Gambling problems are awful for everyone involved. If you suspect or know that someone you love is struggling, it’s important to know how you can support friends with gambling problems.

We’re not going to lie. It’s not going to be easy for anyone to navigate. But we’re going to try to give you an outline of things you can do with answers to these frequently asked questions.

Support friends with gambling problems FAQs

No question is too big or small when it comes to how to support friends with gambling problems. So we’re going to do our best to cover as many bases as possible.

Getting support for yourself too

When you take it upon yourself to support friends with gambling problems, it can be a huge mental and emotional toll on you too.

You have to remember that to stay strong for your friend, you need to stay strong yourself. They might lash out at you, they could call you at all hours of the day and night asking for support, they might cut contact with you all together.

All of those things can be incredibly difficult to deal with. So make sure you have a network of resources that you can call on if you need it. If you’re feeling down, talk to someone close to you. Or if you think it’s affecting your day to day life, talk to a professional.

If your friend has left you in a financially vulnerable place due to their gambling problem, seek financial help and deal with your problems as soon as possible.

You need to look out for yourself, as well as for your friend.