Get Help and Support

It’s very difficult to cope alone when a person close to you has a gambling problem.

Gambling Help Services offer free, confidential and professional counselling and therapy to friends and family of gamblers, either individually or as a couple.  

• Talk to someone you know and trust who is a good listener and will not judge you or your partner
• Talk to a trained counsellor over the phone or make an appointment to see a gambling or financial counsellor. Gambling counselling is free and available for partners, families and friends – click here for more information
• Talk to your children and other family members as they will benefit from having the gambling problem out in the open. It is likely they will be relieved you are getting help. It is very important that kids don’t feel responsible for the actions of their parents
• Download the FREE guide ‘Problem Gambling: A Guide for Friends and Family' to help you to cope with someone else’s gambling behaviour, and for practical tips on how to take care of yourself emotionally, physically, financially and legally

Protect Yourself

Finances

• Take control of your finances and work out a budget for the household
• Don’t pay the person’s gambling or other debts
• Avoid joint financial commitments with the person such as consolidation loans
• Try and limit the person’s access to cash so that they have less opportunity to gamble
• Get professional help - see a free and confidential financial counsellor

Safety and Wellbeing

• Don’t tolerate any abusive behaviour
• Have an escape plan if you are at risk of harm. For more help contact the Domestic Violence Helpline on 1800 800 098 (freecall, 24 hours) or the Domestic Violence Crisis Centre on 1300 782 200 (business hours) or for after hours, contact Crisis Care on 131 611
• Get professional help – don’t feel that you have to solve this on your own – see a free and confidential Gambling Help Service

Problem Gambling Family Protection Order

Family members can apply to the Independent Gambling Authority (IGA) for an order to be made to protect them from the harmful gambling of another family member. This is done by making an appointment to speak to an officer at the IGA. The IGA will not usually make any orders until it has conducted a hearing into the complaint. If the IGA agrees to make an ‘order’ they can impose a wide range of restrictions on the person with the gambling problem which can include: a direction to receive counselling, barring a person from particular venues or the payment of wages into particular accounts.

A complaint may also be made on behalf of a child by a parent or guardian, or a person with whom the child normally lives. You are able to bring a friend or counsellor along to attend the appointment and give you support.

For more information about Problem Gambling Family Protection Orders call the IGA on 8226 7233 or visit their website.