Get motivated

There is a common conception that motivation is deep inside us – it just needs to be discovered. Some people find that this is true but usually some strong trigger is needed. This could be a big bust out, a financial loss, or a family member discovering the extent of one's gambling. For others, adding up the money spent over the past year can be a shock, prompting immediate action. If you want to get a jolt of motivation, here are a few options.

• Complete a self-assessment and work out how much you have really spent.

• Check out our tips for coming to a realisation that your gambling might need to change. 

Everyone who has gambled has used self-control. This self-control is used to limit the time and money spent gambling. For some people, however, the boundaries of self-control are relaxed. Instead of limiting each session to $10 or $20, the loss limit becomes $50 or more. There are many reasons why self-control starts to relax. A key reason is knowing how gambling really works. The industry plays lots of tricks to encourage you to lose self-control. Knowing the truth can be really motivating!

• Investigate the facts about gambling.
• Look at the signs and consequences of a problem.

Most people who gamble have at some point had to reduce their spending. This is because they notice that their behaviour is not aligned with their values or with who they are. Changing gambling can be tricky, especially if it is your main form of entertainment. Change can be scary too, especially if you’ve tried it before and it didn't go so well. If you are not sure if change is for you, check out the Pros and cons strategy in this module.

The strategies in this module can be used in any order. To find the right strategies for you, feel free to browse through our extensive selection. At the bottom of each page is a prompt for you to make the strategy your own. We recommend you choose two or three strategies and save these in your profile for later.