Urge and Bet Log: A Free Self-Monitoring Worksheet for Gambling Urges

What it helps with

• Showing the client their own pattern of triggers, thoughts and times.
• Catching the shame and guilt that follow a bet and can fuel the next one.
• Giving the clinician real-time data from the week instead of recalled data.
• Showing the client that urges rise and fall even on days they did not gamble.

How clinicians use it

• Introduce it at Session 2 and complete one line together from a real recent bet.
• Keep the stance curious and non-punitive.
• Ask about the last column in particular, because guilt and self-disgust belong in the chain.
• Review it at the start of each session and look for times, places, feelings and people.

Clinical Implementation Guide

1. Log each urge or bet as soon as possible afterwards.
2. Fill in the weekly summary and look for the pattern.
3. Bring the log to every session.

What the worksheet looks like

Clinical cautions

Not a diagnostic or risk-assessment tool. Ask directly about suicidal thinking at every session and follow local risk procedures, because suicidal thinking is a recognised risk in people with gambling problems. Deal with debt emergencies, coercion and financial abuse first, and refer to debt advice or legal services. Do not involve a concerned other if there is any sign of coercive control. Screen for alcohol and drug use, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder and trauma. Avoid shaming language. The National Gambling Helpline (GamCare) is free and open 24 hours a day on 0808 8020 133. The log is a self-monitoring aid. Do not use it to check up on the client, and do not share it with a concerned other without the client's explicit consent.

References

1. Megnin-Viggars, O., Mavranezouli, I., Downing, B. C., Welton, N. J., Fricke, A., Francis, J., Reeves, T., Pilling, S., Bowden-Jones, H., Sahakian, B. J., Rahman, M. S., Dawson, R., Geel, A., & Gaskell, M. (2026). Psychological interventions for harmful gambling: Systematic review and network meta-analysis. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 15(3), 971-980. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2025.00445
2. Siste, K., Sen, L. T., Murtani, B. J., Hanafi, E., Kusuma, K. S., Aryani, A., Tan, C., Nainggolan, F. D., Aida, N., & Setiawan, Y. (2026). A randomized double-blind sham-controlled preliminary study of a 5-week protocol of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for gambling disorder in Indonesia. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 24, 100722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2026.100722
3. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2025). Gambling-related harms: Identification, assessment and management (NICE guideline NG248). Published 28 January 2025. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng248

Copyright and use in research

© 2026 Dr Richard Pomfret and Third Wave Therapy Tools. May be used in research with the author and site cited. Version 1.0, approved 20 October 2026, revised as the evidence develops.

Suggested citation (APA 7th edition): Pomfret, R. (2026). Calm the Chase: A CBT-anchored, shame-aware protocol for adults with harmful gambling (Version 1.0) [Therapist guide and worksheets]. Third Wave Therapy Tools. https://thirdwavetherapytools.com/

Part of

Calm the Chase

Related worksheets

• Therapist Guide: Calm the Chase
• Gambling Map and Money Safeguards
• Settle the Urge

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