Effective interventions for the treatment of gambling that is associated with harm: Rapid Evidence review

If you’re worried about a colleague’s physical or psychological safety, then follow your workplace’s policies and procedures as to how to support them. With 4 years of experience as a social media manager across a diverse range of industries, I bring a strategic, data-driven approach to online engagement and brand storytelling. I’m passionate about using social media to connect people and spark action, and I’m excited to bring that energy to the important work being done at Impact – Inspire.

Utilise transaction data to identify customers at risk of or experiencing gambling harms

Current account providers are able to see how much we’re spending on gambling in any given period of time. They may be able to refer your employee to gambling addiction recovery programs or treatment facilities. The good news is that most EAPs offer 3-5 free counseling sessions before employees need to move into their behavioral health benefits. Employees may ask coworkers for loans or request advances on salary or wages.

Q4: How can you identify a gambling problem in an employee?

Unlike some addictions, there are no physical signs of problem gambling. People with gambling issues develop specific behavioral patterns over time. Companies should provide access to confidential counseling services for employees who may be dealing with gambling problems. Employers can partner with external providers to offer specialized support.

If you are worried about money and debt then please speak to someone who can advise you. Organisations like the Citizens Advice Bureau can offer free practical advice and support. XYZ Corporation, a medium-sized tech company, implemented a comprehensive anti-gambling policy and employee training program. Through this initiative, they identified and supported employees with gambling problems. By addressing the issue proactively, XYZ Corporation reduced absenteeism and improved workplace morale.

Earlier this year, a report published in the medical journal The Lancet called on international health leaders to act quickly on regulations before gambling disorders become widespread and common, and that much harder to stop. Some states have set similar limits in an effort to curb problem gambling, but others have very few. In the absence of a nationwide policy, or a national gambling commission to oversee the industry, each state is on its own. Our goal at Talkspace is to provide the most up-to-date, valuable, and objective information on mental health-related topics in order to help readers make informed decisions.

This will not only help individuals to be able to seek the support needed, but act as a method of prevention and early intervention. Make sure your employees know how they can access and use that support. It is best for individuals to access this support early on, before a significant ‘clinical’ problem arises. I’m Samantha Lowe, a qualified integrative counsellor with over 30 years of experience supporting individuals through addiction and specialising in domestic abuse. My professional journey has taken me from working in treatment centres for gambling addiction, to women’s refuges, and supporting the homeless through rehabilitation and reintegration into society. While I’ve always worked on the front line of addiction and abuse, my focus in recent years has shifted more deeply into domestic abuse—driven by my own lived experience.

Together, we can create lasting positive change that benefits both your organisation and the wider community. Compulsive gambling can be tied to trauma-related addiction, anxiety, depression, and unresolved emotional issues. Many people use gambling as a coping mechanism or a way to escape these distressing feelings, only to find that gambling makes their problems worse. Working with a licensed therapist can help you explore what’s fueling your compulsive gambling, identify your triggers, and build healthier coping skills so you can break the cycle. If you’re wondering how to stop gambling, connecting with others who know what you’re going through can make a big difference. Support groups, like Gamblers Anonymous or SMART Recovery, offer online and in-person meetings and resources to share your experiences and hear from people who understand what it’s like to try to stop a gambling addiction.

Not only has technology made gambling more accessible, but it’s also made gambling more addictive. Between 2019 and 2024, the number of people calling our helpline in Virginia has tripled. We’ve also seen about a 1,500% increase in total calls to the helpline during this same period. So not only are we seeing increases in the number of people seeking help for problem gambling, but they are also seeking help more frequently.

• Famous Erwin, LMHC, LPC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 15 years of counseling experience.
• The theme “Expectations of the skills-development training” summarizes the participants’ thoughts and expectations toward the skills-development training.
• These mechanisms can include dedicated hotlines, anonymous tip boxes, or HR personnel trained in handling such issues.
• Throughout my career, I’ve worked in advisory roles that focus on strategic development and sustainable impact—values that align closely with Impact-Inspires mission.
• Whilst Self Exclusion is a positive and effective first step in tackling a gambling issue, it is highly recommended to seek advice and support to help you stay gambling free.

Preoccupation with gambling can lead to loss of concentration, fatigue, and impaired judgment, creating serious safety risks, as tragically highlighted by lived experiences within the sector. The combination of support for policy development and implementation and skills-development during the same time period was considered appropriate. The participants mentioned that it was important to learn about the early signs of PG or other harmful use. The theme “Experiences of and prior beliefs about problem gambling” describes the participants’ own experiences and prior understanding of PG.

In some cases, people experiencing desperation and financial hardship due to gambling addiction will even turn to their employers for money. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), gambling addiction may be considered a disability in some cases. Employers should be prepared to provide reasonable accommodations to employees seeking treatment for gambling problems, such as time off for counseling or therapy. I’m proud to serve as a non-executive director at Impact Inspire, where I bring my experience in building and scaling organisations to support the growth of our training and coaching programmes. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in advisory roles that focus on strategic development and sustainable impact—values that align closely with Impact-Inspires mission.

This leads us on to the question – what can we expect to see from the Gambling Harms Action Lab? The initiative is firm-led and the team is supporting individual firms to deliver on their objectives. In a recent blog, we explored the harms that can stem from gambling in overdrafts, but that’s not all – there are many other areas that we could look to cover during the programme. Employers should create a workplace culture where gambling does not impact employees, Cooper added. The research, released 6 June, revealed that far fewer people with gambling problems would feel confident talking to their employer about it, compared with speaking with their friends or family.

Afterward, the pilot-coding was compared and discussed among the coders, to ensure consensus https://gullybetofficial.com/ on how to proceed with the coding of remaining material. The coding was similar for all three coders, and so no further pilot coding was performed. Initially, the method of choice stated in the study protocol was thematic analysis. However, during the discussion around the pilot-coding, it was decided to use qualitative content analysis instead.

Employee handbook? Get it done.

John, an employee at ABC Manufacturing, sought help for his gambling addiction through the company’s Employee Assistance Program. With counseling and support, he successfully overcame his addiction and resumed his work, contributing positively to the company. While it’s important to address gambling issues in the workplace, employers must also respect employee privacy rights.