Gambling Addiction: Reasons and Solutions

[Dave Morrison]

You cannot disagree that gambling is a fun and exciting activity. For many people, it has become a significant part of their lifestyle. Some of them are looking for a new way of entertaining and testing their luck. Others want to earn some money, placing bets and winning rewards. Some more experienced players unite these features and make gambling their hobby.

However, like any other thrilling pastime,  gambling can be addictive. And when the addiction is detected, one should take actions immediately in order not to let it ruin lives. I have researched this topic and would like to share some info about it.

Reasons for Developing Gambling Addiction

It is hard to tell the definite set of reasons why people get addicted to anything. Sometimes the outside factors can stimulate the addiction. But mostly the personal psychological features make the person responsive to the gambling influence. 

- Inner motives. They can include the desire to be a leader and showcase the dominance above other players. Another case is the need to feel satisfaction and joy when in real life, the person experiences only failures and disappointments.
- Personal issues. Low self-esteem and disposition to depression can become factors for developing a gambling addiction.
- Family reasons. Childhood fears and complexes can lead to choosing a gambling path.
- Economic factor. Instead of developing a successful career to be financially independent, the person wants to get money fast and effortlessly. 
- Pandemic and lockdown issues. People are forced to stay at home for a long time without decent social contacts. Others get fired and start looking for solutions. This may lead to excessive playing.
- Other causes. The overall availability of gambling facilities, legal status in many countries, constant gambling advertising in mass media. 

Gambling Addiction Consequences

- Debts.
- Spouse and family issues.
- Loss of friends.
- Health problems.
- Stress and mental instability.
- Suicidal thoughts.

Are You Okay? Gambling Addiction Checklist

If you have collected more than 5 points from this list, it is the urgent need to take actions in fighting your gambling addiction.

- Uncontrollable desire to gamble;
- Chronic sleep issues;
- Anxiety and irritability, when you cannot play;
- Depression when not playing;
- Gradually growing gambling obsession;
- Keeping playing despite the physical, psychological, financial issues;
- Growing debts, spending all earnings and savings on gambling;
- Criminal ways of getting money for playing (stealing, scamming, etc.);
- Pangs of remorse and regrets after playing;
- Strong belief in winning even after escalating number of loses;
- Losing self-control while gambling;
- Constant setbacks after quitting;
- Growing health issues because of stress;
- Desire to make more bets and win more and more.

Get Your Life Back: 5 Steps for Treating Addiction

1. Study your problem. Define the reasons and sources of temptations.
2. Seek for gambling addiction therapy. Ask the special medical and psychological centres for help. 
3. Find support. Join support groups like Gambling Anonymous fellows etc.
4. Manage your debts. Get professional advice or charity help. 
5. Stop playing. Add yourself to the GamStop gambling self-exclusion scheme.

I have collected information about help centres for UK players with gambling problems. You can find out more and get their contacts in my article: https://davedealer.com/help-centers 

[cocopop3011]

Thank you! for the info. Is this your own article?

[ValDes]

9 hours ago, cocopop3011 said:

Thank you! for the info. Is this your own article?

Was just about to ask the same question.  

[Dave Morrison]

16 hours ago, cocopop3011 said:

Thank you! for the info. Is this your own article?

Yes, sure! @ValDes @cocopop3011

[ValDes]

17 hours ago, Dave Morrison said:

Yes, sure! @ValDes @cocopop3011

Great, thanks for confirming. 

I guess then it won't be a problem if you could edit your post and make sure it meets some basic formatting. I can see you posted exactly the same piece of text at another forum  where it looks perfectly formatted.  

[GamblingLore]

Hello. Just to make you aware that this Dave Morrison character has been posting the same post over multiple gambling forums and gambling threads in non-gambling forums. 

Which all sounds very altruistic, until you realise that he's simply trying to drive traffic back to his own website - which contains one article trying to "help" those with gambling addictions, and every other page trying to entice you to sign up to a multitude of gambling sites. 

The only reason he is posting his "help" is to drive up traffic to his website and push him up the search rankings.

This is the electronic equivalent of opening a branch of Gamblers Anonymous, then opening a casino next door. I would advise deleting / banning his post (as we have done) and telling any other sites to do the same. 

[ValDes]

Hi there @GamblingLoreand welcome to the AskGamblers Forum.  

Yeah, noticed, but still, thanks for reporting, appreciate that.

The OP has already been warned in another forum topic to refrain from using external links.  

[cocopop3011]

13 hours ago, GamblingLore said:

Hello. Just to make you aware that this Dave Morrison character has been posting the same post over multiple gambling forums and gambling threads in non-gambling forums. 

Which all sounds very altruistic, until you realise that he's simply trying to drive traffic back to his own website - which contains one article trying to "help" those with gambling addictions, and every other page trying to entice you to sign up to a multitude of gambling sites. 

The only reason he is posting his "help" is to drive up traffic to his website and push him up the search rankings.

This is the electronic equivalent of opening a branch of Gamblers Anonymous, then opening a casino next door. I would advise deleting / banning his post (as we have done) and telling any other sites to do the same. 

Haha, it didn't take long to put two and two togther over the years. Many have tried. All have failed  

[catapultaudio]

I've long ago accepted that I have something of an addictive personality - its learning to keep it under control that is surely the big issue. It certainly took me a while but luckily I battled those demons long before I got into gambling... sure I still make the odd silly mistake, but I've only once lost a huge amount of money ... the regret from that experience put me off playing for a real long time, I learnt my lesson big time .... I'm sure all these psychological tips and stuff will help some people, they certainly did when I was being treated for substance abuse addiction ... so I do feel its worth having some kind of content like t his here at AG. Just trying to steal traffic away is a big no-no ... if your website is good enough, people will find it by organic search.

[Brian.Morin]

Very good article! I would add that the cause of gambling addiction can be easily obtained money. For example, many people did not go to work during the pandemic, spent all their time at home and received subsidies from the government. Easy money in a heap with bonuses for registration or return to the game prompted many people to play. I know that the online gambling market has grown significantly during the quarantine period. Many people do not know how to stop in time and then there are the consequences that you have listed.
Thanks again for a good article!