Gone are the days when people might receive a friendly tap on the shoulder at the pokies at their local club or at the greyhound or horse racing track when they were clearly showing signs of a gambling problem.

With the upsurge in internet gambling on any type of mobile device, gambling addiction has been driven indoors and is now taking its toll on the community, particularly young people who are increasingly finding themselves in financial difficulties due.

Pop-up enticements during routine searches for information on the internet, or television sporting broadcasts heavily laced with sports betting advertisements are all contributing to the growing problem that is destroying lives.

Step inside any large casino these days and there is also a change.

Consoles designed for players to engage in multiple gambling games at the same time in the privacy of their own space are on the rise both overseas and here in Australia.

While many of us enjoy a flutter and others are able to set themselves realistic limits on what they can afford to gamble, many people in the community find themselves drawn into the vortex that is problem gambling and are unable to escape - that is without help.

While gambling is now more prevalent than ever, so are support services, in particular Lifeline, which offer a way out for many people struggling with their addiction.