A Problem Of Gambling Addiction: What To Do?

There's a thin line between playing for fun and facing slowly the problem when this activity becomes something more, and it’s not about fun now. It’s about the cases when you would like to hang out at the gambling establishments instead of meeting friends or spending an evening with the family. As a result, you start borrowing money, have the symptoms of depression, and hope to win back your losses. 

Sounds familiar? Then it’s time to find the line when gambling becomes a problem and start fighting the disease of this sort.    

Gambling Addiction: What Is It?

In fact, the addiction of this kind takes place quite often and is also called ludomania. As any other addictions, it starts to control your mind and leads to any kinds of problems as a result. You don’t feel free to make a decision of your own, so your mind is occupied just by one idea - to win. Actually, you don't even think about winning any more, you are just waiting for a moment to visit the casino one more time, win back all you’ve lost and multiply your investment.  

Yes, multiplying sounds attractive, but it’s too good to be true. In practice, you are making things worse each time you make one more spin, developing your problem this way.

Wonder, how casinos enable gambling addicts? Here are 3 main things. 

1. «The illusion of a control» - players are sure that their skills can help to win (though it’s just a matter of luck).
2. «Monte Carlo» effect - gamblers are sure that if the black colour won several times, then red is going to be the winning one now.
3. «Almost near» - users see 2 symbols of the 3 winning ones and are sure that they are so near to the jackpot.

Remember: playing casino games shouldn’t be taken as the way to replace the job or become a stable source of income.

3 Myths About Gambling Addiction: Learn More About the Problem

While casino addiction is a common problem, still some issues about it aren’t clear yet. For example, these three myths and the true facts to destroy them can help to understand the problem deeper and find out whether you have something to do with this.

№1 - A Problem of a Gambler Only

Mostly, gamblers are sure that it’s a problem of their own only. To some extent, that’s really so - adults can make decisions of their own and do whatever they want. But until the problem of gambling concerns somebody else. And it usually does. So let’s find out the problems that your family can face.

1. You spend less time with your couple/parents/children.
2. When you spend money on gambling, you deprive your family the purchases they could make.
3. Your family worries about you and it always leaves a mark. Even if you don’t have a family, people around you can still suffer from your gambling disorder.
4. When the games are unlucky, you become angry and can take it out on people around.
5. You start borrowing money from friends.
6. Hanging out with friends is not about you anymore.

№2 - Just a Financial Matter

Seems that when you deal with gambling addiction, it’s a problem of your funds only. But it impacts on the other things besides. They are:

• your mood (so you can feel depressed quite often);
• your motivation (you don’t want to improve your skills at work, so it seems that «easy money» is so near, but that’s false);
• your hobbies (you stop reading books, doing sports or other things you enjoyed doing before).

№3 - There is Only One Key to Overcome the Addiction

When wondering how to stop gambling addiction, you can hope that there is a magic pill that will help at once. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work so. Everything is much deeper: you have to find the reasons that force you to go on playing. Here are some of them:

• you have problems at work and start looking for the incomes at the casino;
• you combine casino games and alcohol (it’s always a bad blend);
• you feel depressed and just look for a way to wind up;
• you don’t have a hobby and don’t know how to spend your free time.

All the cases are individual, so it’s always a good decision to get professional help.

Signs of Gambling Addiction: Test Yourself

When you know the symptoms of the problem, it’s much easier to recognize it and fight it as well. Here are the questions that can help you test yourself.

1. Do you play every day?
2. Is your gaming session longer than an hour?
3. Do you hide your hobby from your family/friends?
4. You prefer not to withdraw your winnings to play on them then?
5. Do you borrow money to start playing?
6. Do you drink alcohol when playing?
7. Do you feel too angry or depressed when losing?
8. Do you place the bets you can’t afford?
9. Do you think of quitting your job/studies and get easy money at the casino?
10. Do you want to win back when you’ve lost the stake?

If most of the answers are positive, you have a problem of degenerate gambling and need help. 

Be attentive: the other signs of the problem are apathy, anxiety, irritability.

The Stages of Gambling Addiction: How Serious Is Your Problem

The problem of compulsive gambling is developing slowly and has 3 stages. So you can learn how serious your addiction is.

Where to Get Help: Professional Organisations in Europe

Have noticed that something goes wrong? Don’t wait until things go worse - get professional help via gambling addiction hotline.

If you are from Europe, here are the organizations to help:

• GamCare;
• BeGambleAware.

How to Avoid the Problem: Working Tips for Players

And the best way to help a gambling addict person is to prevent the problem. Follow these tips to control the situation.

1. Determine your bankroll (the sum you can spend) and don’t exceed it.
2. Besides, you should determine your gaming session - if you’ve decided to play for an hour only, stop your game right at this time (some casinos have a timer on the screen when you play).
3. Don’t think that casinos can offer easy money, and especially don’t quit your job because of this hobby.
4. When you see that the game doesn’t bring you positive emotions, take a break (you can stop yourself or use the self-exclusion option).
5. You should realize that casino games are an entertainment that can bring treats (winnings) as a bonus, not as the main goal.

So follow the tips to avoid the problem, test yourself, and don’t hesitate to get help when you feel that your gambling hobby goes too far!