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The Gambling Support Network (GSN) is a province-wide, free, distance counselling service. It offers both long-term support and short-term crisis counselling. The Gambling Support Network is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Gambling Support Network is available for referral or consultation. If you have a client that you think needs GSN support please call, 1-888-347-8888.

The GSN Clinical Therapists:

• Hold a Masters in Social Work or Psychology and is licensed by the regulatory professional body
• Provides Clinical Therapy within the standards defined by professional counselling organizations
• Uses effective application of professional counselling skills, clinical judgement, information/communications technologies, assessment tools, evidence-based clinical guidelines
• Applies clinical processes which empower clients to help them cope with their gambling-related issues by identifying needs, risks and barriers
• Builds credible and therapeutic relationships with callers by communicating effectively, articulating information clearly, clarifying the message to the callers and validating their understanding and demonstrating cultural competence
• Uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed Practice
• Refers clients to other appropriate services found within the resource database
• Uses assessments including, but not limited to Intake, Bio-Psychological Social, PGSI, ASARI, CBT Treatment Plan
• Provides one call intervention counselling and ongoing counselling appointments for those struggling with gambling, as well as concerned others

When supporting someone who is experiencing harm from gambling it is important to use clear communication and set boundaries:

• Let them know you care
• Be positive
• Be specific and clear
• Name your feelings
• Let them know what you would like them to do
• Offer to help
• Listen

It’s easy to focus on the other person’s problems from gambling and forget about your own health and wellbeing.

What is gambling?

Gambling is when you bet money or something of value on an uncertain outcome in hopes of winning more than you risk.

There are many kinds of gambling, these include:

• Video lottery terminals (VLTs) or slot machines
• Casino table games, like blackjack or roulette
• Horse racing
• Internet casinos and betting
• Sports betting
• Card games
• Lotto or scratch tickets
• Bingo
• Raffle tickets

New ways to gamble are being designed all the time. Online and mobile app gambling are growing areas.

Gambling can be addictive to some people because it acts on the same pleasure pathways in your brain as substances. For some people, this can become harmful.

When does gambling become harmful?

There is no easy answer to this question. Every person is different and may become harmfully involved in gambling for different reasons. Gambling isn’t always a problem. Gambling is harmful when it affects the gambler’s wellbeing or it affects the people around them. There are different—and increasingly harmful—levels of gambling.