Whether it’s betting on your favourite team to win the football match, buying a lottery ticket or taking a spin on a casino slot machine, gambling can give you a great ‘high’ – especially if you are lucky! But it’s important to remember that gambling can be a problem and cause real damage to your health, relationships, finances and mental wellbeing. If you think you may have a gambling problem it’s vital to seek help as soon as possible. This can include speaking to your GP or finding NHS support or you can find more info here.

Gambling involves placing a bet, or stake, on an uncertain event that is reliant on chance. It can be as simple as betting on a particular football team to win a match, or as complex as predicting the outcome of a scratchcard game. While it is possible to make money from gambling, the risk of losing can be high and many people are unable to control their behaviour. This can lead to financial problems, debt and even bankruptcy. Gambling also has negative impacts on society/community levels. These include indirect costs, such as family and social effects, as well as monetary direct costs (such as addiction, problems with work and housing) and long-term costs. These can have a profound effect on the quality of life of the gambler and other family members. In some cases these impacts can become so serious that they can have suicidal consequences.