Gambling Addiction

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What is Gambling Addiction?

Gambling addiction or gambling disorder is defined as persistent and recurring problematic gambling behavior that causes distress and impairs your overall livelihood. Gambling addiction affects an estimated 3 to 5% of the general U.S. population, and tends to affect males more than females, though this gender gap has narrowed in recent years.

Gambling disorder is a brain disease that can cause you to do things you wouldn’t normally do. Behavioral addictions like gambling disorder are often difficult to manage and control without getting professional help. The desire to buy scratch tickets, play slot machines, and visit casinos isn’t necessarily signs of gambling addiction. But when the desire to gamble becomes overwhelming to the point you can’t stop thinking about it, it’s likely a sign you may need help.

Addiction treatment centers can help you overcome gambling addiction and teach you important skills aimed at helping you repair the damage gambling has done to your life.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Gambling Addiction?

There are no physical health symptoms associated with a gambling disorder. Familiarizing yourself with common gambling addiction behaviors can clue you into whether you or a loved one may need professional help.

Chasing after losses is the most common tell-tale sign of a gambling disorder. This particular symptom is marked by the urgent need to continue gambling to earn back a loss or series of losses. Individuals diagnosed with gambling disorder may abandon their usual gambling strategies to win back all losses at once and may lie to family, friends and therapists to hide the severity of their addiction.

The following behaviors are also potential signs of gambling addiction:

Needing to gamble using increasing amounts of money to achieve the desired rush and excitement.
Feeling restless or irritable when trying to reduce or stop gambling.
Inability to control, reduce, or quit gambling despite numerous repeated attempts.
Preoccupation with gambling, such as devising ways to get more gambling money and reliving past gambling experiences.
Gambling when experiencing feelings of distress, helplessness, guilt, anxiety and depression.
Chasing after your losses to get even after losing money gambling.
Lying to conceal the severity of gambling behaviors and the addiction.
Loss of personal relationships, job and educational pursuits due to gambling.
Relying on others to provide money to resolve financial situations caused by gambling, such as a threat of eviction from the home.

Those with a mild gambling addiction may exhibit between four and five of these behaviors, while those with a moderately severe gambling addiction may exhibit six to seven of these behaviors. People who suffer from severe gambling addiction will usually exhibit all nine behaviors.

You might have a gambling problem if:

You feel compelled to keep gambling until you’ve spent your last dollar. You may keep bidding until you’ve spent everything to win your money back, or you continue increasing bet amounts.
You hide your gambling from friends or family members. You may sneak off to gamble without telling anyone or lie about your gambling activities.
You spend money you don’t have on gambling. You may use money intended for important bills like rent, mortgage, car payments, credit card bills and other expenses for gambling.
You steal from others or sell your possessions so you can gamble. You may steal money or belongings from others so you can gamble, or sell or pawn valuable possessions like musical instruments and vehicles to obtain more gambling money.
You prioritize gambling over obligations related to work, school and family. You may stop going to work or school so you can gamble, or stop buying household necessities so you can use the money for gambling instead.
You’re experiencing financial hardships due to gambling. You may have lost your home, car, job and important personal possessions due to gambling.
You’re facing a range of negative emotions triggered by gambling. Gambling may be a serious problem in your life if it’s triggering depression, anxiety, frustration, agitation and remorse.
You want to stop gambling but can’t. You have tried to stop gambling but can’t seem to stop despite your desire to do better and to stop gambling.

Negative Effects of Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction can produce many more negative effects than just financial hardship. Gambling disorder can affect your physical health, mental health and social functioning.

As well, it can lead to the loss of important relationships with friends and loved ones. You may also suffer a decline in work or school performance, and feel more restless and bored with all other areas of life that don’t involve gambling.

Those who suffer from gambling addiction tend to suffer from higher rates of poor general health than those who don’t gamble. Tachycardia and angina are common health problems among those diagnosed with gambling addiction.

Many who suffer from a gambling disorder also tend to experience distortions in thinking surrounding their addiction, such as superstitions, overconfidence, and a sense of power over the outcome of chance events.

Nearly 50% of those receiving treatment for gambling disorder experience suicidal ideation, while an estimated 17% have tried to commit suicide.

The negative effects of problem gambling include:

Financial problems, including high debt, poverty or bankruptcy
Domestic violence and child abuse in families
Suicidal thoughts, attempts or the act of suicide
Legal troubles, including arrests for theft or prostitution
Behavior problems in children of problem gamblers
Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders
Loss of relationships with friends and family
A decline in performance at work or school
A risk for drug or alcohol abuse

How Does Gambling Addiction Interact with Addiction?

Alcohol and cocaine are the two most common substances associated with gambling and binge gambling, respectively. Cocaine use tends to be common among gamblers because it produces stimulating effects such as increased energy, alertness, focus, concentration and confidence, which can be beneficial when gambling for long periods.

Alcohol is legally available in most gambling settings, such as bars and casinos, and is often given to gamblers for free at many of these establishments. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 50% of people with a gambling disorder in the U.S. also suffer from an alcohol use disorder.

Individuals with gambling disorders tend to suffer higher rates of co-occurring alcohol and drug use disorders compared to their peers. Gambling can also trigger mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, which many may self-treat using alcohol and drugs like marijuana, painkillers and other addictive substances.

How Are Gambling Addiction and Substance Use Treated?

Gambling addiction is commonly treated using cognitive and behavioral therapies that address the root psychological causes of your addiction. These therapies also help you identify and change negative, unhealthy thoughts and behaviors that may have led to your gambling addiction.

Gambling addiction can also be addressed using community reinforcement, group therapy and 12-step support groups like Gamblers Anonymous. These programs help you identify the triggers that can lead to gambling and teach you ways to overcome and manage them.