Today is Melbourne Cup Day, and for a few minutes this afternoon much of the country will stop to watch a horse race. Office sweeps will be drawn, someone will back a horse because they like its name, and plenty of people will have a small bet just for fun. For most people, that is exactly where it ends.
A Finder survey released this week found around 14% of Australians, close to 3.1 million people, planned to bet on Cup Day, with the average punter expecting to spend $115 (Finder, 2026). Days like today are also a good moment to ask a quieter question. What role does gambling play in your life for the rest of the year?
What new Australian research found
In September, the Australian Gambling Research Centre at the Australian Institute of Family Studies released a report based on in-depth interviews with 30 Australians who gamble regularly (Australian Gambling Research Centre, 2026). Two in three participants were classified as high-risk gamblers, and their stories had a lot in common.
Many described growing up with gambling as a normal part of life. Family trips to the pub or club, watching relatives place bets and constant betting ads during sport all made it feel like ordinary entertainment long before anyone thought about harm.
The turning point often came during a hard season. Grief, a relationship ending, loneliness or major stress shifted gambling from something social into a way of getting through. As Dr Kei Sakata from AIFS put it, "For many, gambling shifted from a form of recreation to a coping mechanism" (AIFS, 2026).
Why gambling can feel like relief
When life feels heavy, gambling can offer a short break from it. There is a rush of anticipation, something to focus on, and for a little while the worry sits in the background. That relief is real, which is part of what makes it so easy to keep going back.
The trouble is that the relief rarely lasts. Losses add to financial stress, secrecy puts strain on relationships, and the original problem is still waiting. Researchers have linked gambling harm with psychological distress, anxiety and isolation (ANU, 2023).
The "I've got it under control" trap
One of the clearest findings in the AIFS report was how many people believed they were managing fine. Participants often relied on personal rules, like only using cash or sticking to a set limit, even while they were dealing with losses and harm (Australian Gambling Research Centre, 2026).
Rules like these are not a bad idea on their own. But when they become the main reason someone feels okay, it can be harder to notice that gambling has quietly started to cost more than money.
Signs gambling may be doing more harm than good
Betting to escape stress, sadness or boredom rather than for fun
Chasing losses, or feeling you need to win money back
Spending more time or money than you planned, more often
Keeping gambling hidden from a partner, family or friends
Feeling anxious, irritable or low when you are not gambling
Borrowing money, or using money meant for bills
Tension or arguments at home about money
Noticing one or two of these does not mean something is wrong with you. It simply means it might be worth taking a closer look.
How talking to someone can help
Gambling that has become a coping strategy usually has something sitting underneath it. That might be grief, anxiety, low mood, burnout or a relationship that is struggling. Working on those pressures alongside the gambling itself tends to make change easier to keep.
At Valentia Health, our psychologists support people with addiction, grief, anxiety and depression, in person at our Taringa clinic and via telehealth across Australia. Sessions are a judgement-free space to understand what gambling is doing for you, and to build other ways of coping that actually help. Medicare rebates are available with a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP.
If you would like to talk to someone right now, Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24 hours a day on 1800 858 858 (Gambling Help Online, n.d.).
If you are worried about someone else
Gambling harm often reaches the people around the person who gambles. If you are concerned about a partner, parent or friend, try starting with curiosity rather than blame. Asking how they have been going lately often opens more doors than asking how much they have lost. Support services, including Gambling Help Online, are there for family members too.
A gentle next step
Enjoying the Cup is not the problem. If gambling has started to feel less like fun and more like something you need, that is worth paying attention to, and reaching out is a strong first step. Visit valentiahealth.com.au or call us on (07) 3544 6748 to book a session.
References
Australian Gambling Research Centre. (2026). From coping to control: Understanding gambling experiences to inform harm minimisation policy. Australian Institute of Family Studies. https://aifs.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-09/From-coping-to-control.pdf
Australian Institute of Family Studies. (2026, September 10). From social activity to coping mechanism: When gambling becomes harmful [Media release]. https://aifs.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-09/MR-AGRC-From-coping%20to%20control.pdf
Finder. (2026, November 2). Betting bonanza: Aussies set to gamble $351 million on Melbourne Cup. https://www.finder.com.au/news/melbourne-cup-betting-2026
Australian National University. (2023). Has the Melbourne Cup run its race? ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences. https://polis.cass.anu.edu.au/news/has-melbourne-cup-run-its-race
Gambling Help Online. (n.d.). Free, confidential support 24/7. https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/
This post is for general informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional psychological advice. If you are in crisis, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or call 000.