Habits and addictions · Adelaide and online
Hypnotherapy for Gambling in Adelaide
Everyone’s in bed. Your thumb opens the betting app before you’ve really decided. You swore last time was the last time. Gambling hypnotherapy in Adelaide with me works on the urge and the moments that spark it, next to the free help that’s already out there.
At a glance: a 4-session program to stop gambling. $1,000 total, paid upfront. Many people then add emotional repair sessions to rebuild. By video anywhere in Australia, or in person in Adelaide by arrangement.
Or call 0427 218 092
By phone, no obligation. I ring back within 24 hours. Price details
- 14 years in practice
- 4.6 ★ from 30 Google reviews
- ThreeBest Rated listing, Adelaide 2018 to 2026
- Fellow, ASCH
Ernest McLeod, clinical hypnotherapistAdelaide’s Hypno Coach since 2012, fourteen years in practice. Sessions by video anywhere in Australia, or in person in Adelaide by arrangement.
Warning signs that betting is running your week
Problem gambling rarely starts big. It creeps in through a phone, the pokies at the pub, or a payday.
- You bet again to win back what you just lost.
- You deleted the app. It was back on your phone by the weekend.
- Some of your spending is hidden from the people closest to you.
- Payday money is gone faster than it should be.
- You’re glued to a match you don’t care about, just because of a multi.
- You feel restless or cranky when you try to cut back.
If that rings true, keep reading. If you need someone tonight, Gambling Help is free on 1800 858 858, day or night.
Why the urge to bet is so hard to shake
From the inside, it doesn’t feel like a choice. A rough day, a quiet night or a push notification sets it off. The bet feels sensible. Then comes the crash, and the urge to chase it.
Wins arrive at random, so the brain keeps hoping the next one is close. That’s why gambling urges can beat willpower. It isn’t a sign you’re weak. Seeking help is a strong move.
How hypnosis helps with gambling addiction
Hypnosis is focused, relaxed attention. You stay aware and in control the whole time. In that relaxed state we map your own cycle. Then we rehearse the moment the pull shows up, and a calmer way through it.
I use NLP and Time Line Therapy to look at the root cause: the patterns and old moments that drive the behaviour. We build coping strategies for your riskiest times, and a plan for slips, which is relapse prevention in plain words. Bit by bit, the gap between urge and bet can get wider. You’ll also learn a short self-hypnosis routine for the toughest nights.
Between sessions you have an audio recording to play at home. It’s there for the nights when the pull is strongest, and daily practice helps the new habit hold.
I also teach this approach to other hypnotherapists. The Australian Hypnotherapists’ Association has approved my smoking, vaping and gambling cessation courses for professional development (CPD).
After the betting stops: emotional repair
Stopping is step one. It often leaves guilt, shame, money worries and trust that needs rebuilding at home. Many people follow the 4-session program with emotional repair sessions, often 4 to 8, to heal and get life back on track. It’s a normal part of the journey to recovery, and I’ll be with you for it.
How gambling hypnotherapy works: video or Adelaide
The program is four sessions, on Google Meet or in person by arrangement. Here’s what happens.
- A free phone chat
Fifteen minutes. You tell me what’s going on. I tell you plainly whether I think I can help. No pressure. You can also ask me anything about hypnosis, like what it feels like or whether you stay in control.
- Session one
We map your triggers and betting behaviour, look at what you’ve tried, and agree on what you want instead. Then we begin.
- Sessions two to four
Spaced to suit you. For video, you need a quiet room, good internet and headphones. If the link drops, I ring you back. You take a recording home for the nights when the pull is strongest.
Video also means privacy. No one sees you come or go.
Still on the fence?The call is free. We talk for fifteen minutes and you decide later, in your own time.
Or call 0427 218 092
What the research says about hypnosis for gambling
There’s one controlled study of hypnosis for problem gambling, from 2014. Lloret and colleagues gave 49 people cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). One group had 11 sessions of CBT alone. The other had 7 sessions that included self-hypnosis. Both groups improved, with no difference between them. So it can’t tell us what hypnosis did by itself.
CBT has the most evidence overall. A 2017 review of 27 randomised trials (Goslar and colleagues) found that help from a real person did much better than self-guided programs done alone. None of them tested hypnotherapy. The lesson: don’t go it alone. Hypnotherapy sits alongside your care, not instead of it.
Is hypnotherapy for gambling safe?
For most adults, yes. Some people feel tired, a bit emotional or briefly headachy after a session. That passes. I’m non-judgemental, so you can be honest with me.
It isn’t the right first step for everyone. I work with adults 18 and over only. If you live with psychosis or bipolar disorder, see your GP or psychiatrist first. If debt feels overwhelming, a counsellor can link you to financial counselling too. If you’re in crisis, or have had thoughts of not wanting to be here, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 now, or 000 if you’re in danger. Please keep seeing your GP, counsellor or psychologist while we work.
What gambling hypnotherapy costs in Adelaide: $1,000
The gambling program is four sessions for $1,000, paid at the start, which is $250 a session. It is paid upfront because that is how it works best. There is no pay-as-you-go option for gambling.
The gambling program: $1,000 in total, paid at the start
- That covers a 90-minute first session and three 60-minute sessions, by video or in person in Adelaide, with a recording to keep after each one, a follow-up from me and 12 months of support.
- Prepaid sessions last 12 months. If you do not need them all, use them for another issue or give them to someone you know.
- Card or bank transfer, no surcharge. Prices in Australian dollars, no GST. Not covered by Medicare; some health fund extras pay a small benefit, so check with your fund.
You work with me, Ernest McLeod, start to finish: 14 years in practice and a Fellow of the Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists.
Book my free 15-minute callOr call 0427 218 092
Put more support around youGambling Help on 1800 858 858 is free, private and open 24 hours. You can also chat online at gamblinghelponline.org.au. If you bet online or by phone, BetStop is the Australian Government’s free self-exclusion register. It blocks you from licensed online and phone betting providers for at least 3 months. It doesn’t cover pokies, casinos or TAB outlets, so ask the helpline about venue exclusion in South Australia or your own state. If your mood is low, see your GP.
Who you’ll be working with
I’m Ernest McLeod, a clinical hypnotherapist and Adelaide’s Hypno Coach since 2012. That’s fourteen years in practice. My training includes hypnotherapy and psychotherapy classes at the Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy, plus NLP and Time Line Therapy. I see people by video across Australia, and in person in Adelaide by arrangement. Before hypnotherapy I spent twenty years writing software, so I care about what helps in real life.
- Fellow, ASCH
- Certified NLP Practitioner
- Time Line Therapy® Practitioner
- Trainer: AHA-approved CPD courses
A plain word on what I’m not. Hypnotherapy is not a registered health profession here, so I’m not AHPRA-registered, and I’m not a psychologist. Every membership listed above is voluntary. Read my story
What clients have said
“I was petrified of being hypnotised but I found Ernest to be easygoing and friendly … he really helped me to relax.”
Client, first session
Written by clients after sessions with Ernest in Adelaide, shared with their written permission. Individual experiences vary. Read the Google reviews.
Questions about gambling hypnotherapy in Adelaide
Does hypnotherapy work for gambling?
It can help with gambling urges and the moments that set them off. The research is thin, as shown above, so I pair it with the free helpline and BetStop. Some people feel calmer after a session. That’s welcome, but it is not a success rate.
What’s the success rate for gambling hypnotherapy?
I don’t quote one. Only one small study has looked at it for gambling, so any figure would be a guess. We track your own progress instead, like weeks without a bet.
Which therapy works best for gambling addiction?
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with a real person has the most research behind it. That’s the 2017 review in the research section. Hypnotherapy can sit alongside it, to work on the urge and the feelings underneath.
What is the most successful way to stop gambling?
No single way suits everyone. You’re strongest with layers: blocks like BetStop, a counsellor or the free helpline, people you trust, and our work on the urge. Each one fills a gap the others miss.
What are the 7 warning signs of problem gambling?
There’s no one official list of seven. Common signs include chasing losses, hiding bets, borrowing to gamble and feeling edgy when you stop. The list near the top of this page has more. If several fit, talk to someone.
How much does a hypnotherapy session cost in Adelaide?
For gambling, it’s the 4-session program: $1,000 in total, paid upfront. That works out at $250 a session. My pricing page lists every fee.
How many hypnotherapy sessions do I need to stop gambling?
Four to stop. Many people then add emotional repair sessions, often 4 to 8. We decide together once you can see how you’re going.
Can gambling hypnotherapy be done online?
Yes. Sessions run by video on Google Meet, anywhere in Australia. In person is also possible by arrangement. Ask on the free call.
How can I get help for gambling problems in Adelaide?
Call Gambling Help on 1800 858 858, any time. In South Australia, Gambling Harm Support SA lists free local services. SA Health also runs a free Statewide Gambling Therapy Service.
Will I be out of control?
No. You hear and remember it all, and you can open your eyes any time. The goal is the reverse: more emotional control when the urge hits.
Is it covered by Medicare?
No. You don’t need a GP referral. Some health funds pay something under extras, so check with yours.
Let’s talk
Pick a time and I’ll ring you within 24 hours. It’s free.
Book a free 15-minute callOr call 0427 218 092
Related
- Habits and addictionsEvery habit program I run, in one place.
- Alcohol hypnotherapyWhen one drink a night has become several.
- Drug addiction hypnotherapyExtra support beside your doctor and local services.
- Quit smoking3 Steps to a Smoke Free Life.
- The Hypno Coach homeAdelaide hypnotherapy and video sessions with Ernest.
Free and confidential, open now. Tap to call.
Where these numbers come from
Lloret D, Montesinos R, Capafons A (2014). Waking self-hypnosis efficacy in cognitive-behavioral treatment for pathological gambling: an effectiveness clinical assay. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 62(1): 50-69. doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2013.841474. Source of the 49 participants and the 11 versus 7 sessions. The study assigned people to groups but does not describe itself as randomised.
Goslar M, Leibetseder M, Muench HM, Hofmann SG, Laireiter AR (2017). Efficacy of face-to-face versus self-guided treatments for disordered gambling: a meta-analysis. Journal of Behavioral Addictions 6(2): 142-162. doi.org/10.1556/2006.6.2017.034. Source of the 27 randomised trials.
BetStop: betstop.gov.au. What BetStop doesn’t cover and the 3-month minimum: Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, vgccc.vic.gov.au. Helpline: healthdirect.gov.au/gambling-addiction. South Australian services: Gambling Harm Support SA and SA Health Statewide Gambling Therapy Service. I’ll always show you where a number came from.
Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy. It is not medical care, a diagnosis or a stand-in for your doctor or a gambling counsellor. If gambling is affecting your mental health, please see your GP. Last updated 7 October 2026.