Gambling Addiction Warning Signs: How to Detect & Stop Early
Gambling can prove to be quite an entertaining pastime - you get to hang out with others, enjoy some of the best games, and maybe even win some money in the process. Who could ask for more? But if you let your habits go, this entertaining habit may turn into a nuisance. Problem gambling, gambling addiction, gambling disorder - the issue goes by many names. Every casino gives you a disclaimer to watch out for gambling issues, but how do you even do that? We have compiled a comprehensive guide on what gambling addiction looks like and how you can combat this issue. After all, the right support goes a long way!
What is Gambling Addiction?
Gambling comes in many forms, all of which entail one thing: risking something valuable to try and win something even higher in monetary value. Usually, gambling activities are unpredictable, and one can only assume the outcome. In most situations, the result is unfavorable to the individual.
This is why individuals who engage in gambling activities should always remember to treat it as a form of entertainment or as a recreational activity. Giving it any more space in your life may result in serious consequences, the most damaging of which is developing a gambling disorder or addiction.
In simple terms, a gambling addiction refers to consistent and ongoing betting, even when the individual can see it has negative impacts on their personal life. Individuals with a gambling disorder find it difficult to relinquish control of their gambling activities, even when they know they should. They struggle with discipline and always find themselves going back to the betting table. They could be going broke or running up debts, but gambling will always be there to welcome them with open arms.
It is essential to know that people from any age group can become prone to problem gambling, which is why it is essential to look out for warning signs in yourself and the people around you. It can also occur to anyone, regardless of the type of gambling they engage in. Whether you enjoy serious casino betting or casual scratch cards, any kind of gambling may plunge you into a gambling addiction.
Lastly, it is also important to remember that problem gambling refers to any gambling behavior that causes a disruption in your daily life. Even if you do not have a full-out gambling addiction, you may have certain behaviors that are a cause for alarm, such as spending more time betting than usual or frequently going over your predetermined gambling budget. This is why it’s important to be aware of all behaviors associated with a gambling addiction, regardless of how insignificant they may seem.
Gambling Addiction Statistics
Owing to the scope of the problem, the World Health Organization has compiled a comprehensive list of statistics that showcase the extent of the issue. Because of the jarring consequences of problem gambling, there have been endless studies mapping the impact of this disorder on the general population.
It is estimated that 1.2% of the total adult population in the world has a gambling disorder. Harmful levels of gambling generate 60% of the losses in the industry, which amounts to gambling revenue, as every penny lost by a bettor goes to the casino. Gambling revenue is estimated to reach a whopping $700 billion by 2028, which is just three years away.
Another estimate notes that globally, 11.9% of men and 5.5% of women have some form of a gambling issue. One study in Sweden found that gambling addicts are 15 times more likely to take their own life than others. An Australian study found that in Victoria, 4.2% of suicides were driven by gambling issues.
The bigger problem with gambling addiction is that it doesn’t just affect the person directly involved in the gambling. One research found that for every high-risk gambler, six other people are affected on average. Most of these people are usually non-gamblers who just so happen to be around a problem gambler.
Think of your familial relationships, friends, and other loved ones - all of these people can be harmfully affected by your gambling habits. The research also found that this impact tends to be higher in cultures that are more kinship or community-driven, for example, indigenous or eastern societies. This way, gambling addiction becomes a societal problem that eats away at everything in its way.
Why is Problem Gambling an Issue?
Some might think that a gambling disorder is just someone chasing the thrill of the game, but the problem is much more serious than that. Problem gambling can take over a person’s life, preventing them from participating in anything else. It can lead to severe financial problems, relationship difficulties, and even emotional distress.
People might start dipping into their savings to spend on gambling or even taking out loans. When all doors close, some individuals even resort to stealing, just so they have an extra buck to gamble. This way, gambling can drive households into low-income conditions or even poverty.
Once people allow gambling to take over their lives, their relationships may start breaking down. Due to the harmful personal circumstances caused by problem gambling, people may face other mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies.
Why is Problem Gambling on the Rise?
Much of gambling revenue comes from people betting on their smartphones. Online casinos and sportsbooks have eased access to gambling options. People can now wager money from the comfort of their homes without ever needing to step into a real casino. The lack of a social network in online gambling and the increased anonymity may lead people to spend more and more money without even realizing it.
Smartphones have allowed gambling to rapidly digitize and commercialize, with casinos investing more and more money in marketing. Online casinos have also increased the number of games people have access to, accumulating an endless collection of gambling options. Now, when you don’t find something fun to gamble at, you can just click on another casino instead of having to walk home.
As gambling becomes more heavily associated with sports and some cultural activities (think of camel race betting in the Middle East), many countries that previously outlawed gambling are now creating regulations that permit certain types of betting. This paves the way for the normalization of this activity, allowing more and more people to indulge now that the activity has ceased to be illegal.
Increased online marketing makes gambling more approachable for young adults and even teenagers. Gambling regulations require advertisements to follow very strict guidelines, but they still may end up attracting young individuals who weren’t even gambling to begin with.
While every gambler is at risk of developing an addiction, certain life circumstances may aggravate that chance. Individuals dealing with a significant and emotionally distressing life event may be at a higher risk of gambling problems, such as a breakup, the death of a loved one, or a serious injury. People who are already prone to poverty and other social stressors may also get involved in gambling, seeking a way out of their financial problems.
How to Detect Problem Gambling: Early Warning Signs
Detecting problem gambling in its early stages is the key to ensuring that you can deal with the problem in the right way. There are several symptoms of a gambling addiction. People should be on the lookout for these symptoms not just in themselves, but also in the people around them. This will allow you to recognize problem gambling in its initial stages, from where you can move towards seeking support and help.
Here is what you need to keep an eye out for:
Obsessing over gambling
This is one of the earliest telltale signs of a gambling addiction. If you hear someone consistently talking about gambling, even reminiscing their older wins again and again, it’s probably a cause for alarm. People on their way to a gambling addiction often abandon all other hobbies and start spending all their time on gambling. When they’re not at the betting table, they’re talking about their next gambling session or reliving a previous one.
Another sign of a gambling obsession is when people start gambling just for the sake of gambling. This means that they don’t care about whether they’re betting on football, playing poker, or spinning a slot machine. All they care about is having something to gamble on. This is why simply removing a person’s consistent source of gambling is not a solution to problem gambling, because they may just find something else to bet on.
Lastly, if a person is obsessed with researching new gambling strategies and consuming gambling content online, this also raises a red flag. In a nutshell, once the majority of a person’s conversations and thoughts start revolving around betting and wagering, it’s time to put a stop to this.
Chasing losses
This is one of the biggest symptoms that someone might be on their way to developing a gambling addiction or has already reached that stage. When gamblers continue betting their money in an attempt to win back what they lost, it’s known as chasing losses. Any smart gambler knows that no such strategy can work on the betting table.
Most gambling outcomes are decided by a random number generator. There is no predetermined formula that could let you know how often and when a win would occur. In table games, people also start talking about the notion that some numbers are ‘due to hit’, but in reality, there’s no such thing.
Instead of obsessing over your losses, know when to walk away from the wagering. The same goes for when people are on a winning streak. Just because you have won the last few rounds does not mean you should continue betting higher and higher amounts of money. Rational gamblers always know when to stop.
Borrowing or even stealing money
Compulsive gamblers tend to blow through their gambling money pretty quickly, which is when they resort to borrowing. The first line of action is always to approach friends and family, but that doesn’t work out for long. As long as your loved ones realize what’s going on, they’ll refuse to lend you any more money.
This is when people start contacting distant acquaintances, such as coworkers or old classmates. Oftentimes, they do end up borrowing some money due to the other person’s courtesy, but even this method doesn’t hold on for too long. If it does, it ends up damaging your relationship with the other person because most of the time, you accumulate a debt that is then impossible to pay back to the other person.
When all doors are closed, compulsive gamblers resort to illegal methods of obtaining money. It may start with stealing petty cash here and there, and eventually lead to more serious crimes like embezzlement, fraud, and forgery.
A report from Gamblers Anonymous noted that almost 80 to 90% of their members had engaged in some type of illegal money accumulation. 63% of individuals had written bad checks, whereas almost 57% had stolen, with 30% stealing from their workplaces. This is dangerous territory because if caught, it could result in suspension or even loss of job entirely.
Ignoring the consequences of their gambling habits
Let’s face it: most adults are capable of recognizing when their gambling has gotten out of hand, but many people tend to be in denial about it. If you see someone continue to gamble even when there are obvious negative consequences on their life, you need to step in with an intervention.
These negative consequences can be financial, personal, social, or even career-related. However, gambling addicts have a hard time putting their addiction aside, despite seeing its obvious results. Some common negative consequences that you may witness in a gambling addict include:
- Destroying their credit score
- Taking out excessive debt
- Not having enough money for basic necessities and bills
- Losing their job
- Damaged relationships with loved ones
- Developing mental or physical illnesses
Any of these consequences is an alarming situation to be in, and if someone cannot let their gambling subside even after these instances occur, they might be addicted to the activity.
Experiencing symptoms of withdrawal
As with any other type of addiction, gambling addicts also incur withdrawal symptoms if they try to quit gambling cold turkey. This might sound strange, because most people associate withdrawal symptoms with a tangible element like alcohol or drugs, but gambling can also stimulate similar feelings.
This is because gambling activities also cause the release of feel-good chemicals like dopamine, activating the brain’s reward center. Over a period of time, the brain can become somewhat dependent on this dopamine release to function properly. Once the source of this dopamine is taken away, the human brain starts experiencing unpleasant symptoms as it would if the source was alcohol or drugs.
The worse a person’s withdrawal symptoms get, the higher their urge to go back to gambling will be. Some common withdrawal symptoms you should look out for include restlessness, irritability, anxiety or panic attacks, loss of appetite, lack of interest in other activities, insomnia, excessive guilt, sudden mood swings, depressive feelings, or even physical symptoms like fatigue and breathing difficulties.
Damaging personal relationships
A common side effect of problem gambling is damaged personal relationships. Gambling addictions can result in an emotional as well as a financial toll on the gambler’s loved ones. Many people end up going through divorces or losing touch with other loved ones, because they’re unable to put their gambling under a check.
According to research, the lifetime divorce rate for pathological gamblers is 53.5%. However, the problem can result in much more serious consequences than just separations. According to one study, 23% of the spouses of pathological gamblers and 17% of their children report going through some form of physical or verbal abuse.
Children of compulsive gamblers are also likely to develop problems such as anger issues and depression, while also becoming more prone to drug or alcohol addiction themselves. This showcases the widespread impact of addiction, as it is never limited to just one individual.
Lying about their gambling habits
Knowing the impact their gambling has on their personal relationships, compulsive gamblers may resort to hiding their betting habits and purposefully lying about them. They might delete their credit card histories, hide their online browsing, and even begin lying about where they are at a given moment.
A huge sign that someone is lying about their gambling habits is if you notice a gambler going through huge sums of money, without having a sound explanation for where the money went. If a compulsive gambler suddenly starts asking you for more money, that may also be a sign that they’re falling into the pits of a gambling addiction.
Breakdown of daily life
Lastly, once your gambling addiction reaches a certain point, it starts giving way to a breakdown of your everyday life. Gambling addicts may struggle with dysfunction in their lives, even leading to serious consequences such as losing their job. People may start neglecting their personal hygiene and surroundings.
Their work or academic performance may start declining. They may struggle in their relationships. They may pull away from everything but their gambling activities. In short, anything that showcases a diversion from their norm or hints at a dysfunctional everyday life can be a sign that their gambling problem is getting worse.
Why is it Important to Detect Problem Gambling Early on?
You do not have to wait for gambling to overtake your entire life before you take action. The same goes for detecting gambling issues in the people around you; do not wait for the issue to reach extreme stages. Looking out for warning signs and recognizing problem gambling in its early stages will allow you to nip the problem in the bud before things get out of hands. Here are all the benefits to noticing a gambling addiction before it gets worse:
- Better treatment outcomes: Early intervention allows the gambling problem to be treated while the symptoms are still manageable. Once the problem gets out of hand, it will take a lot more effort to treat the symptoms, while also preventing a relapse from occurring. Thus, early intervention leads to improved treatment outcomes in many cases.
- Prevention of severe consequences: The worse a person’s gambling habit gets, the worse impacts it will have on other walks of their life. You may start getting into debt, losing your personal relationships, or accumulating financial and emotional distress. If you detect a gambling problem before things get to this stage, you can save yourself a lot of other troubles as well.
- Acquiring a support system: Having a support system is one of the most important elements when it comes to treating a gambling addiction. However, it is important to know that your loved ones aren’t professional therapists and thus, can only offer limited support. Once your gambling addiction reaches its final stage, there won’t be much that your friends and family can do for you. On the other hand, catching the problem early will help you work on it while surrounding yourself with loved ones who are there to support you in every way possible.
- Preventing escalation: People with severe gambling addictions are prone to developing other mental disorders, as well as getting into other types of addictions as well. This extreme escalation can be prevented if gambling problems are recognized early on.
- Reducing healthcare burden: This is a societal consequence but severe addicts require stringent healthcare support, which can often place a heavy burden on healthcare systems, many of which are already stretched too thin. If people seek help for their gambling issues before things get worse, they won’t require as many resources as an addict would.
Types of Gamblers
Gambling addiction doesn’t look the same for every person. In order to understand the condition better and to make amends the right way, one must understand the traits of a person’s gambling issue. Dr. Robert L. Custer is considered one of the pioneers in categorizing various kinds of gambling problems. According to him, a gambler can fall into one of the following six categories.
Before we jump into the distinctions, it is important to note that just because someone fits into one of these subsets does not mean they have a gambling addiction. Sometimes, people may be excessively involved in gambling but may still be able to express an exceptional level of control over their habits.
Thus, in order to identify a gambling issue, it is important to look out for the symptoms and warning signs we have mentioned above. Any sign of those characteristics may give away a person’s lack of discipline with betting. With that being said, let’s take a look at the six categories of gambling, as given by Dr. Custer:
| Type of Gambler | Description |
|---|---|
| The Professional Gambler | This type of gambler is quite rare. The professional gambler refers to individuals who gamble for a living, i.e., who treat betting as their full-time job. While this may sound like the perfect environment for breeding an addiction, these individuals are actually considered low-risk for gambling disorders. This is because they possess extraordinary skills for gambling, including qualities such as patience and control. They know how to anticipate profitable bets and when to stop betting, regardless of their winning streaks. Due to the professional nature of their gambling habits, they are able to bet much more effectively and walk out with profits most of the time. |
| The Antisocial Personality Gambler | This refers to another set of individuals that try to make a living off of gambling, but they happen to have much less control than the professional gamblers. These are people who gamble excessively because of their antisocial personality, and betting accounts for most of their pastime. They may also have a tendency to resort to illegal betting or adopt fraudulent methods to try and win every bet they place, such as using marked dice. This is why they can also be considered aggressive, manipulative, and deceitful. Generally speaking, these people have a personality disorder which leads to their gambling habits. In order to deal with their compulsive gambling, they need to first get help for their personality disorder. |
| The Casual Social Gambler | These are people who treat gambling for what it is: a recreational activity. They usually bet in social settings, using gambling as a way of spending time with other individuals. Sometimes, they may bet just for personal entertainment as well. Because gambling is a casual activity for them, they are able to regulate their gambling habits for the most part. They are usually at low-risk for developing an addiction, as they do not allow gambling to interfere with other aspects of their life, including their financial commitments and personal relationships. Most people know a casual social gambler. Think of your friend who occasionally bets on a football game or buys a lottery ticket. These are people who do not allow gambling to consume their lives in any way. However, if a person with casual gambling experiences a traumatic life event, they may shift to using gambling as a crutch for their emotional distress, which is why it’s important to keep a look out for them. |
| The Serious Social Gambler | The serious social gambler is like the casual gambler, just a bit higher up on the gambling scale. They engage in betting more often than a casual bettor would, maybe even on a daily basis. However, they still haven’t crossed the line into full-blown addiction. For the most part, they manage to keep gambling low on their priority list. Their financial obligations, personal relationships, and social life aren’t affected by their gambling commitments. However, they’re much more likely to get swayed into problem gambling, as compared to a gambler who’s a lot more casual. While there isn’t an exact division between the casual and the serious gambler, and they both gamble mostly in social settings, the biggest giveaway is the amount of time someone spends on the betting table. |
| The Relief and Escape Gambler | This is where we start entering dangerous territory. The relief and escape gambler uses gambling as a coping mechanism for their problems and distressing feelings. This puts them at a high risk for developing an addiction, almost at the verge of problem gambling. People with depression, anxiety, high stress levels, or loneliness may be prone to this type of gambling. Their gambling may get worse on days that they feel especially vulnerable. If any such individual goes through a period of extreme trauma, their gambling habits may turn into a severe disorder. If someone is already using gambling as an escape from their emotions, a specific traumatic incident may make it even worse. This is why one of the most recommended strategies for keeping your gambling in check is to make sure you never gamble in a highly emotional state, be it positive or negative. |
| The Compulsive-Pathological Gambler | The compulsive-pathological has entered the area of gambling addiction. As the name suggests, these are people who have a pathological need for gambling, and who bet compulsively, without any sort of control over their gambling habits. Because of the lack of control, these people are considered to have a pathological disorder. A big indicator of this type of gambling is the connection between these individuals’ self-worth and their gambling. Whether they win or lose a bet will determine how they feel about themselves. These individuals are also aware that they have a gambling problem and thus, tend to feel a lot of guilt over it. Oftentimes, their problem gambling acts as a stepping stone that plunges them into other types of addictions as well. Most of the time, this happens because they are trying to find a way to deal with their gambling guilt. Other times, having one self-destructive behavior makes it seem like it won’t make much of a difference if you acquire another problematic habit as well. |
In a nutshell, compulsive-pathological gamblers are the individuals who require the most urgent help for their gambling disorder. However, the other types of gamblers should also keep their habits in check. Having access to gambling automatically puts you at a risk of developing a problem, which is why it is essential to closely monitor your gambling habits.
How to Deal With the Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
Gambling addiction is a serious problem, but it doesn’t mean all hope is lost. With the right help, people can recover quickly. Recognizing the early warning signs of a gambling addiction is just the first step; the next important thing is to seek help. Diagnosing the problem early on is helpful because it allows you to find help before things get worse. Here is what you should do if you witness signs of problem gambling in yourself or someone around you:
- Take a self-assessment: Organizations such as Gamblers Anonymous have an online self-assessment tool that lets you recognize whether you might have a gambling problem. It’s important to remember that these assessments are not a replacement for professional diagnoses; rather, they’re just the first step in understanding whether you need to seek professional help. Please be honest while undergoing these assessments, so you can be given an accurate picture of what your gambling habits look like.
- Distance yourself from gambling activities: Removing yourself from betting environments is important to work on your bad gambling habits. Try to limit your access to money by methods such as scheduling automatic payments with your bank or using a blocked account. You can also hand over your credit cards to a trustworthy family member. Delete your online betting accounts and remove the apps from your phone. You can also utilize the self-exclusion tools available at online casinos, which will allow you to cut yourself off from these establishments.
- Reach out to loved ones: Surrounding yourself with a support system of understanding, logical, and non-judgmental individuals is very important when it comes to dealing with a gambling addiction. Not only can these people encourage you on your healing journey, but they can also extend a listening ear and be there for you on the bad days. Loved ones can also ground you when they sense a relapse might be about to occur, which is why their presence is very important.
- Join a support group: Having a circle of individuals who understand exactly what you’re going through can work wonders in your recovery. While your loved ones know you as a person, these people will understand what your problem feels like, because they’ve been in your shoes. You could look for a chapter of Gamblers Anonymous in your vicinity. You could also reach out to a professional therapist to ask whether there are any other support groups you could join.
- Find alternative activities: In order to keep your mind off of gambling and to fill all the free time you now have, redirect your energy towards other activities that have nothing to do with betting. If you understand why you were excessively betting in the first place, it can be easier to find an alternative activity. For example, if you like the social element of gambling, you can participate in other activities where you connect with individuals, such as joining a course, participating in a book club, or volunteering. You can even try to spend more time with friends and family.
If you were in it for the adrenaline rush, you can move to a thrilling sport such as rock climbing. If you’re using gambling as an outlet for emotional distress, try seeking therapy for the underlying issues. If you gambled because you were bored or lonely, try finding something else you’re passionate about, such as a different hobby. In summary, you cannot just remove gambling from your everyday life, you also have to find something productive and better to replace it with.
- Seek professional help: It goes without saying that this is a non-negotiable part of dealing with a gambling addiction. While gambling addiction is a scary problem, there are several research-approved and evidence-based therapy approaches that have shown extraordinary results. Addicts also have the option of exploring rehab, or they could just meet with a professional addiction therapist. Even if your gambling problem is in its early stages, connecting with a professional will help you prevent things from getting worse.
- Actively work on preventing a relapse: Once you start incorporating these strategies in your everyday life, you will receive all the tools you need in order to keep a relapse from happening. Spending time with other activities, confiding in loved ones, and seeking professional help - these are all ways of staying away from the gambling board.
- Be patient with yourself: This will prove to be the most important step in your journey to recovery. It is important to understand that problem gambling is an issue that can befall anyone. Do not let yourself drown in feelings of guilt or shame. Acknowledge that there will be high and low days, and you may also get the urge to gamble again. Recovery is not a linear process; it takes time. Be kind to yourself throughout the journey.
Top Resources for Gambling Addicts
If you live in the US, the UK, or in other countries around Europe, chances are that there are several official gambling resources that you can reach out to if need be. Here are just a few options you can explore:
- National Gambling Helplines: This is a number (often free-of-cost) that you can call and ask to be connected to local gambling help resources. The helpline representatives can help you find therapists, local support groups, and other organizations that can help you in your gambling journey. A quick Google search can help you find the gambling helpline number in your country or state.
- Gamblers Anonymous: Most cities around the US and the UK will have a local chapter of Gamblers Anonymous. This is one of the best support groups that you can join if you’re struggling with compulsive gambling.
- Mental Health Professionals: Receiving one-on-one help with an expert is one of the best ways of dealing with your gambling addiction. Many cities have an online directory that lets you find local therapists and mental health professionals. Try looking for someone who has an expertise in dealing with addiction patients.
Conclusion
Gambling addiction poses a serious threat to anyone who’s struggling with the problem. However, catching the problem early on and seeking help can prove to be quite beneficial in the long-term. It keeps the issue from getting out of hand and allows you to recover properly. If you’re someone who gambles frequently or is surrounded by gamblers, it is essential to know what warning signs you should look out for and where you can seek help for a gambling addiction. At the end of the day, gambling is an activity meant for entertainment, and it should be kept that way.
