The notion of gambling addiction, also known as compulsive gambling, describes an uncontrollable urge to make bets. Our experts decided to take the time to explain this phenomenon, its adverse effects on different facets of life, how people can stop this behavior, and where they can find quality help.
Compulsive gambling causes people to bet uncontrollably. According to psychologists, players slowly lose control of their regular habits and let addiction consume their lives. It works similarly to alcohol, drug, and nicotine abuse, with its main traits being:
If someone asks themselves how to stop gambling, it's a sign they have a problem. Don’t stall or look for excuses. The sooner they deal with it, the better.
There are several ways this phenomenon affects people:
| Emotional | The emotions caused by gambling can lead to distress. Players stress about losing money but are compelled to spend more, which may lead to constant anxiety and depressive episodes. |
|---|---|
| Financial | Gambling addicts often find it challenging to pay bills, deal with debts, and limit their credit card use. Online gambling causes them to chase losses, hope for big wins, and spend more than they can afford. |
| Health | People struggling with this addiction experience headaches, high blood pressure, and loss of sleep. Sometimes, the constant stress results in serious heart problems. |
| Legal | Excessive gambling can result in theft and fraud to support betting habits. People who do this get arrested, fined, and even jailed for their actions, which can lead to legal problems later in their lives. |
| Interpersonal | Many addicts lie to their spouses or gamble in secret, causing problems in their relationships. In some cases, addicts end up separating from or even divorcing their partners. |
| Social | Obsessive players often isolate themselves from friends and family, which can make them lonely. As they become isolated and distant, betting on casino games slowly replaces social interactions. |
| Performative | Due to its distracting and time-consuming nature, compulsive gambling often makes people perform worse academically and professionally. Addiction causes such individuals to lose their jobs or fail classes. |
Obsessive gamblers often don’t know where to start their recovery journey. Our experts want to offer some anti-gambling help and have compiled this list of simple steps.
Identify the problem
The first step is to recognize that an individual has a problem gambling too much. This allows gamblers to assess the financial, social, and health effects of excessive betting, making recovery easier.
Self-ban from gambling platforms
After recognizing the severity of their condition, such individuals should self-exclude themselves from favorite casinos. We would strongly recommend using the app and web blockers on all devices to reduce the chances of relapse.
Establish gambling triggers
While their online environment doesn’t remind them of gambling, recovering addicts must identify the triggers that drive them to make bets. In some cases, such individuals use it as stress relief and need to stop gambling and find healthy alternatives.
Restrict access to funds
The next step involves limiting access to finances, such as giving credit cards to friends and family members. Recovering gamblers must also set daily withdrawal limits so that they don’t spend too much on making bets.
Deal with the underlying issues
Gambling is often a means to deal with a deeper issue. By identifying what drives them to make bets, addicts have a better chance of getting rid of their habit.
We understand that self-limitation isn’t for everyone, and many need additional help and support. There are several places they can contact to receive quality care and improve their chances of recovery.
If obsessive players don’t wish to go online to visit these places in fear they’ll immediately open a casino website, they can always find help by calling one of the many gambling helplines in Australia. Here are several places they can contact:
We wholeheartedly support responsible gambling, but when things get out of hand, people should immediately ask for help and seek treatment. This is the only way to deal with the effects of obsessive betting and getting the person’s life back on track.
To follow all of the steps of recovery and find support among family, friends, and behavioral experts. It’s essential to take the journey one day at a time.
Yes, it’s considered a sin in many religions, such as Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism, due to its association with addiction and greed.
It’s possible to help an individual with this problem through support and words of encouragement. Sometimes, this requires help from support groups and medical professionals.