Addiction & Substances
Gambling at work: the problem a good performance review can miss
By Craig Bilton, Addiction specialist · 3 October 2026 · 7 min read
Someone can be meeting targets and still need help with gambling. A performance review describes part of a person's working life. It cannot establish whether they are chasing losses, worrying about debt or finding gambling increasingly difficult to control. The useful response is a private, respectful conversation, clear boundaries and access to specialist support.
That matters whether you are worried about yourself, a colleague or someone you manage. You do not need to wait for a missed deadline, a damaged relationship or a financial crisis before taking a concern seriously.
Why good performance tells only part of the story
A person can answer emails, lead meetings and finish a project while keeping something difficult to themselves. Equally, an employee who seems distracted may be dealing with bereavement, illness, caring responsibilities or another pressure entirely.
Workplace concern needs to leave room for both possibilities. Assuming everything is fine because the work is getting done can close off a conversation. Assuming gambling explains every change can make that conversation accusatory.
NICE identifies shame and fear of disclosure as barriers to seeking help.1 Before raising a concern, consider whether the person knows where they could speak privately, what would happen next and who might receive information. An unexplained promise to “tell HR” is unlikely to answer those worries.
What might justify a check-in?
Start with what you have actually noticed or what someone has chosen to tell you. Examples might include repeated requests to borrow money, distress after discussing losses, missed commitments or an employee saying that betting is occupying their thoughts during the day.
None of these observations establishes a gambling disorder. Frequent phone use, tiredness or a difficult month are especially poor grounds for drawing conclusions. Avoid diagnosing a colleague from a checklist, searching their personal accounts or discussing suspicions with the team.
GamCare describes how gambling problems can affect wellbeing, attendance and productivity, and recommends workplace policies and appropriate signposting.2 The point of noticing a change is to open a route to support, not to build a case around an assumed diagnosis.
How to start a private conversation
Choose a quiet setting with enough time. If you manage the person, explain the purpose of the conversation and the limits of confidentiality before inviting sensitive detail. Do not promise that nothing they say could ever be shared.
An opening could be:
“You mentioned that money has been worrying you, and you seemed upset after our last conversation. I wanted to check how you are doing. Is there something affecting you that you would like support with?”
If the person has already mentioned gambling, be direct without being confrontational:
“You said the betting has become hard to switch off. Is it causing you difficulties? We can look at specialist support together if that would help.”
Allow an answer without immediately offering a solution. If they do not want to discuss it, leave the door open and provide the support details privately. Avoid demanding a full account of debts, bets or family disagreements. The first conversation can end with one manageable next step and an agreed time to check in.
What helpful workplace support can look like
A manager's role has limits. You can help someone reach appropriate support without becoming their therapist, debt adviser or monitor.
Practical arrangements to discuss might include time for an appointment, a private place to make a support call or a follow-up meeting with a named person. If an employee assistance programme or occupational health service is available, clarify what it offers rather than assuming it includes specialist gambling treatment.
Keep any record factual and proportionate. Agree how routine updates will happen and explain who needs to know about an arrangement. Avoid unnecessary details in shared calendars or team messages. For an individual employment or information-sharing decision, obtain appropriate HR or professional advice.
Support also needs clear boundaries. If there is an actual safety incident, missing money or another concrete workplace concern, address it through the relevant process. A disclosure of gambling harm does not establish misconduct, and a supportive conversation should not promise a particular employment outcome.
Review everyday team activities too. Someone should be able to decline a sweepstake or betting conversation without being pressed for an explanation. Offer social activities where gambling is not the organising theme.
If you are worried about your own gambling
You can seek specialist help before deciding what to disclose at work. A first call can begin with: “My work looks fine, but gambling is becoming difficult to manage.” You do not need to arrive with the right label or a complete plan.
Our guide to gambling addiction and gambling-related harm explains warning signs, assessment and treatment in more detail.
The NHS suggests practical measures including gambling-payment blocks, self-exclusion and advice about debts.3 Ask a support adviser which options fit your circumstances. Each tool has limits; putting a barrier in place is one action, not proof that the underlying difficulty has been resolved.
If work is affected, consider what you need from a conversation: time for treatment, help with a particular task or advice about an immediate concern. You can ask how personal information will be handled before deciding how much to share.
Colleagues and families need boundaries too
As a colleague, you can listen, pass on support details and offer company while someone makes a call. You can also decline to lend money or give a false explanation for someone's absence. A possible response is: “I cannot lend you money, but I can sit with you while you contact someone who can help.”
Partners and families may need support in their own right. NICE recommends helping affected others manage their distress and access advice independently of the person gambling.1 Their needs should not be reduced to persuading someone else to change.
For wider guidance on communication and boundaries, see our addiction support for families guide. Use the gambling-specific services below for specialist gambling support.
Where to find specialist help
- GamCare's National Gambling Helpline: call 0808 8020 133, free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Live chat is also available through GamCare.4
- NHS services: in England, you can self-refer to a specialist gambling clinic or ask your GP about local options. See the NHS gambling support page.3
- Immediate danger: call 999 or go to A&E if someone's life is at risk or you cannot keep yourself or another person safe. In England, call 111 and select the mental health option for urgent mental health help.5
- Someone to talk to: Samaritans is available free on 116 123, day or night.6
Gambling-related harm can involve serious suicide risk.1 If someone describes immediate danger, focus on getting urgent help rather than continuing a workplace discussion.