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Choose a time and place to talk
Bring up the subject when you have privacy and enough time to talk it through.
Tell the person how you feel
You are
my best friend and I’m worried about you. We love you and we miss
you. I care
about you, and I don’t want to see you getting in over your head.
Describe what you see
Don’t judge anyone. Just say what happened:
Last month,
you borrowed X$ from me and another X$ from my brother, and you still haven’t paid either of us back.
You used
to play cards once a month, and now you’re playing at least three
times every week. After we
had a fight last night, you went out and played the VLT machine. You said
you spent the money on groceries, but you really spent it on bingo and scratch
tickets.Be a good listener
The person may admit having a problem. He/she may shrug it off, not want to talk about it with you, or become angry and defensive. He/she may be thankful for the opportunity to share feelings and concerns. Try to listen without judging.
Offer your support
If the person decides that a change is needed, offer help. Suggest ways you can spend time together ,without involving gambling. Offer to help work out a plan for cutting back or quitting. Be encouraging and understanding. It may be helpful to have counseling sessions together.
Call the Gambling Information Line at
1-800-461-1234
for free, confidential information
