Responsible gambling - Consumer Affairs Victoria

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D2
A vicious circle
GAMBLER’S HELP LINE
87
Responsible Gambling | Section D: What are you gambling with?
Consumer Affairs Victoria | consumer.vic.gov.au
Exercise 2 – Gambling factors
Various factors can lead to moderate recreational gambling becoming problem gambling. Some
of these factors are shown below.
Match the corresponding numbers in column 1 (Factor) with the matching statement in column
2 (Explanation) and the matching statement in column 3 (Expression). Number 1 (Boredom) has
been done for you.
Factor Explanation Expression
1 Boredom Alcohol affects your judgment. Mixing
gambling and drinking puts you at
risk of making bad decisions and
spending more than you want to.
2 Gambling
affects the
way you think.
3 The
opportunity
to gamble
The feeling that a person gets from
gambling can be alike a “high” and
make you want to gamble more.
A lot of people feel that even if they
don’t talk to anyone while they
gamble, they feel less lonely because
there are other people around.
4 Loneliness Loss and grief can create a feeling of
emptiness, and as with feelings of
depression and anxiety, people may
use gambling to fill the void.
5 For a reward If you live in an area where there is a
lot of gambling available, it is likely
that there will be more people in
your area with gambling problems.
6 Chasing losses 1 People sometimes gamble because
they don’t have any interests, sports
or hobbies. It can then be difficult to
stop as gambling helps to pass the
time and is something to do.
7 Peer group
pressure
Some people use gambling as a way
of avoiding or coping with feelings of
depression or anxiety, as gambling
can make you feel “numb”. However,
this doesn’t fix the problem and
the extra time and money spent
gambling just ends up making the
depression or anxiety worse.
“I walk past the pokies
everyday to and from
home.”
“You can definitely win
consistently. You just
need the right system.”
“I’ve just moved
interstate and I don’t
know anyone.”
“I couldn’t believe it
when I won! It was
such a rush!”
1 “I’ve left school, but I
can’t get a job. I just
don’t know what to do
with myself all day.”
“My boyfriend dumped
me and I am failing my
course.”
“I miss Dad since he
moved away. He’s got a
new family now and he
just ignores us now.”
1800 858 858 www.problemgambling.vic.gov.au