How to Address Problem Gambling and Stop Gambling Addiction?

There’s a little gambler hidden in all of us – whether you like to play online slots games, online casino games, online poker, scratching lottery tickets from time to time, or bet on your favourite sports team, chances are you are a bit of gambler. Even so, we all need to be aware of our gambling routine does not become an addiction in the end. Now, we at Freeslotbonuses decided to take a deeper look and find out more about gambling addiction. To found out continue reading our blog!

What Does Gambling Addiction Mean?

In simple term gambling addiction is an instinctive disorder occurring when a player unable to resist impulses to gamble, although it can have a negative impact on players’ loved ones such as money problem, crime or fraud, job loss and damaged family relationships. No matter what the circumstances are – whether a player is in a good or bad mood, with money or broke – he (or she) just retains their gambling routine going regardless of the consequences. Even if a gamer can’t afford to lose, they will make risky bets to meet the emotional high even by taking huge risks.

Gambling addiction is of different forms and they are not necessarily cramped to online slots game, scratch cards, online casino games, live casino or sports betting, all of them can cause gambling addiction that can happen to anyone, nevertheless of age, sex, birthplace, profession and education.

What’s the Difference between Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling?

Gambling addiction, problem gambling, pathological gambling, compulsive gambling – all these titles are close enough, but not the same meaning. Here, we will try to look after the terminology first, and understand the difference between problem gambling and gambling addiction.

Problem gambling, also called gambling disorder is the uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite the toll it takes on your life. And, it is possible to have a gambling problem and not be totally out of control. So, we can easily say that is any gambling-related behaviour that can lead to a greater impact on your life.

Gambling is a highly rewarding experience – which is why gambling is addictive. Well, in this you are willing to risk something you value in the hope of getting something or even greater value. It is because gambling stimulates the brain’s reward system much like drugs or alcohol can, leading to addiction. Unfortunately, if a player comes across this stage, gambling becomes more than just an issue – which means persons might be a gambling addict and needs to look for help.

But, what could be the reason behind this cause of gambling addiction? Well, it is impossible to specify any particular reason cause, as it is a mixture of social causes, biological causes, psychological causes, and spiritual causes. To be precise, each of these contributes to gambling addiction.

Firstly try to understand the biological cause behind the gambling addiction, these mostly refer to each person’s unique physiology and genetics. When it comes to the psychological cause of gambling addiction, these are related to reducing stress, escape from boredom, or coping with unpleasant emotions or circumstances.

On the other hand for socio-cultural gambling cause, the biggest part plays the individual’s family with culture being transported from one generation to the next. Children learn from their ancestors or parents about games of chances.

And last but not least, the lack of spiritual anchor can very often lead to the development of online gambling addiction or any other spiritual addiction.

Symptoms and Signs of gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction can happen to anyone, but if they happen to you or your loved ones, these problems start hurting you. Gambling can lead from a harmless hobby to an addiction – severe money problem, job loss, straining your family relationships.

There are few questions you can take into consideration to recognise your status:

  • Are you becoming mysterious about your gambling activities?
  • Is your gambling behaviour getting out of control?
  • Have you ever borrowed money to gamble?
  • Are you chasing losses even after you’ve spent your last dollar playing?
  • Are your family and friends worried about you?

As these are also some of the signs of gambling addiction, if YES is the answer to any of these questions, maybe it’s time to get help from specialists.

How to Stop Gambling?

There’s always a solution! There are plenty of approaches that can help to overcome and stop gambling addiction. Even if you have reached the limit and when you think you have no idea how to stop gambling and there’s no way out. In fact, there are some steps you can take once you realise you have an addiction:

  • Make a decision to stop
  • Learn to relieve unpleasant feelings in healthier ways
  • Reach out to friends and family
  • Turn to these responsible gambling organisations for help
  • Join a support group
  • Find alternatives to gambling (i.e. sports, music, meditation…)
  • Plan your time ahead

So, when you are losing your control – try to avoid spending time alone, on your computer or phone and try to get rid of all kinds of tempting situations. So to come out from this situation, please consider self-exclusion as well as the cool of periods.

In case you are thinking of a gambling addiction treatment, you can look out few advice:

  • Start a gambling rehab
  • Go to a gambling therapy
  • Join gambling addiction forum
  • Consider gambling addiction counselling

What’s Time to Contact a Gambling Addiction Hotline?

Above we have already discussed gambling addiction symptoms and signs, we’d also like to emphasize how prime it is to know when a person needs to reach for help and call the gambling addiction hotline.

You can call some of the major responsible gambling organisations for help, so if you feel that you re:

  • Hiding gambling addiction
  • Having a hard time controlling gambling habits
  • Borrowing money to gamble
  • Hearing other people’s concerns about your gambling behaviour

We advise you that not to hide your gambling problem because every person can get over their gambling addiction and regain control, only if they want to.