Ep. 67 - Let’s Talk About Gambling in Our Communities
Most of us encounter gambling daily in our communities. There’s scratch and lottery tickets at the gas station, sports pools at work, and bingo down the road. You likely drive past a bingo or gaming centre. In addition, there’s all the gambling we encounter in fundraising - the 50/50 draws at local sporting events, fundraising raffles and community bingos. Do you think of these as gambling? Do you ever have conversations with family, friends or the organizations you’re involved with about the risks of gambling or how to support people in your community who have been negatively impacted by gambling?
In episode 67 of our podcast, Fold em: Help for Gambling Problems, I’m joined by Sheri Pringle who works with Gambling Support BC and IS out in the community talking about gambling. She’s passionate about this issue. Her message is for us all to give gambling the same attention as we do to alcohol, drugs and smoking. Let’s pause and take a look at all the ways gambling shows up in our lives, how to keep it in balance, as well as taking care of those who have run into problems with it.
Tune in to episode 67 and learn about:
How gambling is normalized in our day-to-day lives and communities (despite it causing harm for some of us)
How to talk about gambling, including the risks and keeping it in balance
How organizations and groups that use gambling to fundraise can be more attentive to community members who have been negatively impacted by gambling
Listen now to episode 67 of Fold em by clicking on the green play button at the top of the blog.
If you prefer to tune in directly from Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts, click on the red “Listen and Subscribe” button below.
We all encounter different forms of gambling in our communities
Let’s open up conversations about how to keep it in balance, protect those who are at risk for gambling problems, and support those who have been negatively impacted
Why Talk About Gambling? What’s the Problem?
Most of us think of casinos when the topic of gambling comes up. Sports betting and online gambling have also been getting a lot of coverage recently. Just to help us all get on the same page, let’s remember the definition of gambling:
“Gambling is the wagering of something of value on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted.”*
Why is it important to remind ourselves of the definition of gambling? Gambling is so much a part of our everyday lives that most of us don’t even think of some activities as gambling. For example, that football pool or poker game is just a fun thing we do with friends; buying scratch tickets at Christmas is just gift giving; the 50/50 draw at the hockey game is just a way to fundraise. There’s nothing wrong with these activities, but acknowledging what is gambling and all the ways it shows up in our lives, is needed before we look at who might be negatively impacted and how to support them.
What to be aware of with gambling in our communities:
In British Columbia, 3.3% of adults have a gambling problem. That works out to about 178,000 people. This rate of 3.3% is common around the world where people have access to gambling.**
Some groups in our population show higher risk for gambling problems, including youth, Indigenous populations and individuals with low household incomes.**
The severity of gambling problems vary, but similar to problems with alcohol, drugs or smoking it is a recognized disorder that is characterized by troubles controlling gambling, despite negative consequences.***
Gambling problems have a significant impact on people close to the person who gambles, including spouses, family, children, friends and work colleagues.
Why it is important to talk about gambling:
So we can better protect individuals and groups that are more at risk for gambling problems, such as youth, people with a history of substance use or mental health issues; Indigenous populations; and individuals with low household incomes.
So we can better support people who have struggled with gambling and their spouses, families and children.
So we can better promote balance with gambling in our communities, workplaces and families.
How Do I Talk About Gambling in My Community and at Home?
Sheri Pringle works in communities talking to individuals, groups and organizations about gambling.
Here’s Sheri’s tips for having conversations about gambling:
Remember that there are people who have been negatively impacted by gambling in our communities: Whether you are part of an organization that uses gambling to fundraise, planning an event at a casino, or are part of a sports pool with friends and colleagues, remember that it will impact people who have had a gambling problem and their loved ones. Be sensitive that encountering gambling could be tricky, difficult and/or emotional for them. Perhaps offer other options, such as being able to donate money instead of buying a ticket OR having part of the event somewhere other than a casino. Be sensitive when people decide to not opt in to a group pool.
Be aware of the risks of “normalizing” gambling to young people: exposing young people to gamble increases risk for gambling problems later on.**** Teens who gamble are also more susceptible to gambling problems than adults.***** Sherry reminds us that we wouldn’t ask children and teens to sell alcohol or cigarettes in the stands of a hockey game. Why do we ask them to sell 50/50 tickets? If you are part of an organization that uses gambling to fundraise, talk about these risks. In your families, talk about what is gambling and that it can get out of hand.
Talk about how to keep gambling in balance: In your home, talk about all the forms of gambling that are available to us and that it can get out of control. Talk about how to recognize signs of gambling problems. And, what it looks like to keep gambling in balance. For example, having a number of options for having fun or winding down after work, in addition to gambling. Or, that you track how much money is spent on all forms of gambling and set a limit for that. Or, that you limit yourself to one or two types of gambling. To learn more about Canada’s lower-risk gambling guidelines, check out episode 43 of Fold em.
Get more informed about gambling concerns: At your workplace, or with groups and activities you are involved with in the community, post information about the local Gambling Support Line or invite someone to speak about gambling issues. At home, talk about how lottery, scratch tickets, poker and raffles are gambling. Look into the odds of winning or have a conversation about Canada’s Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines.
To hear more from Sheri about gambling in our communities and how to talk about this, listen to episode 67 of Fold em. Listen now by clicking on the green play button at the top of this blog or the red Listen Now to Fold em button at the bottom.
What Support is Available to Help With Gambling Concerns?
Gambling Support BC
If you live in British Columbia, you can connect with Gambling Outreach Support anytime. To do so, click on the red “Connect with Support in BC” button below. Or, go to the Gambling Support BC website. You can also access these services through the Gambling Support Line. It is available 24/7 at 1-888-795-6111.
Gambling Support BC services are available to any British Columbia resident experiencing problems from gambling, including spouses and family impacted by a loved one’s gambling. For those who gamble, you don’t need to stop or quit gambling or be self-excluded to access these free supports.
Our counselling and outreach services can help you figure out how to manage gambling concerns, including how to control or stop gambling. You decide what will work for you.
You can talk to an outreach support person about next steps for yourself if you aren’t wanting counselling. They can help you find self-help resources or local community resources and make a plan that meets you where you are at.
If You Have Concerns About Your Own Gambling - Help Outside of British Columbia
Canada: www.gamblingguidelines.ca/getting-help
United States: National Council on Problem Gambling
United Kingdom: GamCare
Australia: Gamblers’ Help
If you live outside of these countries, search online for “Gambling Help” in your country
Online Support and Meetings:
GamTalk (online chat forum)
To learn more about gambling concerns and how to access resources and support, go to the home page of this website, click on the red “Learn More” button below, or connect with us through Facebook.
Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.
We welcome your feedback and ideas for topics for upcoming episodes. Reach out through the Contact Us page on this website or through email at Foldempodcast@gmail.com.
* Definition of gambling from Wikipedia.
** 2014 British Columbia Problem Gambling Prevalence Study.
*** American Psychiatric Association website
**** Teens Gambling. It’s a Risk. (Mass.gov)
***** 2014 British Columbia Problem Gambling Prevalence Study