What do you think of when you hear the word gambling? Do you think of a casino with slot machines as far as the eye can see, with tabletop games in another room, all with limited windows to the outside world? Does sports come to mind, with betting props being broadcasted every possible time-out while gambling ads outline the courts and fields? Do you imagine lottery tickets, which are available at every gas station and store check-out imaginable? Is it as simple as the bets you make amongst friends? If you are of a younger generation, do video game loot boxes ring a bell? No matter what comes to mind, every example listed is a form of gambling. Gambling takes place when someone takes a chance on an unclear outcome by risking something of value with the intent of trying to win something of higher value.
Gambling, in moderation, can be a fun pastime. It is something that as free individuals, we are allowed to engage in. Whether that is going downtown and hitting up a casino with a loved one, placing a bet on an underperforming sports team to keep your interest peaked, or giving lottery tickets as a gift of chance. However, every time one engages in gambling, they activate the same reward system in our brains as drugs and alcohol do. And with every bet placed it can lead one down the path of addiction. One where you chase bets that only amplify your losses, one where you use your savings and credit card to keep the high going, and one where you hide all of this in the shadows from those who care deeply about you.
The scariest thing about gambling addiction is how one with this addiction can live a functioning life. With drug and alcohol addiction, there is a stigma of abuse that can be recognized by a support system. On the other hand, gambling is seen as a leisure activity, where addiction can be hidden in the shadows. People will lie, cheat, and steal to keep a high going no matter if it’s a high of drugs or a high of chance. The difference is those who attempt to keep a drug or alcohol addiction going will show cognitive deterioration symptoms along with other physical symptoms that are incredibly difficult to mask. One can actively see them going through withdrawal as they attempt to do anything to keep a high going. Gambling addiction doesn’t have this issue. Rarely will there be any physical ailments or cognitive symptoms that inhibit their ability to masquerade as a functioning healthy individual, making lying, cheating, and stealing that much easier to act out.
This doesn’t mean a gambling addiction is any less of an addiction. It can put strain on your personal life and relationships, interfere with work, and lead to a financial disaster. When addiction has settled in, one cannot control the impulse to gamble. People with gambling disorders often face other mood disorders, like substance abuse, unmanaged ADHD, stress, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder with gambling taking the shape of a solution to these issues. In reality, they only exacerbate them.
Because of the unique way gambling addiction presents itself, the signs and symptoms of it take a similar approach. It starts with plain denial, where an addicted gambler minimizes and denies the existence of addiction. They feel the need to be secretive in their gambling, knowing how others may disapprove. They have trouble controlling their gambling feeling the need to keep going even when they are up, or until they have spent their last dollar. When one gets to this point, they pawn and sell items of value, they steal from saving accounts from themselves, their partner, or their children all to gamble it away. The last symptom is the worry from people who care about you. Don’t deny, as denying only keeps the problem alive and hidden. Listen carefully, ask and accept help, and recognize the strength in opening up about this hidden demon that weighs on them every moment of every day.
Once the addiction has been recognized as such, what are the next steps? The first is finding one’s triggers. What are the negative feelings that push them toward gambling? Along with the triggers, identify why change is necessary. Think about the ways life can improve when avoiding gambling when faced with the triggers. Next is finding support as being held accountable is key. Relying on your support system is key, and it is even more important to set boundaries on those who encourage gambling. Find a Gamblers Anonymous group in your community and begin the journey towards healing. One should seek assistance in addressing any underlying mood disorders as discussed earlier through mental health services.
Recognize that gambling cannot occur without money, so find ways to limit access to your funds. Lock your cards, close online betting accounts, let a spouse or parents be involved with your money, and keep limited cash on hand. Limit yourself from the tempting environments that encourage gambling. Moreso, remove digital temptations. If one mobile gambles, go to your settings and find a “self-exclusion” option that bars them from using the app. Block sites and apps that allow gambling, and remove the auto-fill information for your debit or credit card from your electronics to limit impulsive actions. You’ll want to take this extra time and put it towards a healthy activity. Do not find an activity to replace gambling itself… assess the hole in your life that gambling was filling, and address that.
If cravings persist, which is very likely as overcoming gambling addiction is not easy, seek professional help. Look into residential and rehab programs that focus on gambling addiction, treat underlying conditions, and rely on a therapist. This goes beyond one’s mental health as well. Don’t be afraid to seek family or marriage counseling, or financial counseling to address your addiction.
We live in a world where gambling becomes more prevalent every day. Following the 2020 pandemic, mobile and sports gambling became legal and more accessible across the entire country. Legislators and lobbyists expressed the desire to limit the black market of gambling and to increase tax revenue for state governments through the legalization of gambling; However, inadvertently exposed millions of people to gambling who would have never participated in the act, risking a gambling addiction with every bet.
Think back to the ways you thought of gambling at the start of the article. All of them are just simple forms of gambling or just advertisements of gambling. To those with gambling addictions, each serves a trigger that they have to step around and be cautious of with every waking moment. Watching a sporting event is almost impossible with prop bets and odds being forced into the broadcast at every point, with gambling companies owning broadcasting rights to certain teams. A simple trip to the store or gas station becomes an emotional tango when seeing the lottery ticket machine at the exit. They have to limit their social media consumption as gambling ads pop up in their feeds more and more often.
You may think you are immune to such addiction or that it is silly, thinking how one must just stop and not think about it. While that is simply not true, considering this addiction is just as real as any other addiction. Think about it like this, everyone is healthy… until they aren’t. It always starts with the first bet, and every bet after increases one’s risk. Before long, they look in the mirror and all they see are the many losses and few wins of the nights prior. I leave you with the Serenity Prayer of Gamblers Anonymous that is recited at the start of every meeting. “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference”.
Resources:
SAMHSA(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
1-800-662-HELP
National Council on Problem Gambling
Help by State: https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/help-by-state/
1-800-GAMBLER
MDHHS(Michigan Department of Human & Health Services)
1-800-270-7117
Site Credit
Privacy Policy
© 2023 Revived Mind Counseling
Be the first to comment