Help For Gamblers
For immediate help call 1800 858 858 FREECALL now. There will be someone to answer your call.
Anybody affected by gambling (your own gambling or someone else's), can call the Helpline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This service can give you the contact details for the nearest Gambler's Help or another service away from where you live if you would prefer this. Calls to the Helpline are free.
Gambler's Help is a free service for people who are affected by gambling. The services provided by Gambler's Help include:
- Free, professional, confidential counselling for people for whom gambling is an issue
- Counselling for the family and friends of people for whom gambling is an issue
- Financial counselling to help people with gambling-related money problems
- Community education and helping communities reduce the negative effects of gambling
There are Gambler's Help available throughout Victoria. Professional help can make a real difference.
Find out more about Gambler's Help »
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Contact details for Gambler's Help services throughout Victoria »
Counsellors and support for gamblers
FREECALL 24 hours, 7 days a week 1800 858 858 for advice, support and help.
Calls to the Helpline are free. You also can call for help and support outside the area where you live.
For the hearing impaired FREECALL 1800 777 706.
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Gambling Help Online provides free and immediate access, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to a qualified gambling counsellor. This service can be accessed from anywhere in Australia, at a time that suits you.
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This illness, is so sad...
and the tv ads, the phamplets all that really hit home for me, A man I loved dearly and have a family too, has been struggling with this for many many years... after 4 and half years of tough times with it, and many chances, I now this week have had to walk away for the last time. I just cant deal with the hurt and pain it causes. its terrible.
To all gambling. please.. do something, change your life before its too late.
Love U D.S. 4 ever. xoxo
Interesting... I gambled money that I needed to pay home loan, so yeah, it was fun at the time until I lost lots, and then I was angry with myself.
I think you only win by quitting gambling for ever. That's when you win from not gambling every time. You always win when you decide on a daily basis to put yourself on a self imposed ban. I banned myself for two years to break the self imposed after three months. Back on the horse.
I do have an urge to try and win my money back, but as we know, the odds are against me for that. It is more likely that I will lose more and more.
My life is a mess....
I have assets....but I cannot access them.......so I am nearly broke and unemployed.......
The most important thing I must do right now is get a job.......
I am applying.........
I am sure you can understand my predicament.........
Unfortunately I am not wealthy like you and probably never will be.........
I have made a lot of mistakes in my life and I always seem to repeat them.......
I lost a stack of money on the horses.........sometimes I wish I never was a punter......
It began in a small way when I was younger I used to hang around in the TAB and bet one or two dollars.......
I did not know much about horse racing.......I used to just look at the "experts tips" and place my bets..........
Over the years the bets have become more frequent as I have had access to more money.......
I have never had a decent income........all the jobs I have worked in have been in call centres or retail......
The last few jobs I have had didn't work out which is why I am unemployed now........
My last employer stabbed me in the back.........one of the supervisors didn't like the look of me for some reason so she found a way to get rid of me.......I never have a bad word to say about anyone so I could not
understand why........
This year I overbet and bet with money that I could not afford to lose which is a major problem........
I also play Intralot Keno 70 and Lucky 5 but I do not stake as much as I have on the horses.....
I used to play the pokies but I gave up.....
Only a punter would understand why I have put myself in this position.........
The problem with punters is they never know when to quit......you can see them week in and week out.....
I reckon most of them never keep track of their bets......
I have kept track of my bets and I can tell you now it is painful to look back over the last few months......
I reckon I should stop punting or start betting a lot less......
Just visit any TAB on a Saturday and you will see some familiar faces........
I do not like to spend much time at the TAB but I still go to watch some races when I am at the Saturday markets......
Backing a winner makes you feel like you have accomplished something ..........
It is very addictive.......horse racing makes you feel like a part of something bigger, like being a member of a club......
That is why it is called the Sport of Kings.....
I don't have any friends at the moment which is a bit tough........that is life........
Maybe I am a slow learner or I am cursed.........
My advice for punters......
If you find that you are spending too much money get help......
Whether that be from family or friends or professiona help.....
You need to be accountable for how you spend your money.......
Either way I hope my life gets better for the rest of the year .....
I have been addicted to the pokies for nearly 13 years. I have lost thousands of dollars. A couple of years ago I thought I had reached rock bottom but I still play them. I have seeked help from counsellors to GA to banning myself from venues but I know as long as I have access to money I will play the machines. At times I feel angry and guilty at myself for allowing this to happen but I think I am winning the battle. I have to accept I will never get that money back. It's gone but more important I have to understand I have an addiction and I have to work at controlling it. What I would like to say to anyone with a gambling problem is, don't give up, seek help and work at your recovery.
We went out one New Years and my husband and I spent it at the Casino, it was the first time ever going to a place like this, we had a great time just the two of us without the kids. That night he one a couple of thousand.
But what seemed like an innocent night turned out to be the biggest mistake made to date.
My husband has been gambling on pokies for about 4yrs now. Although he might not do it everyday, but when he does choose to do so, he will easily spend his whole pay...........It is taking its toll on our family financialy and our Marriage. I have tried to be there and support him and help understand as to why and how it got to this point, but Im afraid I can no longer deal with this alone. I feel sorrow for familys who have to deal with or know someone who has a gamblimg problem it becomes an emotional rollercoaster spinning out of control and all you want to do is get off.
My husband is the love of my life and I care about him dearly, but when is enough enough..............................
I have a gambling problem which I have been battling for 10 years.
It has cost me my marriage (5 years ago) and almost sent me bankrupt.
I have managed to stop for periods of up to 3 months and then something happens in my lfie which triggers a binge.
My last binge cost me $5,500, which was the money I had received as a redundancy payout from work.
I now don't have a job and no money.
I am permanently broke and haven't had a win for 4 months with my bets and losses steadily escalating to ridiculous levels as I try and win my money back.
I watch everyone else gambling around me win and I never win.
I have developed severe anxiety as I can't even pay my rent and I rarely sleep.
I have had a number of well paying jobs and now I have no assets as I have gambled every cent that I had saved and invested.
I love to gamble on pokies, the races, texas holdem poker (both internet and live)and black jack (casino).
When I gamble all of my problems disappear and I relax, whenI stop gambling the world becomes unlivable again.
The best times in my life in the last 3 years were when I stopped gambling for two preiods of 4 months.
I wish I could control my gambling as there aspects of it that I quite enjoy such as setting a small budget and making some bets on the races, but when I do I can't seem to stop anymore and I just move onto other forms of gambling after the races stop.
I want my life back!
I've decided that enough is enough and that I won't allow gambling to own me anymore.
34 year old father of 4, 5 innocent lives ruined my wife and kids plus mine not so innocent makes 6 but like i said 5 innocent. Debts that would astound most people. Now the only thing i want is for the house and contents to be protected from the wolves. They can have me but please not them.
I will take on what comes but they are innocent - i lied and cheated to feed the pokies - i got credit cards and loans and redirected the mail so my wife would not find out.
Duck down the shop to do the grocceries to take the load of her - yeah right just so i could hit that button again.
To those still gambling - dont run, don't hide, dont lie. Only the truth can save the people around you.
We may lose ourselves in our addictions but it is the innocent that truely suffer.
Its the day I got paid and he emptied my account he told me he did it for me.
My roof over my head my food my life he took it and he gambled it away. When u gamble you steal a peice of your family you steal a piece of their souls and you feed it to the dogs. You shatter a world that is so fragile that they don't even know where to hide. I feel shame, fear, anger and hate. I'm leaving i'm embarrased. But i am alone. A spouse of a gambler feels more shame you too embarrased to tell anyone especially if its not the first what do you do go to your family and ask for money at the end of the month to survive. Sometimes you feel like everyone can see like you living a lie and that hurts, you trust no-one and nothing and the longer you keep it inside the deeper the pain digs into your soul.
You destroy your loved ones piece by piece. Until hey left with nothing but a shell they are numb and ashamed. That is how you gamblers make ur family feel. Disgust and hatred. Don't do it please just don't throw your family away on a table.
I LOST MY HOUSE , MY FAMILY, MY LIFESAVINGS , MY JOB ,ALL MY FRIENDS........AND THERE ISNT ONE DAY THAT GOES PAST THAT I DONT THINK ABOUT THE PUNT..an old man told me that a long long time ago...i started at 16 put my life savings 15gs in one day at the tab lucky for me the last horse i backed came in squared up...over the years ive lost over 2 million im 39 now...all i can say is if you cant control yourself youll loose guaranteed...
After six years of playing poker machines and the last two them struggling with myself to give it up I have finally managed to stop playing. All I really did during the six years was go work and then go to the club and play poker machines and I lost my equity in my home, my unpreserved super any savings and maxed out 6 credit cards and now I have nothing but debt to pay off every pay. If you are playing poker machines now remember that money doesn't last forever and one day you will be forced to stop. When you get back in touch with reality you will grieve for your loss and unless you are fairly young you probably never will accumulate a nest egg for your old age.
You will never win back you lost money andI know how addictive these machines are but if you don't have the money you can't lose it. So get some one to take control of your finances or find a way to minimise your access to cash. You will still feel the stress of trying to beat your addiction but if there is no money there is no temptation and it will be easier to stop.
I am so proud of my friend.
She has made the first step by herself in admitting she has a problem with gambling to me. I knew she gambled and like many only ever spoke of the winnings with pride. I also knew I was really unable to do too much to help her until she decided herself to ask for help.
Friends are not only there for good times, friends are also there for all the ups and downs in life.
The future will be challenging and testing for us all. The real important thing happening here is that there IS a future, we cannot change the past but we can work on improving the future.
Never be scared to ask a friend for help.
I have an addiction!
There I said it!
I still sometimes don't believe I have an addiction but I do!
I am a young apprentice With a beautiful girlfriend, the best mates in the world and a loving family.
I am starting to lose all if them slowly but shorly.
I have $0 to my name and owe my family members money.
I bet my weekly wage and more everweel and always lose!
I tell my mates I win but never do.
I am a selfish person.
Today I have had my last bet!
I am taking hold of my life right now abd getting back on track.
I am smarter and better than the punt.
I bet on horses and just keep betting till it's all gone. Don't know when to stop.
To those who are reading this, STOP!
STOP GAMBLiNG. TAKE CONTROL!
Not one person who bets frequently is in front overall.
Not one.
I have now started with a blank page.
My life starts right now.
U should do the same!
I find it easy to say i wont bet again and that's very easy to say when you have lost it all, and then payday comes around again and there i am having another bet, i work in mining so i get paid very well, i need a web site that will block internet gambling for when I'm away so if anyone has any suggestions please say and when i get back its even harder as my mates are at work and Ive to much spare time. I'm 37, single and the reason being i don't want a girl in my life so i don't let her down, i owe a lot of money to family, cant get a loan so my dreams of buying a house are out of the question. i live a lie everyday and it all started with a big win and Ive lost ever since that day, Ive no idea what Ive lost in the way of money and i don't want to know but worse than the money Ive lost my life and my ability to look at myself in the mirror. Ive tried a lot of things to stop but being lonely sets it off every time. writing this letter and reading all the above letters is an easy thing to do, its stopping which is the hardest.i wish i could stop but i know i will keep failing until the day the realities hit home, but as they say you loose many battles before you win the war so i hope i win that war soon as I'm sick of losing battles.
My Husband Gambles.It has gotten to the point of when is it OK to stay with someone who spends all the money on gambling. I have 2 kids and a small house plus 1 dog. He has been to a psychologist but I just don't think that will stop him. I am empty....
Life doesn’t talk about success always and sometimes you need to prefer religion over the daily life and work. Religion shows you the way to live life and brings in positive feelings which helps you to lead the life peacefully and in a positive manner. Inspirational gifts which are close to any religion would most probably help in inspiring the people who belong to the religion [...] Statues of the Mother Virgin Mary are the other inspirational gifts which you could think of.
I recently started to gamble on a regular basis after a big win at the casino turning $400 into $20k which really got me think how easy money can be made, so now I have lost the $20k plus another $30k that is not my money, Im trying to hide my gambling habits from my friends and family but it finally caught up to me, the debts are piling up and i'll have turned to everyone for help already using all my friends and family for my own habits, going to the casino with other people's money knowing that i'll have to face the music soon. Recently I have taken money from work to feed my addiction and today at the casino I saw my brother's friend and my own friends, I think the know but they keep quiet for now because they care for me. But it is eating away at me at how bad i'll have become. [...] It wasnt this bad before I never really needed money, but now I need it soon, making me turn to the casino to get a short fix now that its has become a major issue in my life. I feel that I have no one to talk to about this with because I dont want to involve my friends and family into my own mess but I know soon it will catch up to me and make me fall down hard. Atm I'm so scared of anything, its hurting me so badly yet I still do it becasue it takes away my headache, it stops me thinking about anything and just focus on the win that's all I care about now, the next big cash in. I already know I'll be back because I use poker as a excuse that its a game of skills but really it a game where I can feed my addiction without people looking bad at me. Someone needs to stop me but really no one knows how bad it has become. And hopefully I fix it up before anyone really take a close peak into my personal life............. I want you all to know that gambing it killing me inside yet I dont know how 2 stop because I dont want to stop I guess ........
i lost thousands in a few visits... i've recognised that this is a problem for me and i am not going to gamble anymore.
after my last visit i had a big argument with someone i love dearly, it brought out a horrible side of me i don't want.
do what i did, take control, beat the urge, live your life... money is worth more in your bank account.
the money you will loose is going to hurt, but it's the people you'll lose that will hurt more..
I've been living in Australia for 8 years. I thought this would be the perfect place to happily live...it was...but not until I got to know the casino. I spent all my money at the casino, the big win of $25 in one day really got me addicted and after that I just lost all money for my studies. I managed to tell lies and borrow from my family members. It really damaged my personalities, I turned from hardworking and reliable person to such a shallow and devil person. I decided to give up, with a big support from my partner. I am registed to ban myself from the casino. I never be able to go back there again till now. Life is happy for several years.
Now I am working in a great job and marrying the most wonderful and supportive person. Life can't be any better but I never understand why I start to gamble again.
A year ago, I went to the TAB just for fun and now I get hooked on the pokie machines badly. Every fortnight, I lost my paychecks and put myself in debt. All my hard earned money just disappeared in a day and I feel so down all the time. I wish I could stop it forever as I feel so guilty not being to keep my promises and keep hurting people I love by gambling.
At the moment, I promise I will give it up...but I never know when the gambling urge will hit me again. I want to get rid of the debts and live normal life like other people.
When I was young, I never understood why people gamble...till now when I am one of them, I can see how hard it is to give up.
With all my love, I wish all the best for myself & everyone who try to start their new life. BE STRONG!
I'm down to my last pennies. I have a good job, and other income, but I've spent the lot. I constantly think of the pokies. I take on addictions to numb my emotions. This one started 15 years ago. I lie, and avoid socialising. I love being at the Casino. when I win I feel successful and happy, when I'm losing I feel anguish and defiance. I stay until I have nothing left, and can't get any more out of the ATM. I go despite self exclusion, I rang the Casino today and told them I had been going and they are updating my info, and I hope security doesn't let me in next time. But I love going, the music, the sound, the win, the fix. I can spend up to $2000 a night, I work on call most nights, and go while I'm on call. I stay all night, and get overtired and my eyes are strained from the screen. I don't see my friends, and I have given up my hobbies, though I do lie to my family and say I am going dancing or going to work, when I'm really going to the casino. I must stop, I must want to stop. I have been anorexia/bulimia and I've been a smoker and an alcoholic, they don't control me at the moment, and I want to be free from these overwhelming and self destructive ways of blocking my pain. I have been through therapy, but I always have one habit or another. Please wish me well and pray for my recovery, and I wish you all success in taking back your lives, family, friends and the joy of living.
My pay usually goes in some time tonight, I will be waitig for it before the many loans and loansharks etc try to get their cut of my small pay. Then I will not have enough to pay the rent and feed myself and my daughter. I can borrow off nobody as I have borrowed off everybody. I don't know how I'll get through the next two weeks. I have nothind and am awaiting a forced bankruptcy on myself. I'll probably be evicted for non payment of rent. I am miserable and it's hard to breath sometimes. I gamble to numb that pain and then I am on a ratwheel. This has been going on for 20 years. I am 42. I truly have nothing and don't believe it can go any lower, except I've been sitting at rockbottom for as long as I can remember, all due to gambling.
I just found out that someone close to me has a gambling problem. I am so angry but mostly disappointed. Disappointed because he could not see how much hurt he was spreading to friends, kids, partners. I don't even know if they are all aware. Probably not. He has lied to our faces, many times. This is just not good enough. Your life is your responsibility and when kids have to take control of their parents, there is a serious issue, one that has been developing a mind of its own for a long time! I can't believe how much a gambling addiction is like drugs or alcohol, the freight train analogy rings true for all addictions. Unstoppable by anybody but the driver. Please get some help, please, it's not too late to show that you care.
my brother has a pokies addiction. He always comes to me in desperation. asks me to control his money for him but never gives me full control. He gets lots of loans to gamble with and then has to pay them all back each pay day. Loans money from family and can never seem to pay anyone back. He stresses everyone out. He denies he is still gambling but earns good money but never has a cent. I don.t know how to help anymore. It is not just his problem now because i always have to bail him out. zxa/-/
I am 34 and have had a gambling addicition for the past 10 years. I have gambled well in excess of $200k in that time ($50k in the last year alone). I run a business with many staff, and my gambling certainly affects me mentally and effects my ability to run the business. While living in Sydney, my partner encouraged I self excluded myself from... the Casino which I did, but that didn't change anything - I kept going to the casino.
I have borrowed from everybody (family and partner).
The stress of day to day life, along with managing a business, and the drastic effects of gambling have caused so much anxiety that I can't sleep at night. It takes on a snowball effect - I gamble to get away from the stresses of life, but it only causes more problems, and I use gabling to avoid dealing with the real issues.
I know I have a problem, but I am only now calling Gamblers Help to see a counsellor and rid this evil addiction.
In the meantime, my business is in state of shambles, and my relationship with my partner is very delicate. But I feel like I have to address this addiction, or it will bankrupt me both financially and emotionally.
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