So what is escape gambling and why do some women hide their gambling debt longer than men?

So escape gambling generally refers to gambling as a way to cope with stress or difficult emotions or everyday pressures.

And some women describe gambling as providing kind of that temporary distraction from those financial pressures they might be facing, caregiving responsibilities and other challenges.

And we know gambling can contribute to financial and emotional stress.

So what might be an escape for some people becomes kind of the bigger problem.

So while gambling is becoming increasingly normalized and socially acceptable for women, experiencing gambling harm and seeking help still remains highly stigmatized and it is hidden because it can all be done on your phone no one can really know what's going on and we know that women can face particular pressures because of social and society expectations that they should be able to manage the finances or care for families or maintain control over difficult aspects of their life and that added stigmatization I guess of gambling harm being historically viewed as male like a predominantly male issue it can make it more difficult for women to recognize and sort of put their hand up that they need support.

So these expectations alongside those feelings of shame and concerns about judgment can contribute to women concealing their gambling and delaying help seeking.

What does gambling recovery look like for women dealing with hidden debt?