Gambling Scenarios

Skip to Content

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Logo North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Logo Print

Contact Us
  • Public Health
    Services
    • Breastfeeding Clinic
    • Community Events and Farmers Markets
    • Dental Clinic
    • Family Health Information Line
    • Food Safety Certification Training
    • Healthy Babies, Healthy Children
    • Infection Prevention and Control Investigations
    • Inspection Results and Enforcement
    • Needle Syringe Program
    • Planet Youth Nipissing
    • Prenatal Classes
    • Private Drinking Water Testing
    • The Sexual Health Clinic
    • Vaccination Clinics
    • Vaccination Records
  • Health
    Topics
    • 2SLGBTQ+
    • Air Quality
    • Alcohol
    • Animal Bites
    • Beach, Lake and Pool Water
    • Breastfeeding
    • Cancer Prevention and Screening
    • Cannabis
    • Climate Change
    • Dental Health
    • Diseases
    • Drinking Water
    • Emergencies and Being Prepared
    • Farm Fresh Eggs
    • Flu/Influenza
    • Food Safety
    • Gambling
    • Hand Hygiene
    • Healthy Aging
    • Healthy Eating
    • Heat and Humidity
    • Home Health and Safety
    • Housing and Homelessness
    • Injury Prevention
    • Intimate Partner Violence
    • Mental Health
    • Naloxone
    • Pregnancy, Infant and Child Health
    • Perfluoroalkylated Substances (PFAS)
    • Physical Activity
    • Racism
    • Radiation
    • Reducing Weight Bias
    • Sexual Health
    • Sharps
    • Smoking, Vaping and Tobacco
    • Substance Use
    • Suicide Prevention
    • Vaccinations
    • Vision Health
  • Health Professionals
    and Partners
    • Camp Providers
    • Child Cares
    • Cooling Tower Property Owners and Maintenance Operators
    • COVID-19 Healthcare Providers, Hospitals and Long-Term Care
    • Designated Officers
    • Emergency Management
    • Group Home and Shelter Administrators
    • Health Care Professionals
    • Health Care Providers COVID-19 Vaccine Information
    • Healthy Aging Resources
    • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
    • Maternal Child Update
    • Municipal Resources
    • Needle Syringe Programs
    • Nutrition Resources
    • Ontario Naloxone Program (ONP) Distributing Agencies and First Responders
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Report an Overdose
    • Schools
    • Teaching Kitchen
  • Community Data
    and Reports
    • Child and Youth Health Data
    • Chronic Diseases
    • Environmental Health
    • Health Behaviours
    • Indirect Impacts of COVID-19
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Injuries
    • Mortality
    • Nipissing Parry Sound Public Health Atlas
    • Oral Health
    • Population Demographics
    • Reproductive and Child Health
    • Respiratory Dashboard
    • Substance Use Harms
    • Well-being and Mental Health
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Board of Health
    • Careers and Placements
    • Contact Us
    • Interview with Isabel Churcher
    • News and Events
    • Personal Health Privacy Policy
    • Programs and Services
    • RFPs and Tenders
    • 2024-2027 Strategic Plan
Search Button

Back To Top

Gambling

HomeHealth TopicsGambling
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email

What is gambling?

Gambling is when you bet something of value on an outcome of an event, with the desire to win something of more value. You don’t know if you will win or lose.

Examples of gambling:

  • lottery tickets and raffles
  • scratch tickets and instant games
  • slot machines
  • bingo
  • online or in-person casino games
  • playing cards or dice for money
  • sports betting or pools
  • betting with friends

All forms of gambling contain an element of luck. Slot machines, for example, require no skill and are solely based on luck, whereas table games, such as poker or blackjack, require a degree of skill, as well as luck.

Many people believe inaccurate information about gambling and odds. Gambling is not a moneymaker and it is far less likely that you will win big than you may think.

Being informed is important for safe gambling.

• Think You’ll win big at roulette? You’re more likely to have royal ancestry • Think you’ll pick a perfect ½ bracket? You’re more likely to have quintuplets.

• Think you’ll win the next bingo round? It’s more likely a player shares your birthday.  • Think you’ll win at online slots? You’re more likely to crack a code on the first try.

Think you'll win top prize at the slots? You're more likely to date a famous model. Think you'll win the jackpot? The person beside you is more likely to become Prime Minister.

Think you'll scratch and win $10,000? That kid next door is 3X more likely to go pro.  Think you'll be dealt a straight flush? You're more likely to spot an albino deer.

Français

The Health Unit would like to thank Dr. Jeffery Rosenthal, Professor of Statistics at the University of Toronto for assisting with the comparative odds included in this campaign. Dr. Rosenthal is the author of Struck by Lightning: The Curious Work of Probabilities and Knock on Wood: Luck, Chance, and the Meaning of Everything.

This campaign is done in collaboration with the Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing.

What is problem gambling?

Gambling for fun is not a problem, but gambling becomes a problem when it causes problems.

Problem gambling happens when a person starts to lose control of their gambling behaviour. Gambling becomes a kind of obsession, and is no longer fun. When this happens, a person and their loved ones can experience serious harms and consequences related to finances, work, relationships, as well as mental and physical health.

People of all ages, income levels, backgrounds and cultures can be affected by problem gambling. Problem gambling can happen suddenly or over the course of many years. It can develop for a number of different reasons with many factors, such as difficult life circumstances or trying to win back money lost.

Risk Factors for Problem Gambling

Certain factors can make a person more at risk of problem gambling, such as:

  • gambling at a young age
  • a previous big win
  • problem gambling in the family
  • holding misconceptions about the odds of winning
  • easy access to gambling
  • cultural gambling norms
  • impulsive or risk-taking behaviour tendencies
  • a history of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety or substance use
  • a lack of knowledge about gambling
  • positive attitudes towards gambling
  • a stressful life event (e.g., divorce, retirement, job loss or a loved one’s death)

Signs of problem gambling

Using gambling as a way to cope with stress, spending more money than you can afford, and keeping gambling behaviour a secret are a few signs that problem gambling may be occurring. Problem gambling will look different for each person, so CAMH put together a long list of potential signs, click on the link below:

https://kmb.camh.ca/ggtu/help 

If you think you or someone you know may be experiencing negative impacts of gambling, this short quiz by CAMH will help you understand if gambling is harming your life and where to get help:

http://www.problemgambling.ca/gambling-help/PGSIscreener/Registration.aspx

Do you think gambling might have a negative impact on your life?

This short quiz by CAMH will help you understand if gambling is harming your life and where to get help:

http://www.problemgambling.ca/gambling-help/PGSIscreener/Registration.aspx

Tips for safer gambling

If you gamble, here are tips to help you play safe and lower your risk of gambling harm:

  • if you gamble, only do it for entertainment
  • avoid gambling when upset, stressed or in recovery
  • only bet with money you set aside for entertainment
  • never borrow money to gamble
  • set a dollar limit as well as a time limit each time you gamble and stick to these limits
    • many tools are available to help
  • learn how the game works before you bet, such as the rules and odds
  • expect to lose, and treat the money you lose as the cost of entertainment
  • avoid gambling under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or other substances
  • break often
    • step outside or have something to eat
  • don’t chase losses
  • avoid thinking of gambling as a way to win money, everyone loses over time
  • balance gambling with other hobbies and activities
  • know where to access help

Why do people gamble?

Gambling is a popular form of leisure activity, as most adults engage in gambling at least once in their life. While most people gamble occasionally or not at all, some people gamble more frequently.

Research shows that the main motivation of all gamblers is the desire and hope to win money or something of value. People also gamble as a form of amusement and excitement, to socialize, and to support worthy causes. Gambling can also be a coping mechanism or an emotional escape, which is a common trend amongst people who experience problem gambling habits.

Self-help tools

CAMH

Self-Help Tools

  • online tool and mobile app to keep track of gambling and urges
  • interactive tools to help you cut down or stop gambling
  • quiz to help understand the impact gambling is having on your life
  • community forum
  • self-help interactive exercises for family and friends
  • guides and handbooks for individuals, families, and organizations

Responsible Gambling Council

Cost2Play Calculator

  • online tool and mobile app to keep play safer by showing gambling spending

OLG

Self-exclusion Program

  • voluntary program that helps you to take a break from gambling

Where to get help

 

Below is a list of professional services and tools available to support you:

  • ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 to find local mental health, addiction, and problem gambling services, available 24/7
  • Gambler Anonymous - North Bay: 705-497-6431 for more information about the support group for gambling addictions

Research and Campaign Results

Gambling Survey Results

Think You'll Win - Evaluation

Think You'll Win - Evaluation Version 2

Health Topics
    • 2SLGBTQ+
      Toggle Section 2SLGBTQ+ Menu
      • Committing to 2SLGBTQ+ Equity
      • Homophobia
      • Pronouns
      • Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression
      • When Someone Comes Out
      • Youth and Teens
      • Positive Spaces and Other Training
      • Resources
    • Air Quality
    • Alcohol
    • Animal Bites
      Toggle Section Animal Bites Menu
      • Rabies
    • Beach, Lake and Pool Water
      Toggle Section Beach, Lake and Pool Water Menu
      • Beaches
      • Public Spas, Pools and Hot Tubs
      • Harmful Algae Blooms
      • Swimmer's Itch
    • Breastfeeding
      Toggle Section Breastfeeding Menu
      • Using a Breastmilk Substitute
    • Cancer Prevention and Screening
      Toggle Section Cancer Prevention and Screening Menu
      • Sun Safety
    • Cannabis
      Toggle Section Cannabis Menu
      • Edibles
      • Cannabis and Pregnancy to Parenting
      • Cannabis and Youth
    • Climate Change
    • Dental Health
      Toggle Section Dental Health Menu
      • Caring for Your Child's Teeth
      • Dental First Aid
      • Early Childhood Tooth Decay
      • School Screening Program
      • Water Fluoridation
    • Diseases
      Toggle Section Diseases Menu
      • Acute Flaccid Paralysis
      • Amebiasis
      • Anaplasmosis
      • Anthrax
      • Babesiosis
      • Bird Flu
      • Blastomycosis
      • Botulism
      • Bronchiolitis
      • Brucellosis
      • Camplylobacter
      • Candida Auris
      • Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae
      • Chickenpox
      • Cholera
      • C. Difficile
      • Cold Sores
      • Common Cold
      • COVID-19
      • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
      • Croup
      • Cryptosporidium
      • Cyclospora
      • Diphtheria
      • Ear Infections
      • Eastern Equine Encephalitis
      • Echinococcus Multilocularis Infection
      • Encephalitis
      • E. coli (Escherichia coli) Infection
      • Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-Producing Bacteria
      • Fifth Disease
      • Flu/Influenza
        Toggle Section Flu/Influenza Menu
        • About the Flu Shot
      • Food Poisoning
      • Gastroenteritis
      • Giardia
      • Group A Streptococcal, Invasive (iGAS)
      • Group B Streptococcal Disease
      • Haemophilus Influenzae
      • Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
      • Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
      • Head Lice
      • Hemorrhagic Fevers
      • Hepatitis A
      • Hepatitis B
      • Hepatitis C
      • HIV
      • Impetigo
      • Kawasaki Disease
      • Legionella
      • Leprosy
      • Listeria
      • Lyme Disease
      • Measles
      • Meningitis
      • Meningococcal Disease, Invasive
      • Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
      • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
      • Molluscum Contagiosum
      • Mononucleosis
      • Mpox
      • Mumps
      • Mycoplasma Pneumonia
      • Norovirus
      • Oropouche Virus
      • Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
      • Paratyphoid Fever
      • Pertussis
        Toggle Section Pertussis Menu
        • Coqueluche - Foire aux questions
      • Pink Eye
      • Pinworms
      • Plague
      • Pneumococcal Disease, Invasive
      • Polio
      • Powassan Virus
      • Psittacosis/Ornithosis
      • Q Fever
      • Rabies
      • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
      • Ringworms
      • Roseola
      • Rotavirus
      • Rubella (German Measles) and Congenital Rubella Syndrome
      • Salmonella
      • Scabies
      • Scarlet Fever
      • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
      • Shigella
      • Shingles
      • Sinus Infections
      • Smallpox
      • Sore Throat
      • Strep Throat
      • Swimmer's Itch
      • Syphilis
      • Tetanus
      • Thrush
      • Trichinella
      • Tuberculosis (TB)
      • Tularemia
      • Typhoid Fever
      • Upper Respiratory Infection
      • Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE)
      • Verotoxin-producing E. coli, including Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
      • West Nile Virus and Other Mosquito-Borne Diseases
      • Yersinia
      • Zika Virus
    • Drinking Water
      Toggle Section Drinking Water Menu
      • Lead
    • Emergencies and Being Prepared
      Toggle Section Emergencies and Being Prepared Menu
      • Cleaning up after a Flood
      • Drinking Water Disinfection Instruction
      • Emergency Kits
      • Food and Water Safety for Power Outages
    • Farm Fresh Eggs
      Toggle Section Farm Fresh Eggs Menu
      • Oeufs Frais De La Ferme
    • Flu/Influenza
    • Food Safety
    • Gambling
    • Hand Hygiene
    • Healthy Aging
      Toggle Section Healthy Aging Menu
      • Age-Friendly Communities
      • Every Step Counts
      • Volunteer
    • Healthy Eating
      Toggle Section Healthy Eating Menu
      • Community Groups & School Programs
      • Cooking and Food Skills
        Toggle Section Cooking and Food Skills Menu
        • Freezing Fruit and Vegetables
      • Find a Registered Dietitian
      • Food and the Environment
      • Food Insecurity
      • Get Cooking
      • Healthy Food for Life
        Toggle Section Healthy Food for Life Menu
        • Feeding Your Baby
        • Feeding Your Preschooler
        • Feeding Your School-Aged Child
        • Nutrition During Pregnancy
        • Nutrition Programs and Services for Older Adults
      • Healthy Recipes
        Toggle Section Healthy Recipes Menu
        • A Cut Above the Roast
      • Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program
        Toggle Section Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program Menu
        • Le Programme de distribution de fruits et légumes dans le Nord de l’Ontario
      • Food for Thought
    • Heat and Humidity
    • Home Health and Safety
    • Housing and Homelessness
      Toggle Section Housing and Homelessness Menu
      • Homelessness Factors
      • Homelessness Prevention
      • Housing is a Health Issue and a Human Right
      • Stigma and its Impacts
    • Injury Prevention
      Toggle Section Injury Prevention Menu
      • Concussions
      • Helmets
    • Intimate Partner Violence
    • Mental Health
      Toggle Section Mental Health Menu
      • 5 Ways to Well-being
        Toggle Section 5 Ways to Well-being Menu
        • Be Active
        • Connect
        • Give
        • Keep Learning
        • Take Notice
      • Mental Health Services
        Toggle Section Mental Health Services Menu
        • Pregnant, Postpartum and Families with a Baby
      • Postpartum Mood Disorders
    • Naloxone
      Toggle Section Naloxone Menu
      • Naloxone Training FAQ
    • Pregnancy, Infant and Child Health
      Toggle Section Pregnancy, Infant and Child Health Menu
      • Infant Feeding Survey
      • Parenting
        Toggle Section Parenting Menu
        • Caring for Baby
      • Pregnancy
    • Perfluoroalkylated Substances (PFAS)
    • Physical Activity
      Toggle Section Physical Activity Menu
      • Active Transportation
      • Physical Activity Resources
        Toggle Section Physical Activity Resources Menu
        • Exercise Class Schedule
        • Virtual Exercise Classes
    • Racism
    • Radiation
    • Reducing Weight Bias
      Toggle Section Reducing Weight Bias Menu
      • Body Positivity
    • Sexual Health
      Toggle Section Sexual Health Menu
      • Birth Control
      • Men’s Sexual Health (Guys into Guys)
        Toggle Section Men’s Sexual Health (Guys into Guys) Menu
        • Santé sexuelle chez les hommes : pour les hommes qui aiment les hommes
      • Preconception Health
      • Pregnancy Testing and Options
      • Sex After Having a Baby
      • Sexually Transmitted Infections
    • Sharps
      Toggle Section Sharps Menu
      • Safe Sharps Handling and Disposal
    • Smoking, Vaping and Tobacco
      Toggle Section Smoking, Vaping and Tobacco Menu
      • Quit Smoking
      • Arrêter de fumer ou de vapoter
      • Smoke-Free Spaces and the Law
      • Vaping and E-cigarettes
      • Vapotage et cigarettes électroniques
    • Substance Use
      Toggle Section Substance Use Menu
      • Drug-Related Stigma
        Toggle Section Drug-Related Stigma Menu
        • Let's work together to: Stop the shame. Stop the blame. Stop the stigma.
      • Healthy High - Risk-Taking Can Be Healthy
      • Methamphetamine Use
      • Opioids
      • Social Determinants of Health
      • Substance Use Retail Fact Sheets
    • Suicide Prevention
    • Vaccinations
      Toggle Section Vaccinations Menu
      • Adult Information
      • Child Care Information
        Toggle Section Child Care Information Menu
        • Vaccination Information for Parents
      • COVID-19 Vaccines
      • Hepatitis B Vaccine Information
        Toggle Section Hepatitis B Vaccine Information Menu
        • Informations sur le vaccin de l'hépatite B
      • Meningococcal Disease Vaccine Information
        Toggle Section Meningococcal Disease Vaccine Information Menu
        • Informations sur le vaccin contre la méningococcie
      • Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule
      • School Information
        Toggle Section School Information Menu
        • Informed Consent
        • Consentement éclairé
      • TB Testing
      • Tetanus, Diphtheria and Whooping Cough Vaccine Information
        Toggle Section Tetanus, Diphtheria and Whooping Cough Vaccine Information Menu
        • Adacel et Boostrix Vaccins
      • The Law, Exemptions, Suspensions and Exclusions
        Toggle Section The Law, Exemptions, Suspensions and Exclusions Menu
        • Suspension Process
    • Vision Health

Contact Us

Subscribe to this page

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Footer Logo

  • Website

    • About Us
    • Employment Opportunities
    • News
  • Links

    • Accessibility
    • Privacy
    • Sitemap
    • Staff Intranet
  • Resources

    Increase Contrast

Your lifetime partner in healthy living!

Copyright 2022 North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

By GHD Digital

Browser Compatibility Notification

It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.