This NSW GambleAware Week (20-26 October) is an opportunity to recognise the profound impact gambling harm has on relationships, and to encourage more open conversations about how we support those affected.
Gambling harm rarely exists in isolation – it disrupts the trust, communication and connection that hold families together. Financial distress, social disconnection, loneliness and helplessness all contribute to relationship breakdowns, isolation and estrangement.
Recent national research shows that one in six adults are now at risk of gambling harm, with rising impacts on family wellbeing, financial stress and intimate partner safety. With around 58% of gambling now occurring online, harm is increasingly happening inside the home, where its effects on relationships and families can be even more severe.
Relationships Australia NSW CEO Elisabeth Shaw said GambleAware Week is a reminder of both the seriousness of the issue and the importance of understanding it through a relational lens.
"Every day our counsellors and mediators see the strain gambling harm places on relationships," Ms Shaw said. "Many people don't come to us to talk about gambling directly – it's often uncovered in conversations about communication, money or stress. The secrecy and conflict that come with gambling can erode trust and connection, leaving families struggling to stay together."
Ms Shaw said that while gambling harm affects people from all walks of life, the pathways to recovery often begin with support and connection.
"When families are included in the recovery process, and their perspective taken into account, repair becomes possible," she said. "We need to reshape the conversation around gambling harm so that relationships – not shame – are at the centre of how we respond."
Relationships Australia NSW provides counselling, mediation and family support services across the state, helping people navigate conflict, rebuild trust and strengthen connection.
