10 strategies to help problem gamblers

Gambling in the United States is a $600 billion a year industry that has increased tenfold since 1975. As the gambling industry continues to explode the number of problem gamblers is also skyrocketing.

By Michael J. Vlach, Ph.D.

What strategies can you implement to help a problem gambler?

In addition to stressing the most important things such as a relationship with Jesus and cultivating spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, and Christian fellowship, we suggest that you share these ten strategies with the gamblers you counsel:

1. Instruct the gambler to admit his problem
"The number one symptom of compulsive gambling is denial," says Dr. Tommy Starkes, a chaplain to the casinos in Las Vegas. Try to get the problem gambler to admit that he has a problem and needs help. Confront him with facts such as, "Your wife and friends say you have a problem." Or, "You go to the casinos five times a week." Getting the gambler to admit he has a problem is the first step toward recovery.

2. Instruct the gambler to stop all gambling immediately
Gambling cannot be overcome incrementally or in stages. The gambler cannot say, "I usually gamble six days a week, so I'll cut back to two." Nor should he deceive himself by saying, "I'll just make one or two more bets and then I'll stop." Tom, a former gambler, says that several times he stepped off the casino boat saying, "I'll never gamble again," only to find himself back the next day. He finally realized, though, that he had to make the firm commitment to quit gambling. As he says, "There is no quitting without making the commitment to stop gambling."

3. Instruct the gambler to get rid of her credit cards
Problems gamblers will try to get money any way they can, and credit cards are often the first place they go. "I maxed out every credit card I had," says Jane, a former problem gambler. Strongly suggest that the gambler you are counseling destroy all her credit cards immediately. Have them do this in the presence of a spouse, pastor, or friend.

4. Instruct the gambler to stay away from gambling buddies
Gamblers often have gambling friends or people with whom they associate with when gambling. For the person trying to overcome gambling, these friends can be a great source of temptation. As much as possible, instruct the gambler to avoid such people. As the Scripture says, "Bad company corrupts good morals" (1 Cor. 15:33).

5. Instruct the gambler to limit the money he carries
Many who have successfully overcome gambling have mentioned that limiting their resources was a key factor in their victory. Jim, for example, says, "Not having access to cash or immediate money was critically important." Ray, too, states, "Even to this day I don't carry money."

Dr. Sam Williams, professor of pastoral care and counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, suggests that gamblers limit the money they carry: "They should save $5 or $10 for what they might need like lunch or an emergency situation or a phone call." This strategy has worked for Tom. "I don't have access to money like I used to," he says. "It's hard to gamble when you don't have access to the funds."

Many former gamblers also turn their paychecks over to their spouses who have an account in which the gambler does not have access. If the spouse of the gambler is willing, he or she should also control the checkbook and all financial transactions.

6. Instruct the gambler to have someone take him to and from work
If a gambler often gambles over his lunch hour or after work, suggest that the spouse or a friend take him to and from work. Lack of independent access to transportation will limit gambling opportunities. 7. Instruct the gambler to get rid of ‘lucky charms' and items that remind him of gambling
Have the gambler get rid of all items that remind him of gambling such as ‘lucky' shirts, pictures, old racing forms or lottery tickets - anything that makes him think about gambling. Joel used to carry an image of a Phoenix as a lucky charm when he went to the racetrack. He no longer carries it: "I've got one lucky charm now," he says. "That's Jesus Christ - with Him I can never lose."

8. Instruct the gambler to call a friend when tempted to gamble
The gambler needs to be able to call someone immediately when the temptation arises. "I carry a cell phone," says Ray, a former gambler. "If I am handed money or am tempted to go gamble, I call my wife or somebody." Jane says, "I actually called my accountability partner and told her, ‘This is what's happening; I feel like I want to go gambling,' but she kept telling me, ‘Don't! This is not what God wants you to do.'"

9. Instruct the gambler to replace gambling activities with healthy activities
Overcoming gambling is more than just "not gambling." It also involves replacing gambling with healthy activities. "Stop gambling and do something else. That sounds so simplistic, but trust me - it works," says former gambler Wayne Burdick, President of Outreach Foundation in Downers Grove, IL.

Tell the gambler to become so busy with good things that there is no time for gambling. Instruct him to get involved with church activities. Tell him to go to his son's baseball games or his daughter's piano recitals. Have him pick up an old favorite hobby such as golf, jogging, or photography. No idle time should be left for gambling. This strategy has worked for John Eades, a former gambler who is now a pastor at Shiloh United Methodist Church in Shelbyville, Tennessee. "God has given me some new kinds of behaviors, some new things to be doing," says Eades.

10. Instruct the gambler to join a Christ-centered recovery group
Gamblers cannot overcome gambling on their own. They need help and accountability from others. "I couldn't do it by myself," says Mark in references to his victory over gambling. "It's extremely important to have accountability in my life." Accountability groups offer an informative and caring environment in which gamblers can share their struggles and their victories. For accountability, we recommend that your church start a Chance to Change group. Chance to Change is a Christ-centered, church-based video series with accompanying workbook that provides instruction for gamblers within a small group setting.

Gambling is a growing epidemic in our society, and churches will continue to see more people who are addicted to it. By applying these ten strategies, you will be able to help problem gamblers overcome their problem and find true healing.