Heightened Risk

Based on your responses you may be at an elevated risk for Gambling Disorder, and we recommend speaking with a specialist to learn more.

This means that it is possible you may have a Gambling Disorder and you should see a specialist to determine if a Gambling Disorder is present, and if so, how severe and what treatment options may be appropriate to treat it, thus addressing any current gambling-related harms and preventing more from developing. 

The first step is to schedule an appointment that is often referred to as an “Assessment.”  This is a verbal interview to discuss your experiences and any concerns you have about gambling.  These appointments are generally scheduled to take 1-2 hours.  The assessment will then inform what treatment and counseling options or other supportive services the Certified Gambling Counselor recommends, from which you can then decide what best fits your needs.  

In general, counseling/treatment services for Gambling Disorder can/may address the following: cravings and preoccupation to gamble, withdrawal symptoms when not gambling, sticking within gambling limits or complete abstinence from gambling, resolving emotional distress and anxiety, improving sleep and overall health and wellbeing, mending relationships that have been harmed by gambling, improving communication, achieving occupational/educational goals, financial management and protecting assets from being spent on gambling, and more. 

Please know that if you or a loved one is seeking help with problems caused by gambling, you are not alone and help is available.  You can find help and resource 24/7 through the Washington Problem Gambling Helpline, available at 1-800-547-6133.

If you are not in Washington state, you can contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537).

Military and Veterans: Support for All Who Serve

The Military Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource for all service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, and Veterans, even if they’re not enrolled in VA benefits or health care.

Resources for help:

  • Support Service Locator (find a Certified Gambling Counselor and schedule a consultation or assessment)
  • Gamblers Anonymous (community support for those who want to stop gambling)
  • Gam-Anon (community support for those impacted by the gambling of a loved one)

Learn more about Gambling Disorder:

A Message of Hope

Meet Author and Host of Fall In, The Problem Gambling Podcast for Military Service Members and Veterans in the audio clip below.

   

Learn more about Dave’s story and recovery journey in his book Fall In: A Veteran with a Gambling Addiction linked below.

Fall In: A Veteran with a Gambling Addiction