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  • As you get pulled into gambling, your thinking changes. Your mind finds ways of convincing you to keep gambling, even when there are signs to stop. To an outsider, ideas such as "a win is just around the corner" or "I have a system that's guaranteed to win" seem irrational. But when you're in it, it feels real and true.

    In this episode, I'm joined by John Woods. After struggling with gambling for over thirty years, he placed his last bet in January 2017 and went on to write a book called Gambling Addiction Explained: How to Stop Gambling and Regain Control of Your Life.

    Listen in and learn about:

    Five common mind traps of problem gambling How to recognize and resist gambling's mind traps Why seeking help and guidance can free your mind from problem gambling

    To find out more about problem gambling's mind traps, read the blog for this episode at www.problemgamblinghelp.ca. You can also download John's free report on Mind Traps at www.gamblingaddictionexplained.com. Purchase his book Gambling Addiction Explained on Amazon or through his website.

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with online groups and supports, here's some options:

    Gamblers Anonymous

    Gam-Anon

    GamTalk (online chat forum)

    Recovery Road Online

    Gamblers in Recovery

    The Broke Girl Society

    To connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • Experiencing grief and loss is hard enough. But, when grief leads to gambling problems, it gets harder.

    Grief (like other big stressors) can create risk for gambling getting out of control. It can also set the stage for a relapse if you previously stopped gambling.

    In this episode of Fold em, we hear from Sam about her experiences with grief and problem gambling and what has helped her with both issues. Heidi Furrer, a counsellor with Gambling Support BC who facilitates a workshop on grief and gambling, offers ideas for getting on solid footing again.

    Listen to episode 77 and hear about:

    Why grief and loss can trigger gambling problems How to cope with both grief and problem gambling The benefits of continuing to stay connected to a loved one who has died

    To learn more, read the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca. Inspiration for this episode came from Lorraine Hedtke's work on Re-membering Practices. Find out more at www.rememberingpractices.com.

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    To connect with online groups and supports, here's some options:

    Gamblers Anonymous

    Gam-Anon

    GamTalk (online chat forum)

    Recovery Road Online

    Gamblers in Recovery

    The Broke Girl Society

    Connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

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  • One of the most distressing effects of problem gambling is the way is breaks down trust in relationships. In this episode, we offer guidance on how to rebuild that trust- emotionally and financially.

    You hear from Regina, who brings much experience on this topic. Seven years into her marriage, Regina's husband revealed he had a gambling addiction. She shares how they rebuilt emotional and financial trust. Regina has also been an active member of Gam-Anon for 48 years and shares what she and others have learned and guidance that is offered in meetings and through their literature. Spouses, parents and family as well as those who have had a gambling problem will all find this episode helpful.

    Listen now to episode 76 and learn:

    How to rebuild emotional and financial trust in relationships impacted by gambling What to do if the person you care about isn't ready to stop gambling or get help How spouses and family can decrease their own guilt and anxiety as well as learn to trust themselves again

    If you would like to learn more about rebuilding trust, read the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca. You can purchase Gam-Anon's literature at www.gam-anon.org or find an e-format on Amazon.

    Gam-Anon meetings are available in person and virtually throughout the world. Visit their meeting directory at www.gam-anon.org.

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111. Our outreach and counselling services are available to anyone struggling with their own or a loved one's gambling.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with online groups and supports, here's some options:

    Gamblers Anonymous

    Gam-Anon

    GamTalk (online chat forum)

    Recovery Road Online

    Gamblers in Recovery

    The Broke Girl Society

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • In this episode, you hear from someone whose career has focused on better understanding gambling problems. Dr. Marc Potenza is a psychiatrist and professor at Yale University and Director of the Centre of Excellence in Gambling Research.

    Since he's very familiar with the research on gambling addiction, I asked him questions that I commonly hear in the counselling room and from listeners.

    Listen in and hear about:

    Why is it that some people become compulsive gamblers and others don't? What's happening in the brain when gambling gets out of control? Are there medications that can help with cravings? Does treatment work?

    We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, so if you would like to read a summary, visit the blog at www.problemgamblinghelp.ca.

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with online groups and supports, here's some options:

    Gamblers Anonymous

    Gam-Anon

    GamTalk (online chat forum)

    Recovery Road Online

    Gamblers in Recovery

    The Broke Girl Society

    To connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • When you gamble, it affects your brain and body. It's common to experience an urge to gamble. This involves thinking a lot about gambling or winning, having a strong desire to gamble, and feeling restless, anxious, excited and/or irritable. Urges can also continue after you stop gambling and create risk for relapse.

    In this episode of Fold em, we return to the topic of urges. This time, with a focus on what brain science tells us about urges and how to handle them. I'm joined again by the team from Brain Connections - Dr. Iris Balodis from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University and Deirdre Querney, MSW, a counsellor specializing in gambling problems for the past twenty three years. Brain Connections is an online resource about gambling addiction and the brain.

    Listen to episode 74 and hear about:

    How to recognize triggers and urges What is going on in the brain with gambling urges What to THINK and DO when experiencing urges to gamble

    To read a summary of this episode, visit the blog at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca. You can also learn more about urges at www.brainconnections.ca.

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with online groups and supports, here's some options:

    Gamblers Anonymous

    Gam-Anon

    GamTalk (online chat forum)

    Recovery Road Online

    Gamblers in Recovery

    The Broke Girl Society

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • You may have heard this before ... gambling problems lead to isolation and the way forward is through connection. Maybe you're thinking, "That sounds nice, but connection is not on my agenda because I'm working all the time to pay off debt and the people in my life don't trust me." Well hang in with us, keep an open mind, and listen to this episode.

    Bryce reflects upon the past three years since his last bet. He shares about how attending a residential treatment program was an important turning point for him and how the friendships made there have been crucial to his recovery. You also hear him talk about making amends with his wife and family and the bumpy road of re-building trust. And, what has helped him to let go of the heavy guilt and regret due to gambling.

    Whether you are a gambler or have someone in your life with a gambling problem, you'll find inspiration in this conversation.

    Listen to hear about:

    What helped Bryce to stay away from gambling for more than three years How he has been reconnecting with his wife and family and rebuilding trust Tips for letting go of guilt and regret arising from problem gambling

    If you would like to read a summary of this episode, go to the blog at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca. To hear an earlier conversation with Bryce when he was eleven months away from his last bet, listen to episode 19 of Fold em.

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with online groups and supports, here's some options:

    Gamblers Anonymous

    Gam-Anon

    GamTalk (online chat forum)

    Recovery Road Online

    Gamblers in Recovery

    The Broke Girl Society

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • There are lots of options for free slots, poker and sports betting online. Seems innocent enough at first glance. However, there can be unexpected risks and costs of "free" online play, particularly if you've previously struggled with keeping gambling in check.

    In this episode, hear from two people who continued to play free online gambling games after stopping gambling. They talk about their reasons for doing so, the challenges this created, and why they ultimately decided to stop.

    Listen now and hear about:

    Why free online gambling games can be risky to play, particularly if gambling has previously created problems for you. How to figure out where to draw a line in the sand for yourself with free gambling games. What to do if free gambling games are taking up too much of your money and time and/or creating tension with your support people.

    To read a summary of this episode, visit the blog at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with online groups and supports, here's some options:

    Gamblers Anonymous

    Gam-Anon

    GamTalk (online chat forum)

    Recovery Road Online

    Gamblers in Recovery

    The Broke Girl Society

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • When you've already taken those hard steps to pull back from gambling and face the fall out, you want to keep the momentum going, right? This is the final episode of four that provides guidance on how to stop gambling and stay on track long-term. In this one, we walk you through how to make a Recovery Plan for yourself. This plan outlines what is needed to keep gambling and other addictions out of your life and (most importantly) to keep growing the best version of yourself.

    Our Recovery Plan has four parts, which were introduced in the previous three episodes. In the blog for this episode, we describe these four parts and provide questions to help you build your personal plan and keep revising it over time. Find the blog at www.problemgamblinghelp.ca.

    Allison Rice, who works as a counsellor with Gambling Support BC and brings twenty years of experience with helping people overcome addiction, guides you through making a Recovery Plan. You also hear from Georgete, Shane and Abe who joined us in the previous three episodes.

    Listen now and learn:

    How to put together your personal Recovery Plan Why having a personal Recovery Plan will make staying away from gambling easier That there is a path out from gambling problems

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with online groups and supports, here's some options:

    Gamblers Anonymous

    Gam-Anon

    GamTalk (online chat forum)

    Recovery Road Online

    Gamblers in Recovery

    The Broke Girl Society

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • There's an important step that often gets missed when stopping gambling. This involves asking someone who knows about gambling issues or addiction to help watch out for signs that you're at risk to gamble again. Why is this important? Because you may not be aware it's happening or will downplay it in your own mind.

    This is our third of four episodes that focus on how to stop gambling and have it stick long-term. Hear how Abe got really honest with a friend about what triggers him to gamble. They have been working together to come up with plans to protect him from relapse. You also get guidance from Allison Rice who works as a counsellor with Gambling Support BC and brings twenty years of experience with helping people overcome addiction.

    Listen now and learn about:

    Key ingredients for staying away from gambling for good The importance of having an accountability partner and how to arrange this for yourself Why having a personal recovery plan will make staying away from gambling easier

    To read a summary of this episode, go to the blog at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca.

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with online groups and supports, here's some options:

    Gamblers Anonymous

    Gam-Anon

    GamTalk (online chat forum)

    Recovery Road Online

    Gamblers in Recovery

    The Broke Girl Society

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • Want to make sure that you or a loved one doesn't get pulled back into a gambling problem? Then know what to watch out for. In this episode, learn about common and predictable ways that people get pulled into a relapse. And, how to identify signs that you are at risk to gamble again. Be prepared in order to protect yourself.

    We hear from Shane who started gambling again after one year away. This led to him struggling with gambling for the next twelve years. He is now eight months gambling free and shares what he now knows and is doing differently to make it stick long-term.

    We also hear from Allison Rice, who works as a counsellor with Gambling Support BC and brings twenty years of experience with helping people overcome addiction.

    Listen now to episode 69 and learn about:

    Common and predictable ways people get pulled back into gambling again after deciding to stop How to identify the particular signs that you are vulnerable to relapse How to notice all the tricky thoughts that keep you hooked into gambling, even after you stop

    To read a summary of this episode, go to the blog at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca.

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • What does it take to stop gambling and stay stopped? We're answering this question for you over the next four episodes. In this first one, we focus on the importance of being honest with yourself about the impact of gambling - on you and your life, as well as on those around you. If what you have been doing to address a gambling problem hasn't been working, we encourage you to take a risk and try something different. In particular, be willing to reach out for help and get guidance from those who know something about gambling issues.

    Listen now and hear:

    Georgete's story of getting 4-months away from gambling and how online recovery groups, working with a sponsor, and writing about GA's 20 Questions has helped her to get there. Why more is needed than just saying, "I'm done" to prevent a relapse. What to do when you reach that point of "enough is enough" (so you don't get pulled back into gambling again).

    To read a summary of this episode, go to the blog at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca.

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    In this and upcoming episodes, we talk about groups and supports that are available online. Here's some options to check-out:

    Recovery Road Online

    Gamblers in Recovery

    Gamblers Anonymous

    Gam-Anon

    GamTalk

    The Broke Girl Society

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • Most of us encounter gambling daily in our communities. There's scratch and lottery tickets at the gas station, sports pools at work, and bingo down the road. In addition, there's all the gambling we encounter in fundraising - the 50/50 draws at local sporting events as well as raffles and community bingo. Do you think of all of these as gambling? Do you ever have conversations with family, friends or the groups you're involved with about the risks of gambling or how to support people in your community who have been impacted negatively by gambling?

    In this episode, we hear from Sheri Pringle who works with Gambling Support BC and IS regularly out in the community talking about gambling. She's passionate about the issue. Her message is for all of us to give gambling the same attention as we do to alcohol, drugs and smoking.

    Tune in and hear about:

    How gambling is normalized in our day-to-day lives and communities (despite it causing harm for some of us) How to talk about gambling, including the risks and how to keep it in balance How organization and groups that use gambling to fundraise can be more attentive to community members who have been negatively impacted by gambling

    If you would like to read a summary of this episode, find the blog at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca.

    We're taking a holiday break in August 2023 and the next episode will be released in early September 2023. However, we are busy planning for the fall. If there is a question or topic that you would like us to address, please reach out through [email protected]. You can also connect through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast.

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • After finding out that your spouse has a gambling problem or has had a relapse, it's understandable that you feel like your life has been turned upside down. You likely are feeling shock, anger and hurt because of the secrecy that typically comes with gambling problems. Stress and anxiety are also high because your financial security and trust with your spouse is on shaky ground.

    In this episode, I'm joined by Neena Keram, a counsellor with Gambling Support BC who specializes in helping spouses, families and couples with gambling concerns. She tells us that discovering a spouse's gambling problem is a "betrayal trauma." She encourages spouses and family to get help for themselves - even if you think it's not your problem to fix. It helps to have space for you, to assist with making sense of it all and coping with the impacts.

    This episode is geared to spouses and family members impacted by gambling issues, but is also helpful for those who gamble. Listening will help you to better understand what your loved ones are going through.

    Listen now and learn about:

    Common reactions after learning a loved one has a gambling problem Why coping and moving on can feel so difficult How to feel grounded again - for your own benefit but also to move forward with addressing the gambling issue

    If you would like to read a summary of the conversation, go to the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • When you have concerns about someone's gambling, it's not easy to talk about. It's often challenging to prevent these conversations from going off the rails.

    In this episode, we offer guidance for these tricky conversations. Spouses, family members and friends will hear strategies to use when first talking about gambling or if you suspect there has been a relapse. If you are someone who gambles, there is lots in this episode you'll find helpful too.

    I'm joined by Saul Malek who is four-years away from his last bet. From the perspective of someone who gambled, he shares ideas for parents and spouses on how to reach out and talk about gambling problems. You also hear from Neena Keram who is a counsellor specializing in working with couples when addiction shows up in a relationship.

    Listen in and hear about:

    How to talk to a loved one about their gambling, even when they don't think it is a problem OR want to do anything about it How to approach someone when you suspect they have relapsed How to encourage someone to get help, but not take over with managing the problem and "fixing" things How family members and spouses can cope when feeling overwhelmed and stressed by gambling problems

    To read a summary of the tips and strategies covered in this episode, read the blog at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca.

    To reach out to Saul Malek, go to his website at www.saulmalek.com. If you live in British Columbia and would like to connect with Neena Keram's services through Gambling Support BC, visit www.najtherapies.com

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • When dealing with gambling problems, many people worry about switching to another bad habit or addiction. It's important to pay attention to this because switching or substituting addictions (also called cross addiction) can be frustrating, de-moralizing and really dammaging to a person's life.

    In this episode of Fold em, we tell you what you need to know about switching addictions so you are more informed and better able to prevent it from happening to you.

    We're joined again by our experts on gambling and the brain - Dr. Iris Balodis and Deirdre Querney, MSW - from Brain Connections.

    Listen now and learn about:

    Can someone have an addictive personality? What research tells us about why some people switch addictions How to create real and long-lasting wellness for yourself and freedom from addiction (Yes, it is possible!)

    If you would like to read a summary of the episode and learn more about how to protect yourself from switching addictions, read the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca and check out the handout on this at www.BrainConnections.ca

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • Saul grew up betting on fantasy baseball. He says it was "a part of my life" and "what tied my group of friends together." In college, when a friend suggested they bet on sports with a bookie he didn't think much about it before saying "I'm in."

    Saul's experience is pretty typical. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, about 67% of college students bet on sports. They also tell us that youth rates of being at-risk for problem gambling are 2 to 3 times higher than adult rates. Saul is one of those students who developed a gambling problem.

    Saul Malek joins us in this episode to talk about his experiences with sports betting.

    Listen in and hear:

    How Saul's betting increased in less than a year from wagering on a couple of games to 150 bets a week. How gambling problems stay hidden - from yourself, from others, and on campuses What helped Saul to recognize and accept that sports betting was out of control for him (and what he did about it)

    To learn more about why sports betting problems often stay hidden and what you can do about this if you or someone you care about is struggling, read the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca

    If you would like to connect with Saul Malek, visit his website at www.saulmalek.com

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • Lots of people are playing fantasy sports. For some, particularly when you play daily or with multiple lineups, it can take up increasing amounts of time, focus and money. Steve Delaney joins us to share his experiences with this and how, for him, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) turned into something that was stressful, costly and all-consuming.

    Listen now to this episode and hear about:

    The tricky ways that DFS can get out of hand How to recognize signs of this in yourself and others How DFS became a problem (twice) for Steve and what he and his wife did to address it Steve's reflections on the need for more warnings to the public about the risks of fantasy sports betting as well as help and treatment services for those who need it.

    If you would like to read more about why DFS can get out of control, signs of this, and where to get help, read the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca.

    If you would like to hear more from Steve Delaney about his journey of recovery both from substance use and a gambling problem, listen to his fantastic podcast: Fantasy or Reality? The GPP. It's available on all podcast apps. You can also reach out to him at [email protected].

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • When spouses and family members learn about a loved one's gambling problem, money issues come into the open. Usually this involves debt and it feels overwhelming and emotional. Typically, people don't know what to do. There is often a reflex to step in and pay things off quickly.

    In this episode of Fold em: Help for Gambling Problems, we offer guidance for spouses, family members and the person who has gambled. I'm joined by Margaret Johnson, who has thirty years experience helping people overcome debt. She is the President of Solutions Credit Counselling Service, Inc.

    Listen in and hear about:

    First steps spouses and family can take after finding out about gambling debt How to move forward, whether you intend to stay in the relationship or separate How to get a clear picture of the financial situation, regain control of household finances and protect your financial security What to consider if you are thinking of using family finances to pay off gambling debt

    If you would like to read a summary of Margaret's key recommendations from this episode and learn more about addressing gambling debt, read the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca.

    If you would like to connect with Margaret Johnson, reach out to her at Solutions Credit Counselling Service, Inc.

    If you live in Canada and would like to access help with gambling debt:

    Find a credit counselling service near you in Canada. Click here. Find a Licensed Insolvency Trustees near you in Canada. Click here. Find free legal services near you in Canada. Click here.

    If you live outside of Canada, search online for "credit counselling services," licensed solvency trustee," and "pro bono legal services" in your region.

    If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services. Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • It's not easy to talk openly about gambling issues. Nor is it easy to talk about living with mental health issues. In this episode, hear an open, thoughtful and inspiring conversation about one man's experiences with Bipolar Disorder and how this contributed to drinking, gambling and gaming getting out of hand for him. Hear how he is now free of gambling and living well. He teaches us about how to watch out for switching addictions.

    Listen and learn about:

    The connections between mental health issues, gambling and substance addiction How to notice if you're switching addictions How to find healthy replacements for gambling Strategies to live well and stay in balance

    If you would like to learn more about what the research says about the connections between mental health issues, gambling and substance addiction and strategies for preventing switching addictions, read the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca.

    If you would like to access help for mental health issues:

    resources in Canada resources in the United States resources in Great Britain

    If you live outside of these areas, do an online search for mental health help in your country.

    If you live in British Columbia and would like to access our free, confidential counselling and outreach services for gambling concerns, connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "gambling problem help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

  • It can be frustrating if you've promised yourself to pull back from gambling and then find you're back at it again. Sometimes this happens the next day. Sometimes after a month, year or more.

    It's not easy or simple to stay away from gambling when you're really hooked in to it. But as difficult as setbacks are, it's an opportunity to see more clearly what you need to do differently going forward.

    In this episode of Fold em, two people share their experiences of gambling relapses and how they are managing things differently now. My colleague, Manj Bath, who is a counsellor specializing in gambling problems, joins me to share tips for recognizing when you're vulnerable to a relapse and what can help to prevent this.

    Listen now and learn:

    How you and your support people can watch out for signs of relapse Strategies for managing triggers and cravings Why it's important to have a relapse plan - including what to do if gambling gets out of control again

    For more information on how to make a solid relapse prevention plan for yourself or with a loved one who struggles with gambling read the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca.

    Fold em is taking a short break around Easter in April 2023. The next episode will be released on April 28, 2023.

    If you live in British Columbia and would like to access our free, confidential counselling and outreach services, connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

    To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

    Canada: click here

    United States: National Council on Problem Gambling

    United Kingdom: GamCare

    Australia: Gamblers' Help

    If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

    If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also reach out through [email protected]. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

    Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.