The crisis among gamblers: Beyond the call of distress, the innovative services which respond
The dynamic of pathological gamblers often impacts their affective relationships, employment and the family’s financial health, as well as the person’s mental and physical health. These multiple personal and professional repercussions accentuate the gambler’s already significant distress. This distress, combined with many little stressful incidents, creates a fertile ground for the emergence of multiple psychosocial crises. Based on the documentation, this article begins by presenting the complex relationship between the crisis and gambling, followed by a critical presentation of the various crisis services for gamblers (hotlines, crisis intervention services in the casinos and self-exclusion service). Lastly, recommendations on how to improve current services are made.