Gambling is when people risk money or other things of value to predict the outcome of a game that involves chance. This could be on scratchcards, fruit machines or by betting with friends.
There are many reasons why people gamble – it can help to relieve stress, unwind or socialise with others. However, gambling can also be a problem. If you think you have a problem, talk to your doctor about treatment options.
Managing your feelings and gambling behaviour is essential in avoiding harm from gambling. It can involve learning new skills and techniques to deal with unpleasant emotions, or practicing relaxation techniques.
It can help to set boundaries around your money and never take out more than you can afford to lose. It can also mean getting rid of your credit cards, letting someone else in charge of your money or shutting your online betting accounts.
Understanding the breadth and experience of harm from gambling is vital to developing effective public health strategies and approaches to prevention and treatment. Using a consistent framework to conceptualise and measure gambling related harm is necessary to provide a more coherent interpretation of the impacts on individuals, their family and community.
The framework was developed based on inductive analysis of a set of data collected from focus groups (n = 11) and interviews (n = 25). These were conducted in person or via telephone. The interviews mainly focused on people who had experienced harm from gambling themselves or from someone else’s gambling.