Are you concerned about your family’s safety and wellbeing?
Gambling can place real pressure on families and relationships, and it’s understandable if you’re worried or unsettled by a family member’s gambling. You might also be thinking about the wellbeing of children or noticing the impact that financial stress is having at home.
If gambling has led to difficult situations, including legal or financial problems, you’re not alone. Support is available to help you understand what’s happening and to take steps that protect your own safety and wellbeing, as well as the safety of your partner, children, or other family members.
How can you keep your family safe?
Gambling can place a lot of strain on families, and it can lead to controlling, unpredictable or unsafe behaviour. These situations can be even harder when alcohol or other stresses are also present. You may notice tension at home, or you may feel worried about how your family member reacts when they are stressed about gambling or when you try to protect your finances. For more information, see Gambling and Family Violence.
If you or anyone in your family feels unsafe, it’s important to know that support is available. Services that specialise in intimate partner violence, family violence, and sexual assault can offer counselling, safety planning, and temporary accommodation. You can also apply for a Protection Order, which is a legal document that outlines what the person who may harm you is not allowed to do, such as threatening, harassing, or intimidating you.
You might feel unsure about asking for help, but reaching out can make a real difference. Protecting your own safety and wellbeing and the safety of your children or other family members is the most important thing.
Call 000 in an emergency. If a situation feels unsafe or urgent, calling emergency services is an important way to protect yourself and your family.
The following free helplines are also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These services can offer support, information, and guidance:
- 1800 RESPECT Line: 1800 737 732 – the national domestic violence, family violence, and sexual assault helpline
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 – nationwide service to people affected by suicide
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 –support and advice for anyone experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide
- Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 – support for men and boys who are dealing with family and relationship difficulties
- Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491 – for men who want to stop their violent or abusive behaviour towards family members
- Elder Abuse Helpline: 1800 353 374 – for people who experience or witness the abuse of an older person
- Kids Help Line: 1800 551 800 – for young people between 5 and 25 years old
- 13 YARN: 13 92 76 – national crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping.
You can speak with the police about applying for a Protection Order, or you can contact the 1800 RESPECT Line on 1800 737 732 for more information.
How can you protect your children?
Children can be affected when a parent or family member is experiencing gambling harm. Young people may:
- Lose trust because of lies, secrets, or broken promises
- Feel depressed or powerless
- Blame themselves for what is happening
- Feel anxious or scared
- Have lowered self-esteem
- Spend less quality time with family
- Feel less secure or stable
- Feel ashamed, angry, hurt or lonely
- Be confused about what is happening
- Miss out on essentials like food or clothing
- Miss out on activities such as sport, excursions, camps or lessons
- Struggle with schoolwork
- Take on adult responsibilities like caring for younger siblings
- See arguments or sense tension
- Have problems at school
- Withdraw from family life
- Experience family violence
Children who grow up around gambling harm may also be at higher risk of gambling issues later in life.
It can be hard to know how to support children when you’re also dealing with the impact of someone else’s gambling. Even if they don’t talk about it, young people can feel isolated, worried, or upset by what is happening at home.
The good news is that children and young people can be very resilient, especially when they have steady support. You can help reduce the impact on them and support their emotional wellbeing by:
- Encouraging them to talk about their feelings when they are ready
- Reassuring them that they are not responsible
- Keeping them involved in family routines and activities
- Avoiding over-involving them in solving financial or adult problems
- Explaining budgeting in a calm, age-appropriate way so they know what to expect and feel more secure
- Separating the person from the behaviour so they understand that the behaviour is the concern, not the family member
Some young people find it hard to talk to a parent or caregiver about gambling, especially if they are unsure how you might react. If they need extra support, the following free and confidential services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
- Gamblers Help Youthline (Victoria only): 1800 262 375
- Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 or kidshelpline.com.au – chat, phone or email
- Headspace: headspace.org.au/online-and-phone-support
And we are always here to support you — and them.
Do you or your family member have legal issues?
If you or a family member are facing legal issues, support is available. When gambling is causing harm, people can sometimes make decisions under pressure that lead to legal issues, including charges related to theft or fraud. Speaking with a lawyer can help you understand your options and explain the situation to the police or the court.
You may be eligible for free legal support depending on your circumstances and the type of legal issue you are dealing with. For free legal advice, you can contact your state or territory Legal Aid helpline:
- Australian Capital Territory: Legal Aid ACT Helpline 1300 654 314 (Monday to Thursday 8:30am–7pm, Friday 8:30am–5pm)
- Tasmania: Legal Advice Service 1300 366 611 (Monday to Friday 9am–5pm)
- New South Wales: LawAccess NSW 1300 888 529 (Monday to Friday 9am–5pm)
- Queensland: Legal Aid Queensland 1300 651 188 (Monday to Friday 8:30am–4:30pm)
- Western Australia: Legal Aid WA Infoline 1300 650 579 (Monday to Friday 9am–4pm)
- South Australia: Legal Services Commission of SA 1300 366 424 (Monday to Friday 9am–4:30pm)
- Northern Territory: Northern Territory Legal Aid Helpline 1800 019 343 (Monday to Friday 8am–4:30pm)
- Victoria: Victoria Legal Aid Legal Help 1300 792 387 (Monday to Friday 8am–6pm)
Counselling is often viewed positively by the court. Some gambling counsellors provide letters of attendance or court reports that may be taken into account during sentencing. Not all services offer court reports, so it can be helpful to check with the service first. For more information, see Seeking Support.
Do you want more help?
If you’d like to know more about how to protect your family, you can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858. It’s free, available 24/7, and open to anyone affected by gambling harm.
Support isn’t just for people who gamble. It’s also here for family and friends like you, to help you cope and look after yourself.
If you’d also like to learn more about ways you can support your loved one to make changes to their gambling, visit our section on Taking Action.
