Fold em: Help for Gambling Problems

Most of us gamble. In British Columbia, nearly 75% of adults gambled at least once in the past year. For some (about 3-4% of adults), it gets out of hand and causes problems.

If you gamble, how do you keep it in check? What limits should you set for yourself? How do you stick to these limits?

In this episode, we tell you about guidelines that have recently been developed in Canada to help you reduce the risk of experiencing harms from gambling.

Listen now to learn about:

• guidelines for how much to spend, how often to play, and how to limit the types of gambling activities
• who has a higher risk of developing gambling problems
• tips for sticking to your gambling limits.

If you would like more information on the guidelines for low-risk gambling, see Adrienne and her guests in this YouTube video, read the blog for this episode at www.gamblinghelp.ca or visit www.gamblingguidelines.ca

If you live in British Columbia and would like to access our free, confidential counselling and outreach services, connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

There are many options for help, support and treatment for gambling concerns. Everyone is different so it's important to find what works best for you.

In this episode, hear Brian's personal experiences with various recovery programs. He is now a Certified Gambling Recovery Peer Mentor and shares tips for moving forward.

Listen now to learn:

• what's available to help with gambling concerns
• how to get past saying "no" to help
• how to put in place the right supports for you
• how to stay on track even if you have a relapse, a program doesn't work for you and/or you no longer find it helpful

If you would like more information and links for gambling help, support and treatment, visit the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca

You can also find out more about different programs of recovery on Brian's podcast "Voices ... the Podcast" or visit the website for Voices of Problem Gambling Recovery Inc.

If you live in British Columbia and would like to access our free, confidential counselling and outreach services, connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

A common question with gambling problems is, "Why Can't I Stop?" In this episode we hear from Deirdre Querney, MSW, and Dr. Iris Balodis who answer this question by telling us about the brain and gambling addiction.

Tune in to learn about:

• how gambling addiction changes the brain
• why people with gambling addiction have a hard time pulling back from positive rewards
• how changes to the brain are different with compulsive gambling and substance addictions
• how to re-wire your brain to resist gambling urges and other addictions

To see a great video and learn more about gambling addiction and the brain visit BrainConnections.ca

Find out more at the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca

If you live in British Columbia and would like to access our free, confidential counselling and outreach services, connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Fold em Podcast. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

It's hard on parents and families when an adult son or daughter have a gambling problem.

In this episode of Fold em, a mother shares what she has learned as her son dealt with gambling addiction for the past seven years. Irene Tang, who has counselled families through gambling problems for twenty-five years, share strategies for moving forward.

Listen to learn:

• how to respond to requests for financial help
• what parents can do to support a young adult with a gambling problem
• how parents can help prevent a gambling relapse
• how parents and family can decrease their stress, anxiety, hurt and anger
• supports and resources for parents and families impacted by gambling problems

Find more information and resources for parents and families impacted by compulsive gambling in the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca.

Help for family and spouses is available through Gam-Anon.

If you live in British Columbia, free, confidential counselling and outreach services are available to anyone with concerns about gambling, including spouses and family. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

If you would like to connect with us through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Fold em Podcast.

Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

Gambling problems can create a lot of stress in families. Children and young people may not know that a parent or caregiver is struggling with gambling, but they feel the impact.

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Toula Kourgiantakis about:

• how parental gambling problems affect families and children
• signs that a young person is impacted by a parent's gambling problem
• how to support young people and families in this situation
• how to include children and families in the recovery process

Find out more about supporting children of a parent who has a gambling problem in the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca

You can also read, Problem Gambling: A Guide for Parents, by Toula Kourgiantakis and Sasha Stark.

If you live in British Columbia and would like to access our free, confidential counselling and outreach services, connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

• how sports betting took over his life
• what happened when family got involved
• how he solved a debt problem
• what helped him to get to 10-months without a bet
• his suggestions for others who have had sports betting take over their life

Learn more about why it's hard to step back from sports betting and strategies that can help. As well as tips for family and friends that want to support someone consumed by online sports betting. Read the blog for this episode at www.problemgamblinghelp.ca

If you live in British Columbia and would like to access our free, confidential counselling and outreach services, connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

Gambling problems can return, and addiction may show up again in different ways. To keep your momentum going, take steps to prevent a relapse and rebuild your life and relationships.

Allison Rice, a counsellor specializing in gambling problems, offers guidance learned from 20-years of working with people to overcome addiction

Learn more about preventing relapse and rebuilding your life in the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca

If you live in British Columbia and would like to access our free, confidential counselling and outreach services, connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

Allison Rice, a counsellor specializing in addiction, shares her learnings about what works in the beginning. This episode offers guidance for those struggling with gambling as well as their family, spouses and friends.

Find out more about first steps in overcoming gambling problems in the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca

If you live in British Columbia and would like to access our free, confidential counselling and outreach services, connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

Permission giving thoughts come up to justify, rationalize and allow gambling to happen - even when part of you isn't so sure about it.

In this episode, learn how to notice your permission giving thoughts so you can slow things down and have more control of gambling choices.

A former gambler gives examples of her permission giving thoughts. Jackie Jankovic, a counsellor specializing in gambling problems, shares tips to help you notice and manage these thoughts.

Find out more about permission giving thoughts in the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca

The Centre for Gambling Research at the University of British Columbia is launching research on permission giving thoughts. To find out more, contact Raymond Wu at [email protected]

If you live in British Columbia and would like to access our free, confidential counselling and outreach services, connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

There has been a dramatic increase in advertising for sports betting as well opportunities to place a bet. However, the public conversation has been pretty silent about gambling problems associated with sports betting.

John Simmons shares his personal story about an addiction with poker and sports betting. He's a former casino worker and talks openly about the challenges of dealing with a gambling problem when everyone around you is gambling. John describes what helped him to stop.

John is working on a film called Betting Your Life that takes a critical look at the legalization of sports betting in the United States and the growing industry around this.

Learn more about what to do if sports betting is getting out of hand for you or someone you care about in the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca

If you live in British Columbia and would like to access our free, confidential counselling and outreach services, connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.