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Fold em: Help for Gambling Problems

Fold em: Help for Gambling Problems

By: Adrienne Cossom
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Fold em offers straight talk about dealing with the fall-out from gambling. Whether you are looking at stopping or scaling back your own gambling or helping a family member with a problem, this podcast will help you take back control. Hear from gamblers who have been through it. Tips from counsellors. There is a way out from the hold gambling has on your life. Learn more about how to address gambling problems and find resources and support at www.gamblingproblemhelp.cacopyright © 2026 Adrienne Cossom Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • 92. High Stakes: Why Youth Are at Risk For Gambling Problems and How to Help

    92. High Stakes: Why Youth Are at Risk For Gambling Problems and How to Help
    11 Apr 2025
    Youth gambling is a growing but often overlooked issue with potentially serious consequences. With easy online access, gambling-like features in video games, and an explosion of advertisements for sports betting, young people are exposed to and getting involved with gambling - often without realizing the risks. Listen to this episode of Fold em to hear: How youth are gambling - even when they aren't legally of ageWhy young brains are particularly vulnerable to gambling getting out of controlHow to recognize warning signs of a gambling problemSafeguards to protect youth and emerging adults from gambling harms You hear from three guests. First, Meghan, talks about her own experiences with compulsive gambling and how, as part of her recovery, she's been advocating for more to be done to protect youth and the next generation from gambling harms. Then, you get to hear from two Canadian experts on gambling and the brain. Deirdre Querney, MSW, has worked as a problem gambling counsellor in Ontario for the past twenty-five years. She's joined by Dr. Iris Balodis, who is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University where she has a research lab focused on gambling disorder and the brain. Together, Deirdre and Iris developed BrainConnections.ca to share information about how problem gambling affects the brain. To read a summary of this episode go to the episode 92 blog at gamblingproblemhelp.ca You can also learn more about young brains and video games at BrainConnections.ca. Iris and Deirdre have developed videos and free, downloadable materials. 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, Families and Friends in Recovery The Broke Girl Society Reach out to us at Fold em through Facebook or Instagram. Find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also send us an email to Foldempodcast@gmail.com. We welcome your feedback. Fold em is taking a break from releasing further episodes. However, the library of past episodes will continue to be available on all podcast apps as well as on the Fold em website www.problemgamblinghelp.ca. Thank you for listening and for those of you connected with us and joined an episode. Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.
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    46 mins
  • 91. The Hidden Toll of Gambling Addiction on Families

    91. The Hidden Toll of Gambling Addiction on Families
    14 Mar 2025
    Gambling addiction is often seen as an individual problem, but its effects ripple far beyond the person placing the bets. For families, it can lead to financial instability, emotional distress, and fractured relationships. In this episode, Katie shares her personal journey of discovering her husband's gambling problem and how she and her children moved forward. Speaking as a parent and a teacher with twenty years of experience, Katie argues that more recognition is needed about how gambling problems impact families, especially young people. Noting a lack of resources and supports for children experiencing gambling harms, she developed a workbook. It's a tool for parents, family members, teachers and counsellors to help children understand and cope when compulsive gambling disrupts their lives. Katie's workbook is available on Amazon and is called All Bets Are Off: Hope and Healing When a Loved One's Gambling Addiction is Destroying Everything. Listen to this impactful interview with Katie and hear: What spouses and family members can do when a loved one isn't ready to stop gamblingHow to support children when a parent's gambling is negatively impacting the familyWhat help is available for spouses, family members and chldren experiencing gambling harms To read a summary of this episode go to the blog at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca. You can also hear more from Katie on a podcast that she and a friend from Gam-Anon produce and host - Making Bets in a Burning House. It provides insight and support for families, friends and spouses impacted by gambling addiction. 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, Families and Friends in Recovery The Broke Girl Society Reach out to us at Fold em through Facebook or Instagram. Find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also send us an email to Foldempodcast@gmail.com. We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes. Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.
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    51 mins
  • 90. Are you Having Fun? Maintaining Control When Gambling

    90. Are you Having Fun? Maintaining Control When Gambling
    14 Feb 2025
    Most of the Fold em episodes have been for those of you who decided to stop gambling. We've been helping you stop and stay stopped. This episode is different. It's for those of you are currently gambling or know someone who is. We explore the fine line between recreational gambling and losing control. Our hope is that you better understand the risks when gambling and that some of us are more vulnerable to gambling harm. We share information, strategies and tools to help you keep gambling in control, recognize warning signs of problem gambling, and know where to turn for help. We're joined by two experts, Luke Clark (Director, Centre for Gambling Research at the University of British Columbia) and Ryan McCarthy (Director, Player Health, British Columbia Lottery Corporation). They share the latest research and concrete strategies. They also discuss how the gambling industry and government can do more to reduce gambling harm. Listen to episode 90 and learn: Are you at risk for gambling getting out of control?How to recognize warning signs of a gambling problemTools and strategies to help keep gambling in checkWhat steps to take when gambling isn't fun anymore To read a summary of this episode, visit the blog at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca. For more information on how gambling games work as well as tools and supports, visit BCLC's GameSense. If you live in British Columbia, you can reach out to a GameSense Advisor at 1-866-815-0222 ext 3, via Live Chat, or by visiting a GameSense Info Centre at a casino. 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, Families and Friends in Recovery The Broke Girl Society Reach out to us at Fold em through Facebook or Instagram. Find us at Foldem Podcast. You can also send us an email to Foldempodcast@gmail.com. We welcome feedback. Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.
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    38 mins
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