The prevalence of gambling and the harms it can cause have significant economic, personal, family, and community impacts. Gambling has been linked to health-related problems such as migraines and nausea, while social consequences include debt, depression, family breakdown, reduced productivity at work or study, and criminal activity [1].

While existing gambling research is predominantly framed through psychological and economic models of addiction and rational choice, socio-cultural approaches are beginning to emerge. This is reflected in the growing role of primary care clinicians evaluating patients for gambling pathology, as well as efforts to develop a comprehensive approach to harm reduction.

In order to minimise the risk of harmful gambling, people should always start with a fixed amount of money they are willing to lose, and then set a time limit for how long they will gamble. This will help prevent them from chasing their losses, thinking that they are due for a lucky streak or can win back what they have lost. It is also important to remember that the odds are against you, and gambling venues and websites exist to make profit, not to save you from a financial crisis.

It is also a good idea to never gamble with money that you can’t afford to lose, and always understand the game you are playing – check out our jargon buster for some helpful explanations of betting terms. You can also try setting yourself a daily, weekly, or monthly spending limit when you are gambling, and stick to it. This can be done by writing it down, separating the funds into another account, or telling someone else what your limit is and asking them to remind you of it.