Gambling addiction is a condition characterized by an uncontrollable urge to gamble despite the negative effects doing so has on the person or his or her loved ones. Sometimes referred to as compulsive gambling or a gambling disorder, such an addiction can have serious consequences and cause long-term pain and suffering if left untreated.
Understanding the risks and knowing how gambling addiction treatment works can prepare anyone who plays casino games or places sports bets in this condition. In addition to learning about common signs and symptoms and highlighting gambling addiction statistics, you’ll find helplines and other resources that you can use to get help.
Gambling Addiction Symptoms
By recognizing the most common symptoms and signs of gambling addiction, you’ll be more likely to seek help if you need it. If any of these apply to you, we recommend getting in touch with a gambling hotline.
- Preoccupation with gambling – Constantly planning or thinking about some form of gambling, whether at an online casino or sportsbook, or a land-based casino or bookmaker.
- Increasing bet frequency or value – A compulsion to place an increased amount of wagers to achieve the desired level of excitement.
- Unsuccessful attempts at controlling the addiction – Repeated unsuccessful attempts to stop or reduce gambling, whether online or in person.
- Feeling irritability or restlessness – Becoming restless or irritable when attempting to stop or reduce gambling.
- Using gambling as an escape – Using gambling as an escape mechanism from difficulties or to relieve feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or depression.
- Chasing gambling losses – Trying to win back lost wagers by starting to gamble with increasing amounts.
- Lying – Hiding or lying about gambling activity from friends, family, or trained professionals, such as therapists.
- Jeopardizing relationships or opportunities – Risking or missing out on significant relationships, jobs, careers, or learning to gamble.
- Needing others for money – Needing to borrow an amount of money from others, or stealing, to relieve desperate monetary circumstances as a result of gambling.
Key Gambling Addiction Statistics
There is ongoing research on gambling addiction in the US and around the world that illustrates the seriousness of this condition.
- Prevalence – About 2-3% of the US population suffers from gambling addiction.
- Demographics – Men are more likely than women to develop gambling problems, though the gap is closing.
- Age Groups – Young (18-24) and older adults (50-64) are more susceptible to this type of addiction, though no age group is immune.
- Financial Impact – Betting addiction costs the US economy billions of dollars annually due to healthcare costs, lost productivity, and crime.
How to Stop Gambling Addiction
If you are showing the signs of gambling addiction, you should take the following steps:
- Admitting the problem – The first step in solving any problem is to admit that there is one.
- Seek support – Get help from trained professionals or join support groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous.
- Avoid temptation – Stay away from places and situations that tempt you to gamble. Activate self-exclusion tools not to be contacted by any gambling operators that you have signed up with and delete any gambling apps from your mobile or desktop devices.
- Manage finances – Get someone you trust to manage your money for a while, thus reducing the risk that you will gamble more of your funds.
- Find alternatives – Engage in other activities that provide excitement, entertainment, and fulfillment, such as sports, hobbies, or learning new skills.
- Set personal goals – Create realistic short-term and long-term goals with the help of trained professionals to focus on your recovery.
- Professional help – Get all the help you need from trained professionals, charities, and relevant government departments.
Getting Gambling Addiction Help
The following organizations offer treatment for gambling addiction in the US:
- National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) – This organization provides a national gambling addiction hotline (1-800-522-4700) and information on treatment centers.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – A government authority offering free and confidential support 24/7 via phone (1-800-662-HELP (4357)).
- Gamblers Anonymous (GA) – A fellowship of individuals who share their experiences to help others recover from gambling problems. Telephone numbers and meeting schedules vary by state and are available on the website.
- Gambling Therapy – Offers behavior therapy and online support for those affected by problem gambling, including how to help a compulsive gambler.
- Gam-Anon – Online, telephone (718-352-1671), and in-person support for those suffering from compulsive gambling, a family member, and other loved ones.
How to Stop a Gambling Addiction
Getting professional gambling addiction treatment is one of the best ways to resolve the problem, and the sooner a compulsive gambler gets help, the sooner he or she can be cured. In addition to the resources listed above, many US states offer helplines and resources, such as walk-in clinics.
Addiction may be avoided by responsible gambling. Only wagering funds that you can afford to lose and knowing when to stop can prevent many of the consequences of problem gambling. All licensed online casinos and online sportsbooks also offer various voluntary tools, such as limits on losses, wagers, or session times.
It’s also important to be aware of myths and misconceptions in gambling. The Gambler’s Fallacy, for example, is believed by many players who expect that something will happen more or less frequently in a given period. This fallacy can lead gamblers to make irrational decisions and may lead them to think that they can predict future gambling outcomes based on past results.
Compulsive Gambling Myths and Misconceptions
Unfortunately, there are many fallacies surrounding gambling addiction that can prevent people from seeking help. Here are the most common ones:
Myth | Fact |
Gambling addiction is not a real addiction. | Gambling addiction is recognized as a real and serious mental health disorder, similar to substance addiction. |
You have to gamble daily to be a problem gambler. | This addiction is defined by the negative impact it has on the gambler’s life, not the frequency. |
Problem gamblers are irresponsible or weak-willed. | Addiction is a complex condition influenced by various factors, including genetics, environment, and brain chemistry. |
If you can afford to gamble, it’s not a problem. | Those suffering from this addiction can suffer from severe financial, emotional, and relational consequences regardless of their financial status. |
Only irresponsible players become addicted to gambling. | Gambling addiction can affect anyone, regardless of their background, education, or social status. |
Negative gambling behaviors are only a problem of self-control. | While self-control is a factor, a betting habit involves complex interactions between brain functions, compulsive behaviors, and social environments. |
FAQs
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Resources
- https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/faqs-what-is-problem-gambling/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4736715/
- https://www.responsiblegambling.org/for-the-public/safer-play/whos-at-risk
- https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/sites/dbhdd.georgia.gov/files/imported/DBHDD/AD/Gambling/economic_09_11.pdf
- www.ncpgambling.org
- www.gamblersanonymous.org
- https://www.gam-anon.org/
- www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline