Do you or someone you are close to have a gambling problem?

Confidential h elp is available at no cost from a professional counselling service provided by St Vincent de Paul. Details of the service can be found below:

Counselling

The Gambling Help service provides a free and confidential counselling service for problem gamblers.

Signs of problem gambling

You may have a gambling problem if you:

• are pre-occupied by gambling (eg. reliving past experiences, planning next venture, thinking of ways to get money);
• need to gamble with increased amounts of money in order to achieve the same desired effect;
• have repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop;
• are restless or irritable when attempting to stop;
• gamble as a way to escape problems;
• after losing money, often return the next day to 'get even';
• lie to family members, therapists or others to conceal the extent of gambling;
• have committed illegal acts to finance the habit;
• have jeopardised or lost a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity;
• rely on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling Impacts of problem gambling

The impact of problem gambling can be:

• Breakdown of significant relationships
• Financial problems
• Loss of trust
• Depression

The Gambling Help service has three aims:

1. To provide a range of appropriate treatment approaches to help excessive gamblers cut back or stop gambling.
2. To provide support for individuals in addressing the problems associated with excessive gambling.
3. To evaluate the extent to which individuals are helped by the counselling they receive.

Gambling Help provides:

• Clinical assessment and referral
• Evidence-based treatment
• Supportive counselling
• Telephone information, advice and referral (e.g. financial counselling)
• Counselling for family members and friends

Effectiveness of treatment is evaluated at six months, twelve months and twenty four months after treatment completion.

Service Information

The Gambling Help main office is located at Baulkham Hills. Appointments are available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Gambling Help also provides an outreach service for the Windsor area.

Staff

The staff of the Gambling Help consists of a problem gambling counsellor and a Coordinator.

The clinic employs experienced, registered psychologists to provide problem gambling counselling

Contact us

Gambling Help Address:

• 9/7-9 Seven Hills Road Baulkham Hills NSW 2153
• T: 02 9686 1281
• F: 02 9686 1312
• W: www.vinnies.org.au

If you would like an appointment in the Windsor area, please call the above number to arrange an appointment.

Urgent help

For assistance outside our service hours, please contact the G-line (NSW) problem gambling information, counselling and referral help line on 1800 633 635 which operates 24hrs x 7 days per week, or LifeLine 13 11 14.

Referrals

Gambling Help welcomes all referrals. Most of its referrals are received from G-Line or through self-referral.

Financial assistance for this project is provided by the New South Wales Government from the Responsible Gambling Fund.

The views expressed in this publication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the New South Wales Government or the Trustees of the Responsible Gambling Fund.