New Wednesday Gambling Support Forum

The gambling support group is open, need support over gambling issues, you have come to the right place.

The forum is open every Wednesday from 6.15 to 7.45pm. Post any questions, discussions around topics related to your own or someone else's gambling. 

The forum is live post your questions and concerns around your own or someone else's gambling here. 

The forum is live, if you have any around your own or someone else's gambling, post in the chat. Joining is easy just register at the bottom of the page. 

The forum is live, if you have any issues around your own or someone else's gambling, post in the chat. Joining his easy, just register at the bottom of the page.

The forum is open every Wednesday between 6.15 and 7.45pm. Post your messages and questions here. Register by scrolling to the bottom of the page. 

The forum is open every Wednesday between 6.15 and 7.45. post your messages and questions here. Register by scrolling to the bottom of the page. 

The forum in now open, join by scrolling to the bottom of the page and registering.

The forum will reopen on Wednesday 17th June at 6.15pm. thanks

The chat room is open post your questions here.

The chat room for gambling support will stay open, and you can write your questions here. Normally these will be answered within one working day. This space is for anyone who is impacted by gambling related harm, including family members and those who are struggling with gambling behaviour. 

Coping with gambling urges, see below for tips and help when overwhelmed by urges to gamble. 

Gambling urges

If you're having a gambling urge right now, the goal is usually not to win an argument with the urge—it's to make it harder to act on it for the next 10–30 minutes. A few fast tactics:

1. Delay by 15 minutes. Tell yourself: "I can gamble later if I still want to." Urges often peak and fade.
2. Make it physically harder.
   • Log out of betting apps.
   • Move money to an account that's harder to access.
   • Hand your cards to someone you trust temporarily.
3. Change your environment immediately.
   • Go for a walk.
   • Sit in a café.
   • Call or text someone.
   • Get away from wherever you usually gamble.
4. Name the urge instead of obeying it.
   • "I'm having a gambling urge."
   • "This feeling is temporary."
   • "I don't have to act on it."
5. Remember the whole story, not the fantasy.Ask:
   • How did I feel after the last time I gambled?
   • What happened financially?
   • What am I hoping gambling will fix right now?
6. Distract aggressively for 20 minutes.Fast-paced games, exercise, music, a shower, cooking, cleaning—anything that occupies your hands and attention.
7. Don't chase losses.If you've recently lost money, remind yourself: the urge to "win it back" is one of the biggest traps. More gambling usually increases losses rather than recovering them.
8. Use blocking tools if urges are recurring.Website/app blockers and bank gambling blocks can create enough friction to help you ride out impulses.
9. Text or call someone before you gamble.Even a simple message like: "I'm getting a strong urge to gamble—can you distract me for 10 minutes?" can help.
10. HALT check.Ask if you're: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired

Gambling urges often get stronger when one of these is true.

Ever thought that some of the thoughts about your gambling might not be helpful to you?

Recognizing Cognitive Distortions: The First Step Toward Change

Our minds naturally look for patterns and explanations, especially when emotions are running high. But sometimes those thoughts can become cognitive distortions—inaccurate ways of thinking that influence our decisions without us even realizing it.

For example, someone might think:* "I'm due for a win."*"If I keep gambling I'm bound to get lucky."* "This time will be different, I will just bet a small amount"

While these thoughts may feel convincing, they aren't based on evidence. Instead, they can reinforce behaviours that keep us stuck, particularly in situations like gambling, addiction, anxiety, or other challenging life experiences.

Learning to pause and ask questions like:✔️ Is this thought based on facts or feelings?✔️ What evidence do I have that this is true?✔️ Is there another, more balanced way of looking at this?

...can help us replace unhelpful thinking with healthier, more realistic perspectives.

Changing our thoughts doesn't mean ignoring hope or optimism—it means building awareness so our decisions are guided by facts rather than thinking traps.

Remember: You can't always control what happens, but you can learn to challenge the thoughts that influence your choices. That awareness is where lasting change begins.

Get involved discuss in the chat!