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This explains some of the problems with gambling

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Anyone who gets caught up in the downward spiral of problem gambling finds only too soon that the negative impact on his or her life can be devastating. Finding money to gamble is usually the most immediate and obvious issue which brings with it enough problems, but in addition an all consuming compulsion to gamble at any cost leads to difficulties which affect employment, quality of life, family relationships and mental and physical health.

And of course, problem gambling doesn't just affect the individual. It's estimated that for every problem gambler at least 10 other family members, friends and colleagues are also directly affected.The negative impact on wider society is only just beginning to be recognised and an analysis of those problem gamblers in the Gordon Moody Association residential treatment programme during 2012 and 2013 gives the following insights:

Financial cost

The amounts gambled away varied between £5,000 and £3m. Of those gambling in the range £10,000 - £50,000, 59 people claimed to have gambled away a total amount of £1,225,194 with an average amount of £20,766 gambled per person.

Even for those with a job this is a sizeable amount to have to find on top of living expenses and, since the majority were unemployed (65% in 2013, 78% in 2012), all this gambling money had to be funded from other sources - borrowing from family and friends, high street money lenders, pawnshops and loan sharks.

Many Gordon Moody Association residents also report that families remortgage their houses and go into debt themselves in order to try and help sort out the problems of their loved one.

Many problem gamblers get into huge debt and often resort to illegal activities to fund their addiction including stealing from their loved ones and their employers as well as turning to other illegal ways of making money to gamble.

Those who are unable to cope with their debts may choose or be forced into bankruptcy and society then carries the rest of the debt. If court costs are involved this adds to the total financial cost.

Those who are unemployed and unable to work due to their addiction are surviving on state benefits which at the very minimum amount to £57.35 per week (Jobseekers Allowance) and may amount to a great deal more. Assuming six months unemployment and at the basic rate of benefit this is an additional cost of £1,491 per person for 18 - 24s and £1,882 for adults who are 25+.

Criminality

If a problem gambler turns to crime then police time, court costs, probation services and prison services and other support services need to be factored into the cost to society. The average annual overall cost of a prison place in England and Wales for the financial year 2011-12 was £37,649 (NOMS).

Health services

Whilst problem gambling has not until recently been identified officially as a health issue and little or no funding is currently available for treatment from the NHS, health services are often involved as many problem gamblers develop physical and mental health issues as a result of stress and anxiety and the effects of other risk taking behaviours.

The effects on children

Sadly many family relationships breakdown as a result of problem gambling and children are the innocent victims not only because of the emotional distress created within the home but also often the loss of contact with their parent who leaves and the poverty which can result because of the behaviour of the problem gambler.

With this in mind it is clear to see that the issues and costs associated with any problem gambler can extend far beyond the basic financial cost and helping the recovery of one individual will have a much wider positive social impact.

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Anyone who gets caught up in the downward spiral of problem gambling finds only too soon that the negative impact on his or her life can be devastating.

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explains the problems that come with gambling

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more about the problems that come with gambling

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RESULTS

The initial medline search yielded 781 citations. Citations that were listed as addresses, bibliographies, biographies, classical articles, dictionaries, directories, duplicate publications, editorials, festschrifts, historical articles, interviews, lectures, legal cases, letters, news, periodical indices, published errata, or retracted publications were excluded, leaving 712 citations. MeSH and textword searches for "screening" (MeSH ="Mass screening"), "treatment" (MeSH ="Therapeutics"), and "health" were used in medline and combined in a "Boolean Or" and subsequently combined in a "Boolean And" to limit the set of medline citations to 227. All eligible citations were appraised by 2 co-authors (MNP and DAF) to identify those related to health status, screening, and treatment, and 127 publications were selected for further review.

Gambling and Suicide

High rates of suicidal tendencies have been reported in clinical populations of pathological gamblers, with estimates of attempted suicide in the range of 17% to 24%. Few structured investigations have directly investigated an association between gambling and suicide. One study reported that cities with established casinos have 2-fold (Atlantic City) or 4-fold (Las Vegas) the expected rates of completed suicide for cities of similar demographic composition. Available data were consistent with an increase from the expected rates following the introduction of casinos (data only available for Atlantic City). However, the interpretation of the data has been challenged, particularly given complexities of making population-based estimates in cities with high rates of noninhabitant visitation. The St. Louis ECA study found no association between problem/pathological gambling and suicidal tendencies in the general population, and a controlled pilot study of Marines found a negative correlation between a history of gambling participation and attempted or completed suicide., Taking the data together, the relationship between different levels and types of gambling and suicidal thoughts and behaviors is at present incompletely understood and warrants further investigation.

Gambling and Social Well-Being

Research has been performed to investigate the relationship between problem and pathological gambling and general measures of social well-being. Recently, the National Opinion Research Center surveyed 2,417 adults and an additional 530 adult gambling venue patrons to determine the gambling-related attitudes and behaviors of U.S. citizens. In addition to high rates of mental health problems and poor general health, high rates of job loss, divorce, bankruptcy, arrest, and incarceration were found to be associated with problem and pathological gambling. For example, rates of past-year job loss were higher in both problem and pathological gamblers (10.8% and 13.8%, respectively) than in low-risk or nongamblers (5.8% and 5.5%, respectively). Rates of divorce were 39.5% and 53.5% in problem and pathological gamblers, respectively, as compared with 29.8% in low-risk gamblers and 18.2% in nongamblers. Rates of having filed for bankruptcy were 10.3% and 19.2% in problem and pathological gamblers, respectively, and 5.5% and 4.2% in low-risk gamblers and nongamblers, respectively. Rates of arrest and incarceration, respectively, were 32.3% and 21.4% in pathological gamblers, 36.3% and 10.4% in problem gamblers, 11.1% and 3.7% in low-risk gamblers, and 4.5% and 0.4% in nongamblers. The cost of problem and pathological gambling to the United States was $5 billion annually, with approximately one third of the costs attributable to criminal justice costs. Individual lifetime impact costs were estimated at $10,550 for pathological gamblers and $5,130 for problem gamblers, respectively. These costs to society likely underestimate the true costs. For example, the costs attributed to the increased divorce rates were calculated as the associated legal fee estimates and did not take into account impact on spouse, children, and others affected through the divorce. Despite the widespread prevalence of gambling, systematic studies have not yet investigated directly over time the beneficial and detrimental effects associated with different levels of gambling behaviors. More research is needed to specify the nature of the relationships (e.g., cause and effect, timecourse) between different levels of gambling and measures of social well-being.

Gambling and Health: Casino Gambling and Cardiac Arrest

Casino gambling is a widespread activity. It is estimated that 29% of the general adult U.S. population has gambled at a casino within the last year, and this rate represents an approximately 3-fold increase from that of 10% in 1975. Despite the high rate, few investigations have systematically studied potential morbidity and mortality associated with casino gambling. One investigation found high rates of second-hand smoke exposure in nonsmoking casino employees. Given the high rates of tobacco smoking in casino employees and nicotine dependence in recreational and problem and pathological gamblers, further investigation is warranted into the potential for tobacco-related health risks in casinos and other gambling venues. A review by the Chief Medical Examiner of 398 casino-related deaths in Atlantic City from 1982 to 1986 found 83% to be sudden cardiac deaths. Although the authors concluded that "gambling-related activities can be hazardous to one's health, especially among elderly cardiac patients,", the extent to which the finding represents an elevation in risk for cardiac arrest remains to be investigated directly. However, given that the use of on-site automated external defibrillators in casinos was found to enhance survival rates following cardiac arrest, the data suggest routine use of these devices at casinos should be considered.

Gambling and Health: Stress as a Moderating Factor

A recent study suggests a biological mechanism for cardiac arrests in casinos, one due to physiological changes produced by sustained stress during gambling. Sustained stress and hypertension are generally accepted risk factors for cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death., Significant, persistent (over hours) increases in salivary cortisol and heart rate have been reported in habitual male gamblers during casino blackjack gambling. Other investigations have similarly observed stress-related alterations related to gambling: 1) autonomic arousal and immune system changes (alterations in T-cells and natural killer cells) in habitual male pachinko players during gaming; 2) higher levels of noradrenergic metabolites in males with pathological gambling,; and 3) higher epinephrine and cortisol levels and blood pressure differences approaching statistical significance on days in which gambling behavior was concentrated. These data raise the possibility that stress associated with gambling contributes to high rates of poor mental and physical health reported by individuals with problem or pathological gambling and cardiac arrests in casinos. Further studies are warranted to investigate directly the relationship between stress and specific physical and mental health problems in different populations of gamblers.

Interventions for Problem and Pathological Gamblers: Self-help

Although unstructured studies suggest comparable outcomes for gambling and substance use treatment programs, few controlled trials have been performed to identify safe and effective treatments for pathological gambling. Gamblers Anonymous (GA), founded in 1957, represents historically the most widely-available form of help accessible for individuals with gambling problems. Based on the 12-step philosophy originally used in Alcoholics Anonymous, GA has chapters throughout the world and can be accessed by telephone (1-800-266-1908) or internet ( http://www.gamblersanonymous.org). Although GA has been helpful by report of many participants, a structured investigation found that only 8% of individuals entering GA were attending at 1 year, with the majority discontinuing after 1 or 2 meetings. These results, which are similar to those from outcome studies of 12-step programs for individuals with substance use disorders, indicate that additional interventions will likely be needed to optimize outcome. In addition to self-help groups for problem and pathological gamblers, similar options are available for friends, family members, or others affected by people with gambling problems through Gamanon (1-718-352-1671 or http://gamblersanonymous.org/gamanon).

Interventions for Problem and Pathological Gamblers: Behavioral Therapies

Structured behavioral therapies for the treatment of pathological gambling are beginning to be examined. Imaginal desensitization, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational enhancement have been shown to be effective in small- to moderate-sized controlled trials. ⁻ Several of these trials document improvement sustained in the groups receiving the therapies for prolonged periods following treatment intervention; e.g., pathological gamblers receiving cognitive behavioral therapy showing gains 6 and 12 months following intervention and those receiving motivational enhancement gains at 3 and 6 months. ⁻ Despite these encouraging results, the general applicability of these techniques awaits the completion of larger-scale, controlled trials, some of which are currently underway. As structured, empirically-validated behavioral treatments emerge and become incorporated into professional mental health care treatment settings, a role for primary care physicians in identifying individuals with gambling problems and referring them for treatment will become increasingly important. Presently, information regarding professional treatment options (e.g., for certified gambling counselors) can be obtained in the United States through the National Council on Problem Gambling's gambling helpline (1-800-522-4700) or website ( http://www.ncpgambling.org).

Interventions for Problem and Pathological Gamblers: Pharmacotherapies

There do not exist currently any medications that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of pathological gambling. Over the past several years, small- to moderate-sized, randomized, short-term, placebo-controlled, and, with the exception of one study, flexible-dosing clinical trials have been performed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of specific pharmacotherapies in the treatment of pathological gambling ()., Of the medications tested, 2 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; fluvoxamine and paroxetine), a μ-opioid antagonist (naltrexone), and a mood stabilizer (lithium) have been demonstrated to be superior to placebo in the short-term treatment of individuals with pathological gambling. Of these, the SSRIs and naltrexone trials excluded individuals with significant co-occurring mental health/substance use disorders (excluding nicotine dependence) and improvement in gambling symptomatology and overall clinical status was observed in the absence of significant changes in measures of mood and anxiety. ⁻ A trial of lithium included only bipolar spectrum subjects with pathological gambling, exclusive of psychotic disorders, and improvement was observed in measures of gambling, mania, and general clinical status. A placebo-controlled trial of the atypical antipsychotic drug olanzapine in the treatment of video poker pathological gamblers did not demonstrate improved efficacy over placebo, although differences in between-group measures of gambling severity at the onset of the trial complicate interpretations.

Table 2

With regard to pharmacological treatments, several important observations deserve mention. First, as with other treatment trials with other subject groups, a placebo effect has been observed, highlighting the importance of monitoring for gambling-related thoughts and behaviors over time following treatment initiation and limiting the interpretation of open-label studies., Second, the doses of SSRIs found to be effective were higher than those generally used to treat major depression and similar to those used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. Third, the doses of naltrexone were higher than those used to treat alcohol or opiate dependence and, in conjunction with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, were found to be associated with high rates of liver function test abnormalities. Fourth, since many individuals with comorbid mental health/substance use disorders were excluded from the drug treatment trials with the SSRIs, naltrexone, and, to some extent, lithium, the extent to which specific pharmacotherapies are helpful for patients who present with pathological gambling and a co-occurring mental health/substance use disorder remains to be more fully determined. Although the initial results of the short-term, randomized, placebo-controlled drug treatment trials with SSRIs, naltrexone, and lithium appear promising, more data, particularly from large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled, prospective studies, are needed to determine more precisely the utility of specific drugs in the treatment of pathological gambling.

Gambling Assessment and Referral in a Primary Care Setting

Relatively few studies have surveyed primary care physicians and other health care affiliates to examine their attitudes, behaviors, and perceived needs in the area of gambling disorders. A survey of 180 health care providers (nurses, physicians, social workers, and other allied health professionals) found 96% reporting knowledge of problem and pathological gambling but only 30% inquiring about gambling problems when a patient presents with stress-related symptoms. A separate structured study collected data from Canadian directors of health ministries, medical school officials, and experts in the area of substance use and gambling disorders to examine office resource needs. Lack of awareness, knowledge, education, and training in the area of pathological gambling was cited as the most important challenge or barrier confronting physicians, and indicated a need for enhanced physician training in substance use and gambling disorders during all levels of medical training, including through Continuing Medical Education courses.

Although relatively few studies have investigated problem and pathological gambling in primary care settings, those that have done so report relatively high rates (e.g., 6.2% in a family medicine setting). Patients have reported a desire to have a general practitioner broach with them the topic of gambling behaviors, including problem or pathological gambling. General practitioners have generally reported a willingness to intervene in this area, although they also frequently reported not having the expertise to do so., Referrals to self-help or professional treatment and following up with patients regarding gambling-related behaviors and treatment could be of therapeutic benefit, as well as referrals for family members possibly affected by a loved one's gambling. However, more research in family and internal medicine settings is warranted to investigate the direct clinical benefit of such interventions.

Although it appears premature to develop guidelines regarding the precise role for generalist physicians in prevention and treatment efforts related to problem and pathological gambling, it is likely that generalists will encounter individuals with gambling problems in their provision of clinical care. As such, efficient screening methods for problematic gambling behaviors would help minimize potential burden. Identification efforts could be assisted by the availability of valid and reliable brief-screening instruments such as the CAGE for alcohol use disorders, and the need for such an instrument was identified in a resource assessment study. Brief screening instruments for problem and pathological gambling are in the stages of development and testing. One instrument, the Lie-Bet Questionnaire, is a 2-question screen that was derived from the 10 inclusionary diagnostic criteria items for pathological gambling and found in 2 studies to have high specificity (85% and 91%) and sensitivity (100% and 99%) in groups enriched for pathological gambling., The 2 questions found to distinguish individuals with pathological gambling from those without were: 1) "Have you ever had the need to gamble more and more money," and 2) "Have you ever had to lie to people important to you about how much you gambled." The extent to which the Lie-Bet questionnaire might efficiently screen for problem and pathological gamblers in general mental health and primary care settings requires more direct examination. Another instrument (the EIGHT [Early Intervention Gambling Health Test]; see also www.cgs.co.nz) () was specifically designed for use in a primary care setting. The EIGHT begins with a statement to help define which behaviors constitute gambling and progresses to inquire if patients have felt bad (depressed or guilty) about their gambling, withheld from friends or families information about the extent (monetary or temporal duration) of their gambling, encountered criticism about their gambling, experienced financial problems due to their gambling, or felt that they might have a problem with gambling. The EIGHT has been shown in preliminary studies in treatment and forensic settings to have high rates of sensitivity and specificity with respect to more lengthy, standardized screening instruments for problem and pathological gambling, e.g., the South Oaks Gambling Screen., Specifically, in a study of 798 general practitioner patients, the EIGHT was found to have sensitivities of 83% and 75%, specificities of 92% and 95%, and positive predictive values of 38% and 53% for 3-point and 4-point cutoff values, respectively (S. Sullivan, PhD, written communication, January 23, 2001). Further studies are needed to examine the generalizability of these initial findings and determine the utility of the EIGHT in specific primary care settings.

Table 3

Most people enjoy gambling, whether it's Lotto, track racing, or at the casino. Sometimes, however, it can affect our health. To help us to check your health, please answer the questions below as truthfully as you are able from your own experience.

Efforts employed by generalist physicians in the prevention and treatment of problem and pathological gambling could involve the regular assessment of patients' gambling histories, sensitive broaching of the topic of the possible existence of gambling problems with those patients suspected of engaging problematically in gambling, thoughtful motivating of individuals with gambling problems to seek treatment, and appropriate referring and monitoring of gambling-related treatment (see Appendix A). Clinicians should be aware of the high rates of problem and pathological gambling in specific groups; e.g., males, adolescents, and individuals with histories of incarceration or psychiatric (including substance use) disorders. Given the high rates of comorbidity between gambling and other psychiatric disorders, screening of individuals with problem or pathological gambling for other psychiatric disorders (and vice versa) could help in improving diagnosis and providing better treatment recommendations. Additionally, although gambling problems are more prevalent in men than women, clinicians should be cognizant of gender-related differences; e.g., women generally beginning to gamble and developing problems with gambling later in life, and developing problems more frequently with nonstrategic, machine-based forms of gambling such as casino slots.,

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Gambling: An Addictive Behavior with Health and Primary Care Implications

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Over the past several decades, and particularly during the last 10 to 15 years, there has been a rapid increase in the accessibility of legalized gambling in the United States and other parts of the world. Few studies have systematically explored the ...

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5 article 
shows how some people do need help 

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5 article 
shows how some people do need help 

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How to Stop Gambling and Regain Control of Your Life
It can happen to anyone from any walk of life: Your gambling goes from a fun, harmless diversion to an unhealthy obsession with serious consequences. Whether you bet on sports, scratch cards, roulette, poker, or slots-in a casino, at the track, or online-a gambling problem can strain your relationships, interfere with work, and lead to financial disaster. You may even do things you never thought you would, like running up huge debts or even stealing money to gamble. Although it can feel like you're unable to stop, there are plenty of things you can do to overcome a gambling problem, repair your relationships and finances, and finally regain control of your life.
What is gambling addiction and problem gambling?

Gambling addiction-also known as- pathological gambling, compulsive gambling or gambling disorder -is an impulse-control disorder. If you're a compulsive gambler, you can't control the impulse to gamble, even when it has negative consequences for you or your loved ones. You'll gamble whether you're up or down, broke or flush, and you'll keep gambling regardless of the consequences-even when you know that the odds are against you or you can't afford to lose.

Of course, you can also have a gambling problem without being totally out of control. Problem gambling is any gambling behavior that disrupts your life. If you're preoccupied with gambling, spending more and more time and money on it, chasing losses, or gambling despite serious consequences in your life, you have a gambling problem.

A gambling addiction or problem is often associated with other behavior or mood disorders. Many problem gamblers also suffer with substance abuse issues, unmanaged ADHD, stress, depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. To overcome your gambling problems, you'll also need to address these and any other underlying causes as well. The first step is to separate the myths from the facts about gambling problems:

Myths & Facts about Gambling Problems

Myth: You have to gamble every day to be a problem gambler.
Fact: A problem gambler may gamble frequently or infrequently. Gambling is a problem if it causes problems.

Myth: Problem gambling is not really a problem if the gambler can afford it.
Fact: Problems caused by excessive gambling are not just financial. Too much time spent on gambling can also lead to relationship and legal problems, job loss, mental health problems including depression and anxiety, and even suicide.

Myth: Having a gambling problem is just a case of being weak-willed, irresponsible, or unintelligent.
Fact: Gambling problems affect people of all levels of intelligence and all backgrounds. Previously responsible and strong-willed people are just as likely to develop a gambling problem as anyone else.

Myth: Partners of problem gamblers often drive their loved ones to gamble.
Fact: Problem gamblers often try to rationalize their behavior. Blaming others is one way to avoid taking responsibility for their actions, including what is needed to overcome the problem.

Myth: If a problem gambler builds up a debt, you should help them take care of it.
Fact: Quick fix solutions may appear to be the right thing to do. However, bailing the gambler out of debt may actually make matters worse by enabling their gambling problems to continue.

Gambling addiction signs and symptoms

Gambling addiction is sometimes referred to as a "hidden illness" because there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms like there are in drug or alcohol addiction. Problem gamblers also typically deny or minimize the problem-even to themselves. However, you may have a gambling problem if you:

Feel the need to be secretive about your gambling. You might gamble in secret or lie about how much you gamble, feeling others won't understand or that you will surprise them with a big win.

Have trouble controlling your gambling. Once you start gambling, can you walk away? Or are you compelled to gamble until you've spent your last dollar, upping your bets in a bid to win lost money back?

Gamble even when you don't have the money. You may gamble until you've spent your last dollar, and then move on to money you don't have-money to pay bills, credit cards, or things for your children. You may feel pushed to borrow, sell, or even steal things for gambling money.

Have family and friends worried about you. Denial keeps problem gambling going. If friends and family are worried, listen to them carefully. It's not a sign of weakness to ask for help. Many older gamblers are reluctant to reach out to their adult children if they've gambled away their inheritance, but it's never too late to make changes for the better.

Self-help for gambling problems

The biggest step to overcoming a gambling addiction is realizing that you have a problem. It takes tremendous strength and courage to own up to this, especially if you have lost a lot of money and strained or broken relationships along the way. Don't despair, and don't try to go it alone. Many others have been in your shoes and have been able to break the habit and rebuild their lives. You can, too.

Learn to relieve unpleasant feelings in healthier ways. Do you gamble when you're lonely or bored? Or after a stressful day at work or following an argument with your spouse? Gambling may be a way to self-soothe unpleasant emotions, unwind, or socialize. But there are healthier and more effective ways of managing your moods and relieving boredom, such as exercising, spending time with friends who don't gamble, taking up new hobbies, or practicing relaxation techniques.

Strengthen your support network. It's tough to battle any addiction without support, so reach out to friends and family. If your support network is limited, there are ways to make new friends without relying on visiting casinos or gambling online. Try reaching out to colleagues at work, joining a sports team or book club, enrolling in an education class, or volunteering for a good cause.

Join a peer support group. Gamblers Anonymous, for example, is a twelve-step recovery program patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous. A key part of the program is finding a sponsor, a former gambler who has experience remaining free from addiction and can provide you invaluable guidance and support.

Seek help for underlying mood disorders. Depression, stress, substance abuse, or anxiety can both trigger gambling problems and be made worse by compulsive gambling. Even when gambling is no longer a part of your life, these problems will still remain, so it's important to address them.

How to stop gambling for good

For many problem gamblers, it's not quitting gambling that's the biggest challenge, but rather staying in recovery-making a permanent commitment to stay away from gambling. The Internet has made gambling far more accessible and, therefore, harder for recovering addicts to avoid relapse. Online casinos and bookmakers are open all day, every day for anyone with a smartphone or access to a computer. But maintaining recovery from gambling addiction or problem gambling is still possible if you surround yourself with people to whom you're accountable, avoid tempting environments and websites, give up control of your finances (at least at first), and find healthier activities to replace gambling in your life.

Making healthier choices

One way to stop gambling is to remove the elements necessary for gambling to occur in your life and replace them with healthier choices. The four elements needed for gambling to continue are:

A decision: For gambling to happen, you need to make the decision to gamble. If you have an urge: stop what you are doing and call someone, think about the consequences to your actions, tell yourself to stop thinking about gambling, and find something else to do immediately.

Money: Gambling cannot occur without money. Get rid of your credit cards, let someone else be in charge of your money, have the bank make automatic payments for you, close online betting accounts, and keep only a limited amount of cash on you.

Time: Even online gambling cannot occur if you don't have the time. Schedule enjoyable recreational time for yourself that has nothing to do with gambling. If you're gambling on your smartphone, find other ways to fill the quiet moments during your day.

A game: Without a game or activity to bet on there is no opportunity to gamble. Don't put yourself in tempting environments. Tell gambling establishments you frequent that you have a gambling problem and ask them to restrict you from entering. Remove gambling apps and block gambling sites on your smartphone and computer.

Finding alternatives to gambling

Maintaining recovery from gambling addiction depends a lot on finding alternative behaviors you can substitute for gambling. Some examples include:

Reason for gambling

Sample substitute behaviors

To provide excitement, get a rush of adrenaline

Sport or a challenging hobby, such as mountain biking, rock climbing, or Go Kart racing

To be more social, overcome shyness or isolation

Counseling, enroll in a public speaking class, join a social group, connect with family and friends, volunteer, find new friends

To numb unpleasant feelings, not think about problems

Try therapy or use HelpGuide's free Emotional Intelligence toolkit

Boredom or loneliness

Find something you're passionate about such as art, music, sports, or books and then find others with the same interests

To relax after a stressful day

As little as 15 minutes of daily exercise can relieve stress. Or deep breathing, meditation, or massage

To solve money problems

The odds are always stacked against you so it's far better to seek help with debts from a credit counselor

Dealing with gambling cravings

Feeling the urge to gamble is normal, but as you build healthier choices and a strong support network, resisting cravings will become easier. When a gambling craving strikes:

Avoid isolation. Call a trusted family member, meet a friend for coffee, or go to a Gamblers Anonymous meeting.

Postpone gambling. Tell yourself that you'll wait 5 minutes, fifteen minutes, or an hour. As you wait, the urge to gamble may pass or become weak enough to resist.

Visualize what will happen if you give in to the urge to gamble. Think about how you'll feel after all your money is gone and you've disappointed yourself and your family again.

Distract yourself with another activity, such as going to the gym, watching a movie, or practicing a relaxation exercise for gambling cravings.

Coping with lapses

If you aren't able to resist the gambling craving, don't be too hard on yourself or use it as an excuse to give up. Overcoming a gambling addiction is a tough process. You may slip from time to time; the important thing is to learn from your mistakes and continue working towards recovery.

Gambling addiction treatment

Overcoming a gambling problem is never easy and seeking professional treatment doesn't mean that you're weak in some way or can't handle your problems. But it's important to remember that every gambler is unique so you need a recovery program tailored specifically to your needs and situation. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional about different treatment options, including:

Inpatient or residential treatment and rehab programs. These are aimed at those with severe gambling addiction who are unable to avoid gambling without round-the-clock support.

Treatment for underlying conditions contributing to your compulsive gambling, including substance abuse or mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, OCD, or ADHD. This could include therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. Problem gambling can sometimes be a symptom of bipolar disorder, so your doctor or therapist may need to rule this out before making a diagnosis.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy. CBT for gambling addiction focuses on changing unhealthy gambling behaviors and thoughts, such as rationalizations and false beliefs. It can also teach you how to fight gambling urges and solve financial, work, and relationship problems caused by problem gambling. Therapy can provide you with the tools for coping with your addiction that will last a lifetime.

Family therapy and marriage, career, and credit counseling. These can help you work through the specific issues that have been created by your problem gambling and lay the foundation for repairing your relationships and finances.

How to help someone stop gambling

If your loved one has a gambling problem, you likely have many conflicting emotions. You may have spent a lot of time and energy trying to keep your loved one from gambling or having to cover for them. At the same time, you might be furious at your loved one for gambling again and tired of trying to keep up the charade. Your loved one may have borrowed or even stolen money with no way to pay it back. They may have sold family possessions or run up huge debts on joint credit cards.

While compulsive and problem gamblers need the support of their family and friends to help them in their struggle to stop gambling, the decision to quit has to be theirs. As much as you may want to, and as hard as it is seeing the effects, you cannot make someone stop gambling. However, you can encourage them to seek help, support them in their efforts, protect yourself, and take any talk of suicide seriously.

Preventing suicide in problem gamblers

When faced with the consequences of their actions, problem gamblers can suffer a crushing drop in self-esteem. This is one reason why there is a high rate of suicide among compulsive gamblers. If you suspect your loved one is feeling suicidal, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the U.S. at 1-800-273-8255 or visit Befrienders Worldwide to find a suicide helpline in your country.

Four tips for family members:

1. Start by helping yourself. You have a right to protect yourself emotionally and financially. Don't blame yourself for the gambler's problems or let his or her addiction dominate your life. Ignoring your own needs can be a recipe for burnout.

2. Don't go it alone. It can feel so overwhelming coping with a loved one's gambling addiction that it may seem easier to rationalize their requests "this one last time." Or you might feel ashamed, feeling like you are the only one who has problems like this. Reaching out for support will make you realize that many families have struggled with this problem.

3. Set boundaries in managing money. To ensure the gambler stays accountable and to prevent relapse, consider taking over the family finances. However, this does not mean you are responsible for micromanaging the problem gambler's impulses to gamble. Your first responsibilities are to ensure that your own finances and credit are not at risk.

4. Consider how you will handle requests for money. Problem gamblers often become very good at asking for money, either directly or indirectly. They may use pleading, manipulation, or even threats to get it. It takes practice to ensure you are not enabling your loved one's gambling addiction.

Do's and Don'ts for partners of problem gamblers

Seek the support of others with similar problems; attend a self-help group for families such as Gam-Anon

Explain problem gambling to the children

Recognize your partner's good qualities

Remain calm when speaking to your partner about their gambling and its consequences

Let your partner know that you are seeking help for your own sake because of the way gambling affects you and the family

Understand the need for treatment of problem gambling despite the time it may involve

Take control of family finances; review bank and credit card statements

Preach, lecture, or allow yourself to lose control of your anger

Make threats or issue ultimatums unless you intend to carry them out

Exclude the gambler from family life and activities

Expect immediate recovery, or that all problems will be resolved when the gambling stops

Bail out the gambler

Cover-up or deny the existence of the problem to yourself, the family, or others

Source: Dept. of Health & Addiction Services

Authors: Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., Melinda Smith, M.A., and Lawrence Robinson. Last updated: November 2018.

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Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling How to Stop Gambling and Regain Control of Your Life It can happen to anyone from any walk of life: Your gambling goes from a fun, harmless diversion to an unhealthy obsession with serious consequences. Whether you bet on sports,

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Gives their opinion and list so we information about gambling

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Shows how much money could be spent in just one game/turn/round

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An addict's view on gambling

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Department of Social Services, Australian Government

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What an addicts brain looks like

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Inside the brain of a gambling addict - BBC News

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Shows how people "throw" their money away