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Series: Setting gambling limits

Setting gambling goals

4 min read

This article is being personalised for someone supporting someone else with a lived experience of gambling. If that is not you, can always change the audience type below:

I am here because:
Of my own gambling I am supporting others I am a professional

Are you ready to set a gambling goal?

Are you ready to change your gambling? Do you want to quit gambling altogether? Or do you want to cut it down?

Setting a goal can provide you with a sense of direction and motivation. It can help you stay focused and give you a way to track how you’re going. A goal can help you stay accountable to yourself and the people around you.

When you achieve a goal, it can provide you with a sense of accomplishment and boost your confidence in your ability to manage your gambling. Knowing which goal is right for you can also help you work out how to move forward. 

Is your family member or friend ready to set a gambling goal?

Is your family member or friend ready to change their gambling? Do they want to quit gambling altogether? Or do they want to cut it down?

You can encourage your family member or friend to set a goal. It can provide them with a sense of direction and motivation in their recovery journey. It can help them stay focused and give them a way to track how they’re going. It can also help them stay accountable to themselves and the people around them, including you.

As a family member or friend, you can provide support and encouragement along the way. By being there for them as they work towards their goals, you can help them stay motivated and focused on their recovery. Remember to celebrate their accomplishments and acknowledge the hard work they are putting into their recovery.

Is someone ready to set a gambling goal?

Is the person you’re working with ready to change their gambling? Do they want to quit gambling altogether? Or do they want to cut it down?

As a professional, it’s important to encourage them to set a goal as part of their recovery journey. Setting a goal can provide them with a sense of direction and motivation. It can help them stay focused and give them a way to track how they’re going. It can also help them stay accountable to themselves and the people around them, which could include you.

You may be in a position to provide professional support and encouragement along the way. By being there for them as they work towards their gaols, you can help them stay motivated focused on their recovery. Remember to celebrate their accomplishments and acknowledge the hard work they are putting into their recovery.

What are some gambling goals?

There are a couple of options people have after they’ve decided to change their gambling.

Quitting gambling altogether

Sometimes, people decide to stop gambling completely, which means they plan to not gamble at all. This option can help ease financial pressures and give them time to think about how they want to gamble in the future. It can also give their family members and friends peace of mind.

Quitting specific gambling activities

Sometimes, people decide to stop the types of gambling that are causing them harm, but still gamble on other activities. This can be a good option for people who don’t feel like they need to quit gambling completely. However, it can be harder because they need to be careful not to develop issues with other types of gambling.

Cutting back

Sometimes, people decide to cut down the money or time they spend on the types of gambling that are causing them harm. This is usually the hardest option because it can take more planning and self-control than quitting altogether.

If you choose this goal, you’ll need to consider how often, how much money, and how much time you intend to gamble.

What is lower risk gambling?

So how much gambling is enough to stay out of trouble? The Lower-risk Gambling Guidelines developed in Canada using international data suggest three limits to lower the risk of harms from gambling:

  • Gamble no more than 1% of their yearly household income (before tax) – this is about $25 per week for most people
  • Gamble no more than once a week
  • Avoid regularly gambling on more than two different types of gambling (i.e. pokies and sports betting)

Which goal is best?

Are you having trouble choosing a goal? Below are some reasons that you might decide to quit gambling instead of cutting back. How many apply to you?

  • Gambling is having a significant impact on my life
  • I don’t have much control over my gambling
  • For me, one bet inevitably leads to many more
  • I don’t think I’ll ever be able to gamble socially
  • I have urges to gamble all the time
  • I’ve tried to cut down in the past but have always gone back to it
  • I gamble to change my mood or manage stress
  • I’ve had severe financial consequences from my gambling
  • My gambling is harming other people
  • I’m often preoccupied with gambling
  • I can’t financially afford to gamble
  • My family or friends won’t support me if I keep gambling
  • I don’t think I can gamble without wanting to win back money I’ve already lost
  • I don’t enjoy gambling anymore
  • I find it hard to keep within my gambling limits

The more of these reasons that apply to you, the more it might be a good idea to consider quitting gambling completely, at least for a period of time, rather than just trying to cut down.

It's ok to be flexible with your goal. You may consider quitting completely, or it may be that cutting back is a good first step towards quitting. Whatever you decide, help is available.

What can you do next?

Once you have chosen your goal, it's important to make a plan for how you're going to achieve it. This can involve breaking down your goal into smaller, more manageable steps, and figuring out what resources or tools you'll need to get there. For example, if your goal is to stop gambling, you might make a plan to avoid places where gambling occurs or to find new activities to do in your free time. Regardless of your goal, our Self-Help Activities can help you achieve it.

Telling people about your goal can also be a helpful step in staying on track. Support from people you trust who understand where you're at can be a powerful motivator. They can help you stay accountable to your goals and provide encouragement when things get tough. This might involve telling a family member, friend, or a healthcare provider about your goals and progress. By involving others in your journey, you may find that it becomes easier to stay on track and achieve your goals. Check out the different support and counselling options that are available to you in our section on Seeking Support.

Do you want more help?

To get help setting a gambling goal, you can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members or friends.

Which goal is best?

Some people have trouble deciding which goal to choose. Below are some reasons people have to quit gambling instead of cutting back. How many apply to your family member or friend?

  • Gambling is having a significant impact on their life
  • They don’t have much control over their gambling
  • For them, one bet inevitably leads to many more
  • They don’t think they’ll ever be able to gamble socially
  • They have urges to gamble all the time
  • They’ve tried to cut down in the past but have always gone back to it
  • They gamble to change their mood or manage stress
  • They’ve had severe financial consequences from their gambling
  • Their gambling is harming other people
  • They’re often preoccupied with gambling
  • They can’t financially afford to gamble
  • Their family or friends won’t support them if they keep gambling
  • They don’t think they can gamble without wanting to win back money they’ve already lost
  • They don’t enjoy gambling anymore
  • They find it hard to keep within their gambling limits

The more of these reasons that apply to your family member or friend, the more it might be a good idea to encourage them to consider quitting gambling completely, at least for a period of time, rather than just trying to cut down.

It's ok for your family member or friend to be flexible with their goal. They may be ready to quit completely, or they may need to start by cutting back. Whatever they decide, there is help available for both of you.

What can you do next?

Once your family member or friend has chosen a goal, it's important to help them make a plan for how they’re going to achieve it. This can involve breaking down their goal into smaller, more manageable steps, and figuring out what resources or tools they’ll need to get there. For example, if their goal is to stop gambling, you might help them make a plan to avoid places where gambling occurs or to find new activities to do in their free time. Regardless of their goal, you can help them achieve it by encouraging them to take a look at our Self-Help Activities.

As a supportive family member or friend, you can provide motivation and encouragement along the way. You can help keep them stay accountable to their goals and celebrate their successes when they reach milestones. You might also encourage them to discuss their goals with other family members or friends who understand the situation, or seek support from a healthcare provider. Our section on Seeking Support can help you find additional resources to support your family member or friend’s recovery.

Do you want more help?

To get help setting a gambling goal, you or your family member or friend can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members or friends like you. It’s not only the person who gambles that can be affected, but the people close to them too. It’s important to take care of yourself when you’re supporting someone else. Check out the family and friends section in our peer support community to connect with people who understand.

Which goal is best?

Some people have trouble deciding which goal to choose. Below are some reasons people have to quit gambling instead of cutting back. How many apply to the person you’re working with?

  • Gambling is having a significant impact on their life
  • They don’t have much control over their gambling
  • For them, one bet inevitably leads to many more
  • They don’t think they’ll ever be able to gamble socially
  • They have urges to gamble all the time
  • They’ve tried to cut down in the past but have always gone back to it
  • They gamble to change their mood or manage stress
  • They’ve had severe financial consequences from their gambling
  • Their gambling is harming other people
  • They’re often preoccupied with gambling
  • They can’t financially afford to gamble
  • Their family or friends won’t support them if they keep gambling
  • They don’t think they can gamble without wanting to win back money they’ve already lost
  • They don’t enjoy gambling anymore
  • They find it hard to keep within their gambling limits

The more of these reasons that apply to the person you’re working with, the more it might be a good idea to encourage them to consider quitting gambling completely, at least for a period of time, rather than just trying to cut down.

It's ok for the person you’re working with to be flexible with their goal. They might need your help to determine which goal is right for them. They may be ready to quit completely, or they may need to start by cutting back. Whatever they decide, you can continue to provide them with support and resources to move forward in their recovery.

What can you do next?

As a professional working with a person who has been negatively affected by their gambling, you have an important role in helping them achieve their goals. Once they have identified their goal, you can assist them in creating a plan to reach it by breaking it down into smaller, more achievable steps. This plan may involve identifying their gambling triggers, developing coping strategies, or finding new ways to spend their leisure time. For example, if their goal is to stop gambling, you might help them make a plan to avoid places where gambling occurs or to find new activities to do in their free time. Regardless of their goal, you can help them achieve it by encouraging them to take a look at our Self-Help Activities.

It's also important to encourage the person you’re working with to share their goals with others who can provide support and encouragement throughout their recovery. As a professional, you can be a source of support, but family members and friends can also play an important role in keeping them accountable and motivated. You can work with them to identify supportive people in their lives and help them build a network of support. You can also encourage them to seek support from a healthcare provider, who can work with them to achieve their goals. Our section on Seeking Support can help you find additional resources to support their recovery.

Do you want more help?

To get help setting a gambling goal, you or the person you’re working with can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members, friends, and professionals like you. It can be hard for professionals to support people with gambling issues. To learn more about how you can help, go to our section on How Professionals Can Help.

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