What exactly is gambling addiction?
Gambling addiction is a process that begins with an activity that a person enjoys. It starts very innocently, it is treated as a hobby. However, the problem begins when gambling is the only activity that gives pleasure and one feels an inner need to repeat it, at all costs. Everything else becomes less important, even the things that should be most important, such as family and work. Addiction can develop at different speeds, and the danger can be ignored.
Many people are still convinced that gambling cannot be addicted, and back in 2011, gambling addiction was put on the same level as alcoholism. Below we will take a closer look at this problem, and most importantly, advice on how to deal with it. We know that many people can suffer from gambling addiction, so you may recognize some of the behaviors we describe among your own. If you are a gamer or intend to be one, be sure to read our article.
At www.lexit-network.org we always promote sensible gaming, so in this article we will tell you everything we know about gambling addiction and how to deal with it. We encourage you to read it carefully!
What is gambling?
Gambling is all games for money and for the purpose of receiving material prizes, the outcome of which is not dependent on the player’s skill and knowledge. The winner is determined by fate. There is nothing wrong with the game itself, but it must be under control. If you occasionally spend a certain amount of money on gambling, you will not become addicted.
The danger is when we start playing too often, even morbidly, and bet unplanned amounts. We want to get back at our losses and we spend more and more time in the lotteries or casinos, forgetting about work, family, hobbies, meetings or other important matters. If we don’t know how to stop gambling, we can talk about a problem or even an addiction.
Why do we play games for money?
Playing for money is a game in which we try our luck and enjoy the winnings by facing our luck. Games for money are attractive, and since everyone has some dreams, everyday needs or plans for the future, winning is practically the only way to realize them in a moment. Even more so, when we hear that someone hit a six in Lotto, we are convinced that it’s possible and we try, because maybe next time we’ll be the lucky ones. Another reason is joy even from a small prize. There are many reasons, after all, ubiquitous advertisements “trumpet” about Lotto or Euro Jackpot rollovers.
Why is gambling dangerous?
At first gambling games seem to be an innocent pastime. And since we can find them everywhere, it’s hard to resist the temptation to play at least in a casino. You don’t have to look far to find a casino, because there are plenty of gaming platforms on the Internet. They tempt with graphics, bonuses and a huge offer of games. It’s enough to open an online site, register an account and deposit money and you can play all the time.
It’s no wonder that we want to try our luck in the casino, because the casino always gives a chance to win a lot. In land-based establishments there is an atmosphere straight from Las Vegas, and on the Internet casino sites “speak to us” with their fabulous pages and in Malay. Players brag about their winnings so why not try it, it doesn’t cost much. You can not only have fun, but also earn cash. It is hard to resist the temptation. There is nothing wrong with this, provided that we do it occasionally.
Unfortunately, this is not the case.
At the beginning no one imagines that curiosity, fun and desire to win money will one day make us addicted. We lose our common sense, and from here it’s just a step to gambling, which is addictive. It is an addiction and a very dangerous one. For many, the gambling adventure ends dramatically. People addicted to gambling have huge debts. They lose not only their good name, but also their job, family, and all too often, their life, because when they have no way out, they commit suicide. But gambling is a broad “field.”
We spoke about casinos, but we can become addicted to many games, e.g. Lotto, scratch cards, bookmaker bets, sms competitions and even the Stock Exchange, for which the common feature is unpredictability or randomness. Apart from the Stock Exchange (which is governed by different laws), we cannot interfere in the game, which means that its result depends on luck/accident. We believe that the next Lotto ticket, sports bet or the next scratchcard will bring luck and we will get back the lost money.
In this way we fall into another extreme, because apart from illusions we have financial problems. Of course, this doesn’t happen overnight, but gradually. Mostly when we have financial problems, we look for solutions in gambling. Some people drown their sorrows in casinos, they console themselves after losing a loved one or a job.
Reasons for addiction
Many people certainly wonder why one can become addicted at all. The mechanics in this case are quite simple. Biologically, humans seek dopamine, which they get when they win. Also important is adrenaline, which is produced during the game itself, but before knowing the outcome.
Man very quickly gets used to these hormones and needs larger and larger doses, which leads him to place bigger bets and get into debt. However, this is not all. Studies have shown that people who suffer from depression or diarrheal diseases are also prone to become addicted to gambling quickly.
The second issue is the widespread availability of gambling. Nowadays, you no longer have to drive several kilometers just to gamble. Everything is at your fingertips. A few clicks on the keyboard and you are already registered in an online casino, you can use it even when you are away from home. Such accessibility is also dangerous for minors. And thirdly, it is worth noting that some people simply have a greater tendency to fall into addictions.
If you have already experienced addiction to alcohol, for example, it is better to give up gambling. However, it is not only previous experience with addiction that can trigger it. It has been observed that people who get bored rather quickly and are impulsive are at risk of becoming addicted. However, if you are dealing with a calm and balanced person, this risk decreases significantly.
How do you recognize a gambling addiction?
A gambler must have a clear mind and be able to recognize if he or she is already addicted to gambling. If one notices changes while playing games of chance over a long period of time, it is a sign that something is troubling and should be seriously considered. How you can recognize an addiction:
- lack of desire to do everyday tasks,
- feeling depressed, irritable,
- insomnia, unhealthy interrupted sleep or, conversely, too much sleep,
- feelings of helplessness and hopelessness,
- difficulty concentrating and remembering,
- feelings of guilt and constant thinking about problems,
- physical tiredness: sluggishness and heaviness or being in constant motion,
- feelings of anger, frustration, dissatisfaction, stress for trivial reasons,
- suicidal thoughts.
Any of the above points are troubling. If things start to change for the worse, it could indicate an addiction. The patient will not usually admit to the addiction, as this would mean having to go to therapy and stop playing.