Gambler's Help
Gambler's Help
For immediate help call 1800 858 858 FREECALL now. There will be someone to answer your call.
What does Gambler's Help do?
What is counselling?
What do financial counsellors do?
What is Gambler’s Help?
Gambler’s Help is a problem gambling support service that operates across Victoria.
It offers support, advice and information to people affected by gambling (both gamblers and non-gamblers) and to the broader community.
The program is an initiative of the Victorian State Government and funded from the Community Support Fund.
What does Gambler's Help do?
Gambler's Help aim to:
- Help the person to work out what the problems are
- Help the person to gain an understanding of their gambling behaviours
- Help the person to work out their own skills, strengths, and ability to change or cope with their situation and gambling behaviour
- Support the person while they go through the process of change
Gambler's Help counsellors also help people who are concerned about someone else's gambling.
What is counselling?
Counselling is an opportunity for you to discuss issues or concerns with a professional in a safe, confidential, non-threatening, accepting environment. The counsellor does not judge you but is there to help you work out your own problems and explore options about how to change your life.
For counselling to be of most benefit, it is important that you feel comfortable with both the style the counsellor uses and your relationship with them. You need to feel that you can speak your mind. If this is not happening, it is vital that you bring this up with the counsellor and negotiate any changes necessary.
What to expect from a Gambler’s Help counsellor
- Professional, confidential and free service
- A thorough assessment of your gambling and other related issues
- Information
- Referral to other agencies
- Counselling for gambling
- Counselling for other issues
Counselling can be individual, couple, family or group-based. Goals are worked out with you. You decide whether to stop or control your gambling and which other issues to address.
Gambler’s Help counselling is available at different locations. Contact Gambler’s Help for your nearest service.
What do financial counsellors do?
Financial counsellors have skills and knowledge in laws relating to debt. They help people who have debts to understand and exercise their rights and responsibilities in relation to their debts.
Financial counsellors can also help by providing information and support, advice about government concessions and entitlements, and information about where to get food vouchers and other forms of assistance.
The counsellors at Gambler's Help all have qualifications and experience.
Counselling at Gambler's Help is free and confidential.
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Comments
My husband (43)has left the home and moved in with his mother because of gambling. He is still in denial and it has been 6 months I have told him he has until xmas to work it out and am worried that he is not moving past the denial. He is still gambling and telling everyone that he is not. The bank account shows the truth. How do you get them to face the truth.
I wish I knew the answer to how we can get them to see the harm that is happening. My 67 year old mother has in the last 6 months taken up gambling, she stopped for a while but it's back with a vengance. when we try to talk to her about it she say's it her money but poor dad is left with paying all the bills and he's at his wits end....
i m 24 an have had a pokie addiction basicly since i was introduced to them when i was 18 it is hard to tell someone they have a problem untill they are ready to come to terms with it because when someone knows they have a problem then it means they have to come to terms with all the pain they have caused not to mention the embarrasment an how hard it is to get it under controll i m still fightin to be rid of my addiction but as i live by myself an have very few friends it is a very hard fight.
i'm 24 an have had a pokie addiction basicly since i was introduced to them when i was 18. Every bit of money i get it always seems to be put through a machine i cant help it, pokies are all i think about. I hurt everyone around me by doing this and i always have no money by doing this. Most recently I have been kicked out of home for lying about where my money has gone to my dad My mum gave me $20 for petrol and I went straight to the pokies with it... I'm hurting me, my family and friends...
i am 22 and for about three years i have been playing the pokie, stealing money, getting creditcards and selling possessions just so i could support my habbit, it xmas now and i cant even buy my parents who know about my habbit a present. I cant go round the world like i wanted to do, cant go out with friends to a movie cause all my money goes to my addiction. All my family and friends know, I think that that is the hardest step explaining to your loved ones why i have no food in the house.....
My husband (42) is gambling since he was 18. Since we got married he was gambling but he's never facing that he has a problem. He's in debt and he is gampling at least 2-3 times a week large sums of money. He denies that he has a problem, he is lying all the time and many times he is going to work just to gamble. We had days when we didn't had food in the house because he gambled until the last penny. We suffer because he is not mature enough to face that is is an addictive gambler.
His first marriage ended after 5 years because of his gambling. Eventually my marriage will end up in divorce also. Right now I don't have money or any place to go until I finish school, but as soon I am done with school, I will take my kids and leave him. I am sick of it.
Hi I am also a gambling addict. The pokies have ruined my life! I am 41 and have been gambling for 10 years. My mariage is over because of this putrid addiction. I hate them with a vengenance. I wish they would just get rid of the machines, cannot beleive how much money and not to mention time that has gone into playing them. It has been just one ugly scary nightmare for me. I really want to stop now because I am not enjoying them anymore. I use them to escape reality however I feel 10 times worse after. I have alot of empathy for those who suffer the same addiction. No money, cant pay bills lie after lie and just total kaos day after day. I know I will never ever get back what I have lost but the time is near and I will stop because I'm better than that I know I am. I hope for those who suffer the same c**p everyday can just wake up and realize we have become hostages to this ridiculous form of entertainment. Goodluck to you all and may we stop soon before it takes over our life completely.
Hello im 28 and have a pokie addiction ive been going since over 10 years ever since i turned 18 would go now n then but i go often these days i just found them fun playing the pokies and atm i just cant stop going i need help badly and every bit of money i get just goes in a machine i cant pay off bills etc as of this addiction i have no money and its hurting my love ones and friends aswell i just wish they would get rid of the machines as ill then save n wont have any problems im scard that my bf or family might leave me as of this problem
I am 30 years old and for ten years I gambled away every spare cent I had, even skipping paying bills on time to support my habit. 5 years ago I met the girl of my dreams and came clean 2 years into the relationship about my gambling. I swore id give it up and save for a house so that we could be together. I was doing well for a short period but when times became stressfull I turned to gambling hoping that I could make everything better, but the more I lost the more I gamled to try get it back. In the proccess the lies became like 2nd nature and I just couldnt build up the courage to say something thinking that I would lose her and other loved ones. Eventualy I couldnt sleep due to the guilt and I spilled my guts to her. That night when she walked out was the most pain I had ever felt in my entire life. It was like I had shot her on her way out. This was the day that changed my life. I still feel enormous pain but the relief that I could finally tell someone was almighty. I am turning my life around now and vowed that I would never go back to being the person I had became. If i do relapse I will not hesitate in telling my loved ones because they will never judge you and only want the best for you. I wished I learnt this lesson years ago. 2 weeks into my new life I am doing extremely well and havnt been tempted to gamble. I still pray that she will forgive me one day and come back. I will give her the est life ever.
I have been addicted to the pokies for about fifteen years, and like those above me, it has completely ruined my life! Where once I had a loving secure marriage, a wonderful home and family (not to mention self respect) I now have none of those. I live a life of perpetual poverty...never having enough food, bills overdue, borrowing or stealing from those I love...the guilt, the shame and the feeling of hopelessness is a never ending cycle that I just can't seem to stop. I'm intelligent, creative, kind and fun and yet none of that matters in the face of this addiction...
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