Family Members

Problem gambling affects not only the person experiencing gambling difficulties but also their families, friends and often employers. In 1999 the Federal Government’s Productivity Inquiry into Australia’s Gambling Industries, found that for every one person with a gambling problem between 5-10 other people are negatively affected.

Impact on family members can range from detrimental affects on family relationships, through to the complexities of “sexually transmitted debt” where one person can be held responsible for another’s financial defaults.

It is important for family members to therefore inform themselves about some of these issues and gain support in how to deal with them. The GIS (NSW) takes a wholistic view of problem gambling; we believe that by assisting all parties who have been negatively affected we can help people grow though the problem to a brighter future.

Many family members are still under the illusion that if the “problem gambler won’t help themselves, there’s nothing that can be done”. Whilst it is true that ultimately the person with gambling difficulties does need to solve their own problem, the family member is often already facing the affects of problem gambling in their own lives, so it has become a shared problem.

By assisting people to work on their respective difficulties with the gambling behaviour, both parties can be helped to move on from the problem. Indeed the “Frameworks for Change Program” (initiated through Illawarra Health) has found that by working with family members there is a marked increase in having the person with the gambling problem come in for treatment themselves and reduce or stop gambling.

Through this website we hope to provide up to date and relevant information as well as ideas on where to find out more. It is important to recognise that you are not alone and that many people have also found a path through some of the difficulties faced by family members. Recognising the problem, getting good information and perhaps some professional support are often the first steps to change.

Please let us know whether the information on this page was useful.

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Disclaimer - The opinions expressed in this website are not necessarily those held by the Gambling Impact Society (NSW) Inc. No responsibility will be accepted for anything that may occur as a result of anyone relying on the information and opinions contained in the website.