Tackle your gambling habit

We are a nation of football lovers, with much anticipation for UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany this summer. We’re all hoping it doesn’t rain so we can roll out the BBQ and have a few friends round to watch and share the highs and lows of our team’s journey. 

During the tournament thousands of people will be betting on their team hoping to gain a profit. It’s tempting when you think knowledge about your team is an advantage, but nobody can predict the future, especially where England and penalties are concerned.

Gambling can be fun and now that we see so much advertising and it’s easily available online it’s become normalised in our lives. But it can also become something harmful, where someone may: often spend over their limit, gamble to win back money, feel stressed about their gambling, feel they have lost control, and continue to gamble despite negative consequences. Unfortunately, sometimes stigma or a sense of shame can delay or prevent people accessing support.

If you are affected by gambling, there are a range of services listed on Healthy Surrey that provide support and treatment for people in Surrey, as well as help for families and friends, including a 24-7 National Gambling helpline 0808 8020 133, Talkbanstop (blocking software and self-exclusion scheme), and Gamblers Anonymous meetings in Guildford and Staines.