Gambling Harms and Mental Health

What is gambling addiction, or problem gambling?

People use different words to describe harmful gambling. Some talk about gambling addiction. Others say problem gambling, compulsive gambling, or gambling disorder. You might also hear the term gambling harm. The words we use matter, because they shape how we see the person behind the behaviour.

At NCPS, we try to avoid language that medicalises or places the burden onto the person involved. Not everyone finds ‘addiction’ a helpful term, and it can carry stigma or make people feel like they’re the problem. By saying someone is ‘experiencing problem gambling’, it focuses more on the impact than on the person, and prompts us to ask questions rather than assume we know the 'diagnosis': what’s going on in someone’s life that’s led to gambling becoming a problem? And what support might help?

Gambling harm can be hard to spot, or even identify within yourself. It might look like being constantly distracted, irritable, or low; it might mean lying about small things, or feeling ashamed, even when no one else knows what’s going on. It might mean worries about money, and struggling to make ends meet, or covering the basics like bills and food.

Problem gambling is when gambling starts to take over. When someone feels like they can’t stop, even when they want to. When the behaviour continues, even though it’s impacting on their money, mental health, relationships, or wellbeing.

The Gambling Commission estimates that around 0.5% (roughly 315,000) of adults in England and Scotland adults in Great Britain experience problem gambling, with another 1.8 million at risk of harm. But, of course, numbers only tell part of the story: behind every statistic is someone trying to cope, often quietly, with something that feels out of control.

Why does it happen?

There’s no single reason why someone develops a harmful relationship with gambling. It’s often a mix of personal, psychological, and social factors, as well as about the design of the gambling industry itself, and the way it keeps people playing, even when they’re losing more than they can afford.

Gambling can affect the brain’s reward system in powerful ways. Each time someone places a bet, the brain releases dopamine (a chemical linked to motivation and pleasure). But unlike other kinds of reward, gambling gives dopamine spikes even when people don’t win. That’s part of what makes it so hard to stop: the anticipation itself becomes addictive.

Many gambling products are designed to exploit this. Fast play speeds, near misses, randomised rewards, and ‘losses disguised as wins’ are common features. Online platforms can send constant push notifications, offer bonuses to keep people betting, and make it easy to gamble in secret. These are deliberate techniques, based on years of development by gambling companies in order to keep people betting.

People often believe they can win it back. That the next spin or bet will be the one that changes everything. This is known as the ‘gambler’s fallacy’: the mistaken belief that past losses make a win more likely. But the odds are fixed, and it’s nothing to do with how skilled a person are, or whether they’re on a ‘streak of luck’. The house always wins in the end.

Sometimes, gambling starts as a way to cope: to block out difficult emotions, manage stress, or get a sense of control when life feels chaotic. It might be linked to other challenges, like trauma, anxiety, or depression. People who’ve grown up in environments where gambling was normalised may also be more at risk.

On the other hand, gambling can also offer a sense of connection and community, and isn’t always about escape, or a coping mechanism. For some people, the local bingo hall or bookies is where they see friends and feel part of something. Sporting communities can reinforce gambling through shared betting pools or group chats. Even online slots or games can feel like they’re filling a social gap, especially those with chat features. When gambling also brings belonging, stopping can feel like losing your place in the world, on top of losing your chance to ‘win big’.

Tony Kelly, a former professional footballer and founder of Red Card Gambling Education & Support, has spoken openly about how gambling was woven into the culture of sport. For years, he saw it as a way to fit in and handle pressure, until it left him in serious debt and emotional crisis. His story reflects something many others experience, across different walks of life. You can listen to our Podcast episode where he talks about his experience here.

Gambling harm doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s shaped by industry practices, social norms, and personal history. And it’s often hidden; wrapped up in shame, self-blame, or the belief that stopping should be easy, but it’s often not, and that’s a not personal failure: it’s a response to systems, pressures, and neurological effects that most people are never warned about.

What effect does it have on people, and those around them?

Gambling harm affects people’s mental health, relationships, finances, and sense of self. And it it ripples outwards, touching parts of their lives both near and far removed.

Many people who experience gambling harm also live with anxiety, low mood, or feelings of hopelessness. Some describe being ‘numb’ or ‘in a fog’, struggling to focus, sleep, or enjoy anything outside of gambling. For others, the shame and secrecy can become overwhelming. They might lie to their loved ones, withdraw from social contact, or feel they’re living a double life.

Financial harm is common, and it’s not always visible or obvious at first. It might start with borrowing from a friend or putting a bill on a credit card, perhaps, but then, for some, it can build into unmanageable debt, loss of savings, or even criminal charges related to theft or fraud. The pressure to fix things, to chase a win that will make it all go away, can keep people locked in the cycle.

Relationships often suffer: trust can be broken; partners might feel confused, angry, or betrayed; children may pick up on changes at home but not understand why things feel unstable. Families sometimes experience conflict, separation, or loss of housing as a result of gambling-related harm.

The impact extends into workplaces too: people may miss deadlines, take more sick leave, or struggle with concentration; some lose jobs due to misconduct or performance issues, especially if gambling starts during work hours or affects decision-making.

On a broader level, gambling-related harm puts pressure on mental health services, financial support systems, housing, and even the criminal justice system. The Office for Health Improvement & Disparities in 2023 estimated the annual economic burden of gambling harm in England to be between £1.05 and £1.77 Billion, with much of that related to mental and physical health, welfare, and employment issues.

In the same report, we can see that 69,099 people in England are estimated to be living with depression associated with gambling, and between 117 and 496 deaths by suicide are associated with gambling each year in England.

63% of people in gambling treatment report gambling-related debts, and 40% had debts over £5,000, were bankrupt, or in a repayment arrangement.

£167.3 million per year in prison-related costs is linked to gambling-associated offences.

Gambling-related harm leads to an estimated £77 million in unemployment benefit costs, as problem gamblers are 2.65 times more likely to be claiming benefits than non-problem gamblers.

Beyond the numbers, though, are human beings who are struggling. Struggling with things like a loss of confidence, a loss of connection, and loss of control. People describe feeling like they’re not themselves anymore; like the gambling has taken over who they are. And because so much of it is hidden and surrounded by stigma and shame, they often feel they have nowhere to turn, or that no one would understand if they did.

Gambling and suicide

The link between gambling and suicide is serious and distressing, and not often spoken about, again due to the compounding of the shame and stigma involved in both of these topics (suicide and gambling harm).

The heartbreaking fact is, that people experiencing gambling harm are significantly more likely to think about or try to take their own lives than those who don’t. Financial issues and worries, shame, secrecy, isolation, and the feeling that there’s no way out… they all contribute.

As we mentioned above, an estimated 117 to 496 deaths by suicide in England each year are associated with gambling; that’s potentially 496 real people whose pain went unseen or unsupported, fuelled by an industry that’s become terrifyingly good at hooking you in and keep you there.

It’s worth pausing on that, and letting it sink in.

Even at the lowest end of the estimate, that’s more than two suicides a week, every week of the year, where gambling is believed to be a factor.

People experiencing problem gambling often describe feeling trapped, stuck between debt, guilt, broken relationships, and the belief that things will never improve. Gambling can create cycles of despair, especially when someone has lost not only money, but their sense of control or self-worth.

What makes this even harder is that many people don’t feel able to ask for help. Gambling harm is still stigmatised, and support can feel inaccessible, or perhaps even some people don’t know it’s there at all. Others might worry they won’t be taken seriously unless they’ve lost everything. Others still might not realise that their distress, suicidal thoughts, or low mood could be linked to gambling at all.

And yet, there is help. People do recover. With the right support, it’s absolutely possible to rebuild life after gambling harm, even if it doesn’t feel that way now.

What help is out there?

If gambling is harming your life, or the life of someone you love, you’re not alone, and there is help.

You don’t have to hit rock bottom, or wait until the debt is unmanageable, or the distress feels unbearable. The right support, at the right time, can make a huge difference.

For many people, counselling & psychotherapy is a safe starting point. A therapist won’t tell you what to do or judge your choices; they’ll help you make sense of what’s going on, what gambling means to you, and what might be driving it. You might explore how you cope with stress or difficult emotions, how patterns developed over time, and what could help you move forward.

Some people find it helpful to talk about past trauma, low self-esteem, or mental health challenges like anxiety or depression. Others want support with practical boundaries, like how to put blocks in place, rebuild trust, or plan for difficult moments.

There’s no one way to approach this. Some people benefit from one-to-one therapy. Others, especially those for whom gambling is as much a social draw as a financial one, choose group support, where they can speak with people who understand what they’re going through.

Other useful resources include:

• GamCare, which offers a free, 24/7 helpline on 0808 8020 133, as well as a range of other platforms
• Gamblers Anonymous, which runs peer support groups across the UK
• Gambling With Lives, which provides resources and advocacy, especially for families bereaved by gambling-related suicide
• Red Card Gambling Education & Support, founded by Tony Kelly, offering lived experience mentoring and education

If you're not sure where to begin, talking to a counsellor can help you figure that out. Even just saying it out loud: “I think gambling might be a problem”, can be a powerful first step.

You can search for a qualified counsellor at https://www.search-ncps.com/search

All therapists listed on the NCPS Register meet our high standards for training, and follow a clear code of ethical working. You can filter your search by location, and whether you prefer to meet online, on the telephone, or in person. Some therapists have experience working specifically with gambling-related issues, while others may focus more on anxiety, low mood, trauma, or relationship difficulties, all of which can be linked to gambling harm.

It’s okay to take your time. You might want to read a few profiles, or reach out to more than one therapist to see who feels like a good fit. Therapy is most effective when you feel safe and heard, and it’s always okay to ask questions before starting.