Gambling addiction
What is gambling addiction?
Gambling addiction is when the "urge" to gamble becomes an obsession that dominates a person’s entire life. Obsessive gambling consumes a considerable amount of time and money and is detrimental to one’s self-confidence and self-esteem. Other aspects of life, such as family and work, are slowly relegated to the second rank, or are being increasingly neglected. It is the slow pace of this process that makes it so insidious.
The process comprises three clearly identifiable phases:
Phase 1: The excitement and winning phase
In this phase, gamblers often experience a big win, or a series of wins. This experience may lead them to the illusion that their wins are a result of their own intuitive actions rather than due to pure luck. Losses are viewed as the result of external causes that can be explained, and often they are glossed over and played down. There is a reason to be concerned when a gambler continuously spends a large amount of money or takes out a loan. All loans have only one purpose: to continue gambling.
Phase 2: The losing phase
In the next phase, obsessive gamblers mostly use money they borrowed. They try to keep these loans a secret. Generally, in this stage, obsessive gamblers slowly distance themselves from family and friends on their way to total isolation. However, they are convinced that they can get their debts under control again. “As soon as I have paid off my debts, I quit gambling,” is a common statement during this phase.
Phase 3: The desperation phase
Finally gambling becomes an all-day activity that dominates the gambler’s entire life. This leads to the loss of relationships, work, and recognition. The transition between a gambling problem and gambling addiction is not a clear-cut process but not every phase automatically leads to the next level.
What you can do against gambling addiction
- Determine beforehand the maximum of your gambling budget.
- Do not deposit more money on your account than that amount.
- Determine beforehand at what winnings you will end the game.
- Determine also beforehand how much you can afford to lose.
- Always be focused and rested when you sit down at a game table.
- Take breaks to relax.
- Never play when you are under the influence of a substantial amount of alcohol.
Where to find help
Please contact one of the many organizations and self-help groups for gamblers, such as:
"Gamblers Anonymous" (GA) www.gamcare.com, the world’s largest self-help organization for people with gambling addiction, has developed a questionnaire to assess a person’s addiction to gambling.
A gambling addiction should not be played down! An addiction is a serious condition. It is no shame to suffer from this condition but it is a shame not to do anything to fight it!
