Compulsive gambling is a chronic and progressive disease, much like alcoholism or drug addiction. It’s hard to detect and difficult to treat because you can’t take away the “drug of choice” – money. People whose gambling always has predetermined and acceptable limits are at low risk of becoming compulsive gamblers. Gambling can include buying lottery tickets, playing cards, playing in casinos, playing slot machines, betting on sports events, betting on games (e.g., pool, golf, bowling, video or arcade games, and many other activities). But compulsive gambling is a progressive behavior disorder in which the person has a psychologically uncontrollable preoccupation and urge to gamble. This results in excessive gambling, with loss of productive time and money. Unless treated, the gambling will compromise, disrupt, and then destroy the gambler’s personal life, relationships, school and vocational pursuits. “Problem gambling” is an early stage of the disease, characterized by personal and relationship problems. “Compulsive gambling” is the advanced stage and involves behavior that is out of control.
Stages of Compulsive Gambling:
1. Winning Stage (one to three years): Gambling wins enhance ego and self-image. Losses are rationalized as temporary. The gambler feels intense excitement and feels like a winner.
2. Losing Stage: Losses outweigh wins. The gambler begins to chase losses to get even. He or she will borrow money and sell possessions to get money, believing that losses can be won back.
3. Desperation Stage: Compulsive gamblers are out of control and think only about gambling, which takes priority over work, school, family, etc. Several debts will pile up. Personality changes and severe mood swings may occur. Crimes may be committed to get more money. A future without gambling can’t be seen. Suicide may be considered as a way out.
Signs of Gambling Problems:
q Increasing the frequency and the amount of money gambled
q Spending excessive amounts of time gambling at the expense of job, school or relationships.
q Being preoccupied with gambling and getting the money for it.
q Gambling creates a special, intense pleasure, an aroused sense of being in “action”.
q Continuing to gamble despite negative consequences like large losses, school, work or personal problems caused by gambling.
q Gambling as a way to deal with loneliness, anger, stress, depression, etc.
q Gambling with larger bets, or taking greater risks, in order to make up for a loss or numerous losses.
q Borrowing money, taking out secret loans, maximizing credit cards.
q Bragging about wins, but not losses.
q Frequent mood swings, higher when winning, lower when losing.
q Gambling for longer time periods or betting more money than planned.
q Secretive behavior such as hiding lottery tickets, having bills sent to another address, etc.
According to Gambling Solutions one in 25 adults has a gambling problem and one at eight college students has a gambling problem. If several of the above signs sound familiar, you may want to discuss your concerns further with a counselor. Assisting someone else to get some help is often the most caring action anyone can take. Listen to your instincts – if you think there is a problem, chances are there is one.
Resources:
Maine Gamblers Anonymous Hotline: 773-7867
National Gambling Help Line: 1-800-522-4700
gamblersanonymous.org
ncpgambling.org
Sources for this article:
www.campusblues.com
www.utexas.edu
www.counseling.swt.edu
Gambling Problems Resource Center, St. Paul, MN.