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A recent report shows that around 46% of adults worldwide have engaged in some form of gambling in the previous year. Gambling’s popularity does not mean it’s a harmless pastime. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.2% of adults have gambling disorders. In 2018 the United States made sports betting legal. This created a once in a lifetime scenario and represented the official partnership of sports and gambling.
Sports teams and the regulatory organizations like the NBA have historically opposed any association with gambling. Today every major professional association is connected via advertising to gambling brands. This affects how fans perceive gambling as a natural part of sports.
For a person with a gambling addiction stopping playing can be uncontrollable. The desire is too strong and many individuals continue betting while their personal lives crumble.
On this resource page you will learn how gambling disorders work. You’ll also find resources to stop sports gambling, guidance for helping someone you love and tips to rebuild a life without sports betting.
Understanding Gambling Addiction
What Is a Gambling Addiction?
Gambling disorder is the first behavioral addiction recognized by the American Psychiatric Association.
Gambling addiction develops much like an alcohol addiction or drug addiction. Gambling may initially be a pleasurable experience. However the more you gamble the less enjoyment you feel.
The National Council on Problem Gambling calculates that 50% of Americans have bet on a sporting event in their lives.
According to the World Health Organization it can increase suicide risk by 15 times.
Gambling can disrupt how the brain experiences pleasure so a person will continue playing and chasing that initial rush despite harm to their mental health, finances and relationships.
For some individuals, sports betting is an obsession that captures their thoughts, drains their finances and destroys their families.
Why Sports Betting Is Different From Other Forms of Addiction
Individuals with a sports betting addiction face unique challenges. Here are some of them.
Illusion of Control
People addicted to sports betting believe that prior knowledge of a team’s performance or a player’s stats reduces the risk of losing a bet. This leads them to think they control their betting destiny which results in riskier bets.
The illusion of control may lead people to believe they cannot lose. In reality most sports bettors lose.
The House (Almost) Always Wins
The idea that sports gambling is a valid way of making money is not supported by research. A study by The Edwin L. Cox School of Business found that fewer than 5% of sports gamblers withdrew more money from betting apps than their initial deposit. This makes sense. Like all businesses betting apps depend on profits for survival. Profits for them mean losses for gamblers.
Gambling as a Gaming Form
Sports betting apps resemble online games. Stunning lights, engaging sounds and personalized challenges create immersive experiences and make players feel “in the zone’’ (oblivious to the outside world) which may cause them to spend more time and money gambling.
Gambling’s gamification also shifts how betting is perceived. This makes it appear less harmful than it is. This increases gambling’s appeal to minors who’ve been gaming since childhood.
Widespread Publicity May Promote Gambling
It’s almost impossible to watch a sports game without viewing some form of betting publicity. The presence of gambling advertising may trigger a desire to gamble for individuals battling gambling disorders.
The Personalization of Gambling
Sports betting apps aggressively nudge gamblers to bet. They constantly send odds to players to show them what they are missing or deposit a $100 bonus when users haven’t bet for a while.
These tactics are based on algorithms that study a person’s betting habits. The incentives are highly targeted and may persuade a person to gamble as they exploit a characteristic of many problem gamblers: their difficulties controlling impulses.
The Dangers of Continuous Play
The capacity to play continuously for an indefinite time is one of the largest risk factors for problematic gambling.
Sports betting apps thrive on continuous play. You can bet on almost any sport imaginable. In play betting (like who will score the first point) allows players to place bets on virtually every aspect of a sports match which increases addiction risk the more time they play.
Consequences of Gambling Addictions and Sports Betting
Impact on Families
A study by the International Gambling Studies journal found that for every individual struggling with gambling addiction up to six other people may be negatively impacted.
Sports gamblers spend a lot of time betting which means they spend less time with their loved ones. Even when present they may be absentminded and thinking about gambling. This causes emotional strain on spouses and children.
Disordered gambling has the social connotation of irresponsibility. This label is damaging as gambling is an addiction. Nevertheless it exists and families may suffer because their loved one’s image is associated with deviousness.
Some gamblers’ children must take roles as caregivers and watch their parents’ spending habits or even financially support them.
Gamblers may lose their family’s trust. How they’re perceived may shift. They may be viewed as irresponsible. Lack of trust is a major cause of relationship breakups.
Financial Impacts
Initially a sports gambler may have less disposable income for expenses like traveling or buying a new TV. As addiction progresses their financial resources for activities like dining out with a spouse and other enjoyable experiences may be impacted which generates consequences for their family.
A Lancet study found that when a person spends an additional 10% of their income gambling then their risk of missing a mortgage payment increases by 97%.
As money gets tight gamblers or even family members may turn to side jobs to earn more income. Some gamblers may sell property or get engrossed in debt often behind their families’ backs.
When debt becomes part of the equation then problems escalate. It is not uncommon to stop paying for items like car insurance to pay creditors.
When problems reach a tipping point then gamblers may lack the money to pay for food, housing, a child’s education and other essential items. This may break families apart.
In the long term sports gamblers often face a negative credit history. They may pay on loans for years and create a legacy of money problems that affect future generations.
Signs of Gambling Abuse
Gambling disorders may appear as a hidden addiction because compared to alcohol or drug abuse its first physical symptoms can be less clear.
However there are signs of gambling addiction you can watch for.
- Common gambling addiction symptoms in young people may include problems at school and lose interest in the things they used to love. They may even neglect personal hygiene and social responsibilities due to gambling.
- If you feel the urge to spend more and more money to feel excited when you gamble or if your thoughts are constantly planning your next bet or if you start lying to loved ones to hide your gambling then it may be time to seek gambling addiction help.
The Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen and the Lie Bet are questionnaires you can take to evaluate if you may need support for your gambling.
What Recovery Resources Are Available?
If you believe you may be addicted to gambling then help is available. For instance the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) provides a National Helpline that’s always available at 1.800.662.HELP for addiction and mental health support.
You can also reference our website to find rehab centers near you in the US. At Addictions.com, we’ll help you find the best facility based on your beliefs, circumstances and insurance so you can start a new life.
The National Council on Problem Gambling website offers local support alternatives. It also runs a gambling addiction hotline where specialized counselors will help you find support.
Gamblers Anonymous is a not for profit organization dedicated to helping people recover from gambling addiction. Its website offers a local meeting finder and hotlines to access recovery support in your community.
Ask your pharmacist, doctor or another trusted healthcare professional how to access gambling addiction resources in your area.
Support Systems for Loved Ones
Here are some ideas on how friends and family can support their loved ones in recovery.
Some tips on effective communication and empathy include:
- Avoid judging or blaming them.
- Don’t lecture them without creating a conversation.
- Instead of imposing a course of action you can help them find a solution by working as a team.
- Compassionately tell them how their gambling affects others.
- Be patient.
- Show them how much you care about them.
- Maintain a positive attitude.
Tips to help maintain your relationships include:
- Don´t minimize the problem
- A person with a sports gambling disorder cannot just stop gambling. It’s a psychiatric condition that requires help.
- Borrowing money is not recommended
- Lending money may enable more gambling. You may harm them despite the sincere intention of helping a loved one.
- Gambling as an escape
- Some people gamble to numb themselves to negative emotions so suggesting mental health care is a valuable way to help.
- Gambling as a gratifying activity
- Individuals may gamble seeking a euphoric feeling that transcends monetary rewards and resembles the high that a drug may produce. Suggest professional assistance.
Recognizing the Need for Professional Help
When should someone seek professional help? If you or someone you love feels sports betting negatively affects your life then it’s a good idea to seek gambling recovery support.
Here are some signs that someone may need gambling addiction treatment or intervention.
- You become irritable when you try to reduce or stop your betting.
- You try to recover what you lost by betting more.
- Your life revolves around gambling.
- You keep your gambling secret from your closest friends and family members.
- You wager to escape negative moods or chase euphoric sensations.
- You’re borrowing money, not paying for some things or needing a side job due to gambling.
- Your thoughts are constantly about your next bet.
- The only way to feel the excitement you felt before gambling is by placing increasingly larger bets.
- Gambling affects work or school performance.
- Gambling negatively impacts your relationships.
- Your life is spiraling out of control yet you cannot stop betting.
Success Stories
Here are strategies and support systems that can help people overcome gambling disorders.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps individuals with gambling disorders identify and shift thoughts that may promote excessive betting.
This intervention teaches people to develop problem solving skills and strategies to ward off relapses while equipping them with social skills to rebuild their lives.
CBT is just one form of therapy. Other modalities are also beneficial such as dialectical behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing and rational emotive behavioral therapy.
Support Groups
Groups like Gamblers Anonymous are also helpful for disordered sports gambling.
Local groups offer accountability and the possibility to meet individuals who share a common struggle. They also give you the opportunity to develop coping skills that have worked for others in recovery.
Practical Strategies to Reduce Sports Betting
- Sports betting is not an income stream. Internalize this.
- Apps offer the possibility to set gambling limits. Use them.
- If you believe you cannot control yourself, then apps also let you self-exclude to prevent accessing them.
- Don’t get into debt to gamble. Remember most sports betters lose.
- Avoid drinking alcohol when placing bets.
- Block gambling advertising on social media to avoid temptations.
Self Care Ideas
- Negative moods can trigger gambling. Techniques like mindfulness may help regulate your emotions.
- Stopping sports betting may create an entertainment vacuum in your life. Reconnect with friends, rekindle hobbies and go to the gym. Idleness may precipitate gambling impulses.
- Get physical. Giving up gambling may lead to irritability. Exercise can help your body and mind cope better.
Conclusion
Individuals struggling with gambling addiction may avoid seeking help due to shame and stigma. This doesn’t have to be you.
Seeking help and support is an act of bravery. Recovery will demand the best of you but with a solid plan and realistic expectations overcoming gambling addiction is possible.
A new life is waiting for you, so take the next step.