What Does It Take to Stop Playing

For most people, gambling is a casual thrill. Whether it’s a lost weekend in Las Vegas or spending a few dollars a year on the Super Bowl draw , betting is just short-term fun: win or lose, they go away and go on with their lives. But for some people – roughly 8 million people, according to the National Council on Gambling (NCPG) – gambling is more than just casual fun or casual entertainment.

For people with signs of “pathological gambling,” a mental disorder first defined by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980, it is a destructive, punitive addiction that destroys their finances, relationships, and mental health. And the destructive power of gambling addiction is not limited to the individual — like any other addiction, gambling is associated with many side effects, including spousal and child abuse, as well as suicide.

Gambling problems are not well understood and there is not enough data on this disease. But with the growth of online gambling and the increasing legalization of bets in many states of this country – in the first three quarters of 2022 alone, the gaming industry brought in about $ 45 billion – gambling addiction is undoubtedly becoming a growing problem. Solving this problem is an uphill battle for two important reasons: the perception of the problem of gambling in society and the lack of concerted support.

Signs of gambling addiction

The line between a passionate player and a problem player can be frustratingly blurry. In the same way that some people can drink alcohol in society and even go crazy from time to time without being alcoholics, some people can gamble regularly and not have a problem. Because society tends to view gambling as a fun, glamorous activity that mostly requires no sacrifice, the hardest part about dealing with gambling addiction is realizing that you have it.

How do you know if you are dealing with pathological gambling? If you stop thinking about it, the signs can be clear :

• The amounts you bet are constantly increasing as you chase the waning thrill (many gambling addicts get to the point where it’s not even fun anymore – they just gratify the desire).
• Feeling restless when you are not gambling
• Failed attempts to control your gambling
• Addiction to gambling in response to negative emotions or events
• Chasing Losses: Betting big to win back what you’ve lost.
• Financial Problems – People with healthy gambling relationships don’t liquidate their 401k and steal money from their friends to pay off debts or place bets.
• Lying to people about your gambling addiction
• Destruction of relationships through dishonesty, borrowing money, or other actions solely to support one’s gambling.

The ability to recognize these destructive patterns is critical – the old cliché that the first step is to admit you have a problem is true. If you tell yourself that you’re just unlucky or that your behavior isn’t abnormal, you won’t be able to deal with your gambling addiction. But gambling is a mental disorder, and many gamblers have a very, very poor understanding of how much money (and other things) they have actually lost.

However, even after admitting the problem, problem players face an uphill battle.

Problems with gambling addiction treatment

There are four main problems that anyone who seeks help with a gambling problem faces:

1. cultural resistance. Most people simply don’t view gambling addiction in the same way as a substance abuse problem. Gambling is just as widely promoted in popular culture as drinking, for example, but there is a stubborn belief that people who gamble destructively are simply weak or stupid. As noted by The New York Times , advertising for gambling sites and applications and casinos is everywhere, normalizing activity.
2. Lack of infrastructure. According to Keith White , chief executive of the NCPG, “We didn’t have a good gambling infrastructure before the sports betting expansion and we still don’t have it.” There is simply no organized and consistent set of services that people can turn to. Instead, we have a dedicated set of groups, emergency hotlines and approaches. There are also exactly zero Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments for gaming disorders.
3. Ease of access. Until the 1990s, gambling was not easy to do. Legal gambling has been restricted to a few areas of the country, and illegal gambling has not always been so easy to find. But today, you can download an app and gamble in minutes, which makes any attempt to quit “cold turkey” more difficult.
4. Associated disorders. Gambling addiction is often associated with other disorders, including substance abuse, depression, and conditions such as bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). All this can make it difficult to recognize and treat gambling addiction.

As a result, treating gambling addiction is challenging, even when you know you need help. But if gambling is negatively affecting your life, it’s important to give it a try.

Where to get help for gambling addiction

If you think you have a gambling addiction and want to seek help, there are resources:

• Call. There are hotlines you can call that can point you to resources for treatment. You can call or text the NCPG at 1-800-522-4700 or, for example, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration at 1-800-662-4357. Both offer anonymous advice and referrals so you can find treatment centers, support groups, or other help in your area.
• Talk to friends and family. Hiding your gambling and losses is unhealthy behavior that reinforces negative patterns. Admitting your problem is a crucial step, and one former gambler emphasizes complete honesty , noting that when he first confessed to his wife, he withheld one particularly embarrassing debt and later regretted being dishonest.
• Exception. Access is a key issue for people with gambling problems. Many people find “self-exclusion” a good first step in limiting their exposure to and access to casinos, gaming sites, and apps. For some, it is essential to go to a rehab where they can be literally cut off from this access, but others have tried to do it on their own, using apps like GamBan or BetBlocker that block all gambling sites on their devices. You can also talk to your bank about blocking payments on certain sites, which will add another layer of complexity to you if you weaken in your resolve. You can also contact the places where you bet and ask to have your access suspended or to place betting limits in order to at least gain some control over your game, although you should be aware that such attempts to control your game are in themselves a symptom of a problem.
• Remounting. Psychologists say that gambling addiction involves “rewiring” your brain , whereby gambling becomes the addict’s only source of pleasure. This often leads to boredom leading to gambling. One way to combat this is to keep yourself occupied , to avoid empty spaces in your day that you could fill with gambling, and to find alternative activities. Rekindling interest in a hobby or activity you enjoyed before you started gambling is often a particularly effective way to fill that void.
• Find a group of 12 steps. Gambling addiction is an addiction that affects the brain in the same way that substance abuse does, and many of the tools used to combat substance abuse are just as effective for pathological gambling. The 12-step group can offer structure for your recovery, guidance and advice, and personal support.

Recovery from gambling addiction is a difficult task, but the resources are there. Once you realize you have a problem, the next step is to find it.

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