Article sticking limits
Series: Setting gambling limits

Avoiding risky gambling

5 min read

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What are some ways you can avoid risky gambling?

People can use a range of strategies to help them maintain control over their gambling and reduce the risk of experiencing harms from their gambling. These strategies can help you set limits on your gambling activity, manage your money and time spent on gambling, and make informed decisions about your gambling.

Using these strategies can help you avoid the negative consequences of excessive gambling, such as financial problems, relationship issues, and mental health concerns. By adopting these strategies, you are more likely to be able to engage in gambling as a form of entertainment without letting it take over your life.

These strategies are useful when you feel like you may be gambling more than you should be. They can be especially helpful if you want to make sure you’re staying in control of your gambling.

What limits should you set?

The first step to lower your risk of gambling harm is to decide in advance how much you’ll spend, how often you’ll gamble and how many ways you gamble. The Lower-risk Gambling Guidelines developed in Canada using international data can help you make an informed choice about your gambling.

What are some ways a friend or family member can avoid risky gambling?

People can use a range of strategies to help them maintain control over their gambling and reduce the risk of experiencing harms from their gambling. These strategies can help people set limits on their gambling activity, manage their money and time spent on gambling, and make informed decisions about their gambling.

By encouraging your family member or friend to use these strategies, you can help them avoid the negative consequences of excessive gambling, such as financial problems, relationship issues, and mental health concerns. Adopting these strategies can help them be able to engage in gambling as a form of entertainment without it taking over their life.

These strategies are helpful if you feel your family member or friend may be gambling more than they should be. Encouraging and supporting them to use these strategies can be especially helpful if you want to help them stay in control of their gambling.

What limits should they set?

The first step to lower a person’s risk of gambling harm is for them to decide in advance how much they’ll spend, how often they’ll gamble and how many ways they gamble. The Lower-risk Gambling Guidelines developed in Canada using international data can help make an informed choice about their gambling.

What are some ways people can avoid risky gambling?

As a professional, you can advise people on a range of strategies to help them maintain control over their gambling and reduce the risk of experiencing harms from their gambling. These strategies can help them set limits on their gambling activity, manage their money and time spent on gambling, and make informed decisions about their gambling.

By encouraging the person that you’re working with to use these strategies, you can help them avoid the negative consequences of excessive gambling, such as financial problems, relationship issues, and mental health concerns. Adopting these strategies can help them be able to engage in gambling as a form of entertainment without it taking over their life.

It’s important to discuss these strategies them if you suspect they may be gambling more than they should be. Encouraging and supporting them to use these strategies can be especially helpful if you want to help them stay in control of their gambling.

What limits should they set?

The first step to lower a person’s risk of gambling harm is for them to decide in advance how much they’ll spend, how often they’ll gamble and how many ways they gamble. The Lower-risk Gambling Guidelines developed in Canada using international data can help them make an informed choice about your gambling.

How much should someone spend on gambling? No more than 1% of yearly household income (before tax)

It’s recommended that people spend no more than about 1% of their yearly household income (before tax) to avoid their risk of harmful gambling. For most people, this is around $25 per week.

Annual yearly household incomeMaximum weekly limit
$25,000$5
$50,000$10
$75,000$15
$100,000$20
$125,000$25
$150,000$30
$175,000$35
$200,000$40
$250,000$50
$300,000$60
How often should you gamble? No more than four times a month

It’s recommended that people try to gamble less than once a week to reduce their risk of harmful gambling.

How many ways should I gamble? No more than 2 types of gambling

Gambling in multiple ways increases the risk of harmful gambling, and it’s recommended that people regularly gamble on no more than two types of gambling.

What are some ways to stay within gambling limits?

Setting these limits is a great start. But once people have set them, there are some steps they can take that can help them stick to them.

Take regular breaks.

Gambling for a long time can make people lose track of time. It’s a good idea to check the time regularly and take breaks every now and then to get some fresh air or have a snack. This can help people think more clearly about whether they want to keep gambling or not, and what might happen if they do. There are some brief activities that you can use to relax during these breaks in our section on Finding Ways to Relax.

Balance gambling with other activities.

It’s important for people to have other things in their lives besides gambling. Keeping up with their hobbies, spending time with their friends and family and doing well at work are all important. If gambling is the only thing in their lives, they may want to find other activities to enjoy, like starting a new hobby, learning a new skill, or exercise. See Keeping Busy for help finding other activities.

Avoid chasing losses.

Trying to win back lost money by continuing to gamble usually ends up in even more losses. It can be helpful to take a break and accept that the money is gone. Check out Changing Thoughts and Beliefs if it’s hard to walk away after a loss.

Think of gambling as entertainment.

It’s important to think of gambling as an entertainment expense rather than as an investment or a way to make money. When people start to think that way, they are more at risk of developing harmful gambling. Check out our information in Learn About Gambling and our self-help activity Changing Thoughts and Beliefs .

Avoid gambling when sad or upset.

When people are feeling upset, it can be difficult for them to make good decisions. Gambling can often make people feel even worse emotionally. See our information on Gambling and Mental Health Issues and check out our self-help activities, like Finding Ways to Relax and Keeping Busy .

Only gamble with disposable income.

Gambling with money that is meant for entertainment purposes is less likely to lead to risky gambling than using money meant for essential expenses like rent or bills. See Creating a Budget for help with budgeting.

Leave credit and debit cards at home.

Leaving credit and debit cards at home is an excellent way to help people stick to their limits. Take a look at how to reduce access to cash in Taking Control of Finances.

Limit alcohol when gambling.

When people drink alcohol or use drugs while they’re gambling, it can be risky because they may lose control and gamble more than they should. See our information on Gambling and Substance Use.

Learn from past gambling experiences.

Lapses and relapses can provide valuable opportunities for people to learn how to better recognise and manage their gambling triggers in the future. See Bouncing Back after a Lapse for more information.

Avoid gambling alone.

When people gamble by themselves, they may not realise how long they've been gambling and how much money they've spent. It's better for people to gamble with friends, so they can keep each other company and socialise together. Gambling should not be the main focus of people’s time with friends, but rather a small part of a social activity. People who gamble for other reasons may want to find other activities in which they can socialise with other people – see our self-help activity Keeping Busy for some ideas.

Take some time to consider these strategies to avoid risky gambling. Would any of them work for you?

Do you want more help?

For help on how to avoid risky gambling, 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.

Take some time to consider how you might use these strategies to help your friend or family member avoid risky gambling. Would any of them work for them?

Do you want more help?

For help on how to avoid risky gambling, 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.

Take some time to consider how you might use these strategies to help the person you’re working with avoid risky gambling. Would any of them work for them?

Do you want more help?

For help on how to avoid risky gambling, 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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