Gambling should be a form of entertainment, but for some people it can become difficult to control. Changes in how much money or time someone spends gambling, attempts to recover losses, or gambling beginning to affect relationships and everyday life can all be reasons to reassess what is happening.
Problematic gambling does not look the same for everyone, and you do not need to experience every possible warning sign before taking action. If you are concerned about your own gambling or someone else’s, recognising changes early and knowing where to find support can be important.
What is problematic gambling?
Problematic gambling broadly describes gambling behaviour that is causing harm or becoming difficult to control.
The effects are not necessarily limited to losing money. Gambling can also begin to affect relationships, work, sleep, emotional wellbeing and other areas of everyday life.
Someone may find that they are spending more than they intended, gambling for longer periods or thinking about gambling increasingly often. Others may notice that they are becoming secretive about their gambling or experiencing financial pressure because of it.
There is no simple checklist that can diagnose whether someone has a gambling problem. Instead, potential warning signs can provide a reason to look more closely at gambling habits and consider whether it is time to make changes or seek support.
Common signs that gambling may be becoming harmful
Potential signs of problematic gambling can be financial, behavioural or emotional.
For example, someone might repeatedly spend more than they planned, chase losses or struggle to stop gambling. Gambling may start to take priority over other activities or responsibilities.
Changes can sometimes be noticed by friends or family before the person gambling fully recognises them.
Experiencing one of these signs does not automatically mean that someone has a gambling disorder. However, if gambling is becoming difficult to control or negatively affecting everyday life, it is worth taking the concern seriously.
Spending more money than intended
Regularly spending more on gambling than you originally planned can be an important warning sign.
You might start with a particular budget but repeatedly exceed it during a casino session. Alternatively, you may find yourself depositing more money after reaching the amount you had originally intended to spend.
Money needed for essentials such as rent or mortgage payments, bills, food, savings and debt repayments should not be used for gambling.
If you regularly find it difficult to stick to your planned spending, consider stopping and reviewing your gambling habits rather than simply increasing your budget.
Establishing boundaries before you start can help you keep track of your activity. Our guide to Tips for keeping online casino play safe and responsible explores practical approaches such as setting budgets, using limits and taking regular breaks.
Chasing gambling losses
Chasing losses means continuing to gamble, or spending more money, because you are trying to recover money you have already lost.
For example, after losing £50, someone might decide to continue playing because they believe another game could allow them to win that £50 back. If they lose again, they may spend even more in an attempt to recover the larger loss.
There is no guarantee that continuing to gamble will recover previous losses. It can instead result in additional losses and increasing financial pressure.
If you notice that recovering lost money has become your main reason for continuing to gamble, stop rather than increasing the amount you spend.
Borrowing money or experiencing financial difficulties
Financial difficulties connected with gambling can be another warning sign.
This might include borrowing money in order to gamble, using money intended for essential expenses or struggling to pay bills because money has been spent gambling.
Someone may also start viewing future gambling wins as a way to repay debts or solve existing financial difficulties. Gambling outcomes are uncertain, so relying on future winnings can make financial problems worse.
If gambling is contributing to debt or preventing you from meeting essential expenses, stop gambling and consider seeking specialist support.
Spending increasing amounts of time gambling
Problematic gambling is not only about money. Changes in the amount of time spent gambling can also be important.
You might find yourself playing for considerably longer than planned or frequently thinking about when you can next gamble. Casino sessions may begin to interfere with sleep, work, relationships or other activities that were previously important to you.
It can be useful to consider not just the length of an individual session but the overall place gambling occupies in your life.
If gambling is regularly taking priority over other responsibilities or interests, this can be a reason to take a break and reassess your habits.
Hiding or lying about gambling
Becoming secretive about gambling can indicate that your relationship with it is changing.
This could include hiding how much money you have spent, concealing losses, being dishonest about how much time you spend gambling or avoiding conversations about your activity.
There can be many reasons why someone does not want to discuss their gambling. However, feeling that you need to hide it from people close to you can be a useful signal to consider why.
Talking openly to someone you trust may help you gain a different perspective and decide what to do next.
Changes in mood and behaviour
Gambling can sometimes become associated with emotional changes.
For example, you may notice that you feel particularly stressed, frustrated or irritable when you lose or when you cannot gamble. You might also find yourself using gambling as a way of escaping stress, boredom or difficult emotions.
These feelings do not automatically mean someone has a gambling disorder, but changes in mood that are closely connected with gambling can be worth paying attention to.
If gambling is regularly making you feel worse rather than providing entertainment, consider stepping away from it and seeking support.
What to do if you are worried about your gambling
You do not need to wait until gambling has caused severe financial or personal problems before taking action.
If you are concerned, stopping or taking a break can give you space to review what is happening. Avoid attempting to recover losses and do not gamble with additional money as a way of solving financial difficulties.
You can also review how much money and time you have been spending. Looking at your gambling activity over several weeks or months may provide a clearer picture than focusing on individual wins or losses.
Speaking to someone you trust can also be helpful. You may prefer to talk to a friend or family member, or you can contact a specialist gambling support service.
Use safer gambling tools
Safer gambling tools can help create practical barriers around gambling activity.
Depending on your circumstances, these may include deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion. Deposit limits can restrict how much money can be deposited over a particular period, while a time-out allows you to take a break from gambling.
If you feel that you need to stop gambling altogether, self-exclusion may be more appropriate.
Tools should be chosen according to your circumstances. If you repeatedly find yourself trying to work around limits or waiting for a restriction to end so that you can immediately continue gambling, consider whether a stronger measure or specialist support is needed.
Consider self-exclusion
Self-exclusion is designed for people who have decided that they need to stop gambling.
Rather than relying solely on willpower in the moment, self-exclusion creates an additional barrier between you and gambling services.
For UK online gambling, GAMSTOP provides a free self-exclusion service that enables people to exclude themselves from online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain for a chosen period.
If you believe gambling is causing harm or you are struggling to stop, self-exclusion can be an important option to consider alongside professional support.
Getting gambling support in the UK
You do not have to manage concerns about gambling on your own.
Specialist organisations and services in the UK can provide confidential information, advice and support for people experiencing gambling-related harm. Support is also available for family members and friends who are affected by another person’s gambling.
If you are unsure where to start, Safer gambling resources available to UK players brings together key services, tools and organisations that can help you understand the options available.
You do not need to wait for gambling to reach a particular level of severity before asking for help. If you are concerned about your gambling, that concern itself is a valid reason to speak to someone.
If you are worried about someone else’s gambling
Problematic gambling can also affect partners, friends and family members.
If you are concerned about someone, try to approach the conversation calmly rather than accusing or judging them. You can explain the changes you have noticed and why you are worried.
You should also consider your own wellbeing and financial boundaries. Avoid providing money that could enable further gambling or taking responsibility for solving the person’s gambling behaviour yourself.
Specialist gambling support services can provide advice for people affected by someone else’s gambling as well as for the person who gambles.
When should you seek help?
There is no minimum amount of money someone needs to lose or particular number of warning signs they must experience before seeking support.
If gambling is causing financial difficulties, damaging relationships, interfering with everyday life or simply feels increasingly difficult to control, consider taking action.
That might mean using a time-out, choosing self-exclusion, talking to someone you trust or contacting a specialist gambling support service.
Recognising a problem early can give you more options for addressing it. You do not need to wait for the situation to become more serious before asking for help.
Problematic gambling FAQs
What are some signs that gambling may be becoming a problem?
Potential warning signs can include spending more money or time than intended, chasing losses, borrowing money to gamble, hiding gambling activity and allowing gambling to interfere with work, relationships or everyday responsibilities.
What does chasing losses mean?
Chasing losses means continuing to gamble or increasing spending in an attempt to recover money already lost. There is no guarantee that further gambling will recover previous losses, and it can lead to greater financial losses.
What should I do if I cannot control my gambling?
Consider stopping gambling, using self-exclusion and contacting a specialist gambling support service. You can also speak to someone you trust about what is happening.
Can I exclude myself from online gambling sites in the UK?
Yes. Individual operators provide self-exclusion options, while GAMSTOP enables people to self-exclude from online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain for a selected period.
Where can I get help with gambling in the UK?
Specialist gambling support services are available to provide information and confidential support. Help is available both for people experiencing gambling-related harm and for friends or family members affected by someone else’s gambling.
When you choose NetBet Casino, you can enjoy a whole range of top-quality slots. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet Casino, player well-being is our number one priority – check out our Safer Gambling tips and tools page for more information.
