{"id":77899,"date":"2026-02-04T07:51:55","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T07:51:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forbesmiddleeast.com\/lists\/?p=77899"},"modified":"2026-02-04T07:51:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T07:51:55","slug":"mate-your-friends-in-a-spot-of-trouble-helping-someone-with-gambling-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forbesmiddleeast.com\/lists\/uncategorized\/mate-your-friends-in-a-spot-of-trouble-helping-someone-with-gambling-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Mate, Your Friend&#8217;s in a Spot of Trouble: Helping Someone with Gambling Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><h2>Kia Ora, Let&#8217;s Talk About Helping a Mate<\/h2>\n<p>Hey, it&#8217;s a tough one, seeing a friend struggle. Especially when it comes to something like gambling. It&#8217;s a pretty common thing here in Aotearoa, with online casinos and sports betting being so accessible. If you&#8217;ve noticed a friend spending a bit too much time or money on the pokies, online casinos, or betting, you&#8217;re probably wondering how to help. This guide is for you, the beginner, the mate who wants to lend a hand but isn&#8217;t sure where to start. We&#8217;ll break down how to spot the signs, what to say, and where to find some support, all in a way that&#8217;s easy to understand and, hopefully, a little less daunting. Even if your friend enjoys a flutter at a place like <a href=\"https:\/\/betandplaycasino.co.nz\/\">https:\/\/betandplaycasino.co.nz\/<\/a>, it&#8217;s important to know when it might be becoming a problem.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Spotting the Signs: Is Your Mate in Trouble?<\/h2>\n<p>First things first, how do you know if your friend actually *has* a problem? It&#8217;s not always obvious. Here are some things to look out for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n    <li><b>Money Worries:<\/b> Are they constantly short on cash? Are they borrowing money from you or others, or talking about financial stress?<\/li>\n    <li><b>Secretive Behaviour:<\/b> Are they being secretive about their gambling? Do they disappear for hours, or avoid talking about where they&#8217;ve been?<\/li>\n    <li><b>Chasing Losses:<\/b> Do they keep trying to win back what they&#8217;ve lost, betting more and more each time? This is a classic sign.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Mood Swings:<\/b> Are they irritable, anxious, or depressed, especially when they can&#8217;t gamble?<\/li>\n    <li><b>Neglecting Responsibilities:<\/b> Are they missing work, neglecting family, or skipping social events because of gambling?<\/li>\n    <li><b>Withdrawal Symptoms:<\/b> Do they get restless or agitated when they try to stop gambling?<\/li>\n    <li><b>Lying:<\/b> Are they lying about how much they&#8217;re gambling or how they&#8217;re spending their money?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you see a few of these signs, it&#8217;s time to have a chat. Remember, it&#8217;s not about being a judge, but about showing you care.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Starting the Conversation: How to Talk to Your Mate<\/h2>\n<p>Okay, you&#8217;ve noticed some red flags. Now what? Talking to your friend can be tricky, but here&#8217;s how to approach it:<\/p>\n<ul>\n    <li><b>Choose the Right Time and Place:<\/b> Pick a time when you can both talk privately and without distractions. Somewhere quiet and comfortable is best.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Be Calm and Non-Judgmental:<\/b> Start by expressing your concern and letting them know you care. Avoid blaming or criticising. Use &#8220;I&#8221; statements, like &#8220;I&#8217;ve noticed you seem stressed lately, and I&#8217;m worried about you.&#8221;<\/li>\n    <li><b>Listen Actively:<\/b> Let them talk. Don&#8217;t interrupt or offer solutions right away. Just listen and show empathy. Acknowledge their feelings, even if you don&#8217;t understand them.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Ask Open-Ended Questions:<\/b> Instead of asking &#8220;Are you gambling too much?&#8221; try &#8220;How are things going with your gambling?&#8221; or &#8220;How are you feeling about your finances lately?&#8221;<\/li>\n    <li><b>Avoid Lectures:<\/b> No one likes being told what to do. Offer support, not sermons.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Be Prepared for Denial:<\/b> They might deny they have a problem. Don&#8217;t push it too hard at first. Let them know you&#8217;re there for them when they&#8217;re ready.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>What to Say (and What to Avoid)<\/h2>\n<p>Here are some examples of what you *can* say:<\/p>\n<ul>\n    <li>&#8220;I&#8217;ve noticed you seem stressed lately, and I&#8217;m worried about you.&#8221;<\/li>\n    <li>&#8220;I care about you, and I want to help if I can.&#8221;<\/li>\n    <li>&#8220;I&#8217;m here to listen if you want to talk about what&#8217;s going on.&#8221;<\/li>\n    <li>&#8220;Is there anything I can do to support you?&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And here&#8217;s what you should *avoid* saying:<\/p>\n<ul>\n    <li>&#8220;You&#8217;re addicted!&#8221; (This can be accusatory)<\/li>\n    <li>&#8220;Just stop gambling!&#8221; (Easier said than done)<\/li>\n    <li>&#8220;You&#8217;re being irresponsible!&#8221; (Judgmental)<\/li>\n    <li>&#8220;I told you so!&#8221; (Never helpful)<\/li>\n    <li>Offering to lend money (This can enable the behaviour)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>Supporting Your Mate: What You Can Do<\/h2>\n<p>So, you&#8217;ve had the chat, and now what? Here&#8217;s how you can offer ongoing support:<\/p>\n<ul>\n    <li><b>Encourage Professional Help:<\/b> This is the most important thing. Suggest they talk to a therapist or counsellor who specialises in gambling addiction. There are services in New Zealand that can help.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Help Them Find Resources:<\/b> Research local support groups, helplines, and online resources together.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Be a Good Listener:<\/b> Continue to be there for them to talk to, without judgment.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Suggest Alternative Activities:<\/b> Encourage them to find new hobbies or activities to fill their time. Go for a walk, watch a movie, or try a new sport together.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Set Boundaries:<\/b> It&#8217;s okay to say no. Don&#8217;t lend them money, and don&#8217;t enable their gambling. Protect your own financial and emotional well-being.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Be Patient:<\/b> Recovery takes time. There will be ups and downs. Be patient and supportive throughout the process.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Take Care of Yourself:<\/b> Supporting someone with a gambling problem can be emotionally draining. Make sure you&#8217;re taking care of your own mental health and well-being. Talk to someone you trust, or seek support for yourself if needed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>Where to Find Help in New Zealand<\/h2>\n<p>There are several fantastic resources available in New Zealand to help your friend (and you):<\/p>\n<ul>\n    <li><b>Problem Gambling Foundation:<\/b> They offer free counselling, support groups, and online resources. They have a 24\/7 helpline.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Gambling Helpline:<\/b> Call 0800 654 655 for free, confidential support.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Your GP:<\/b> They can provide referrals to therapists and other support services.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Mental Health Services:<\/b> If your friend is experiencing mental health issues related to their gambling, your local mental health services can offer support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>Conclusion: Lending a Hand, One Step at a Time<\/h2>\n<p>Supporting a friend with gambling problems is a challenging but incredibly important thing to do. It requires patience, empathy, and a willingness to offer help without judgment. By being a good listener, encouraging professional help, and setting healthy boundaries, you can make a real difference in their life. Remember, you&#8217;re not alone. There are resources available to support both your friend and you through this difficult time. Take it one step at a time, and remember that your friendship and support can be a powerful force for positive change. Kia kaha \u2013 be strong.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kia Ora, Let&#8217;s Talk About Helping a Mate Hey, it&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.9 (Yoast SEO v23.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Mate, Your Friend&#039;s in a Spot of Trouble: Helping Someone with Gambling Issues - Forbes Lists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbesmiddleeast.com\/lists\/uncategorized\/mate-your-friends-in-a-spot-of-trouble-helping-someone-with-gambling-issues\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mate, Your Friend&#039;s in a Spot of Trouble: Helping Someone with Gambling Issues\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Kia Ora, Let&#8217;s Talk About Helping a Mate Hey, it&#8217;s [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.forbesmiddleeast.com\/lists\/uncategorized\/mate-your-friends-in-a-spot-of-trouble-helping-someone-with-gambling-issues\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Forbes Lists\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-04T07:51:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Forbes Middle East\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Forbes Middle East\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.forbesmiddleeast.com\/lists\/uncategorized\/mate-your-friends-in-a-spot-of-trouble-helping-someone-with-gambling-issues\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.forbesmiddleeast.com\/lists\/uncategorized\/mate-your-friends-in-a-spot-of-trouble-helping-someone-with-gambling-issues\/\",\"name\":\"Mate, Your Friend's in a Spot of Trouble: Helping Someone with Gambling Issues - 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