key feature GamStop All […]