Holidays may cause stress for problem gamblers

Published 8:34 am Wednesday, December 21, 2016

During the holiday season, as friends and families gather, it is important to remember that for some, including problem gamblers, the stress of the holidays can be troublesome.
“As we gather with family and friends this holiday season, we encourage everyone to be mindful of the stress that holidays can cause for many,” said Nick Lyon, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. “Be on the lookout for signs of family members or friends seeking isolation or turning to gambling as a way to escape, and call the gambling helpline if you suspect someone you care about may have a gambling problem.”
While social gambling is not a problem for most, for those facing a gambling addiction it provides a sense of control and escape which, over time, can affect other areas of life.
The MDHHS offers the following advice to problem gamblers for the holidays:
• People should not view gambling as a way to make money. Gambling should not be used as a way to supplement holiday spending.
• People should be careful not to use gambling as a way to celebrate or mourn the holidays.
• A gift of gambling is not a gift. People should avoid normalizing gambling through gifts of lottery, scratch-offs or other gambling activity. These are triggers to the unknown problem gambler.
• People should make gambling a social activity. Do not gamble alone.
• People should not wager more than they can afford to lose. Establish spending limits and stick to them.
People who use gambling to escape holiday stress should consider an alternative form of entertainment, such as a movie, dinner or sporting event.
People whose gambling habits are getting out of control should the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-270-7117 to talk to trained, experienced counselors. All calls are confidential.
Those who suspect their loved ones may have a problem with gambling are also encouraged to call the helpline for support.
The Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline is a 24-hour statewide helpline, where calls are answered by trained, professional staff who work with a statewide network of qualified treatment providers, and have access to community resources to which callers can be referred.
Michigan Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment services are administered by MDHHS, funded by the Compulsive Gaming Prevention Fund with contributions from the Michigan Gaming Control Board and the Michigan State Lottery, and facilitated by Health Management Systems of America. Treatment services include screening, assessment and referral to treatment via the 24-hour helpline.
For more information, visit michigan.gov/gamblingdisorder.