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101 FAQs about online gambling
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Problem Gambling
What is the difference between ordinary gambling and compulsive gambling?
What kinds of people are most susceptible to problem gambling?
How many people are affected by compulsive gambling? (Prevalence)
Are compulsive gamblers more likely to have problems with other forms of addiction?
What is the assessment for pathological gambling?
Are there any treatments for pathological gambling?
What can I do immediately if I have a problem?
What is the difference between ordinary gambling and compulsive gambling?
The overwhelming majority of people who gamble don't have a problem with it. But pathological gambling, often called compulsive gambling, is a mental health disorder. Compulsive gambling becomes all-consuming. It takes over people's lives and it can have a devastating effect.
What kinds of people are most susceptible to problem gambling?
It really does cut across all age categories, all economic, cultural and educational categories. But one of the more vulnerable groups of people are older adults who are dealing with the onset of retirement, with the loss of a loved one, with being lonely. While their gambling may start out as a social activity, they may find themselves doing things they've never done before. For young kids, it's often a matter of peer pressure. They start with what they think is a friendly bet. It's a common part of their everyday language: "I'll bet you," "I dare you."
Research indicates that adolescents are about three times more likely than adults to become problem gamblers. This finding sounds an alarm for the future and indicates a growing need for additional adult and adolescent gambling treatment counselors across the nation.
How many people are affected by compulsive gambling? (Prevalence)
A study by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, the "British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007", found that approximately 0.6% of the adult population had problem gambling issues, the same percentage as in 1999. The highest prevalence of problem gambling was found among those who participated in spread betting (14.7%), fixed odds betting terminals (11.2%) and betting exchanges (9.8%).
Available research seems to indicate that problem gambling is an internal tendency, and that problem gamblers will tend to risk money on whatever game is available, rather than a particular game being available inducing problem gambling in otherwise "normal" individuals. However, research also indicates that problem gamblers tend to risk money on fast-paced games as opposed to ones where the gambler must wait until the next drawing to see results (Lotteries).
Are compulsive gamblers more likely to have problems with other forms of addiction?
It's not uncommon for them to have problems with alcohol or substance abuse. It isn't unusual to find people presenting in alcohol or drug-treatment programs whose primary problem is actually gambling. Or you may see someone who is trying to stop drinking or using drugs and turns to gambling. Either way, they may be substituting one addiction for another. These people have often had a family member with drug, alcohol or gambling problems.
What is the assessment for pathological gambling?
The DSM-IV diagnostic criteria focuses on the psychological motivations underpinning problem gambling and was developed by the American Psychiatric Association. It consists of diagnostic criteria as follows:- Preoccupation. The subject has frequent thoughts about gambling experiences, whether past, future, or fantasy.
- Tolerance. As with a drug tolerance, the subject requires larger or more frequent wagers to experience the same "rush".
- Withdrawal. Restlessness or irritability associated with attempts to cease or reduce gambling.
- Escape. The subject gambles to improve mood or escape problems.
- Chasing. The subject tries to win back gambling losses with more gambling.
- Lying. The subject tries to hide the extent of his or her gambling by lying to family, friends, or therapists.
- Stealing in order to feed their gambling addiction.
- Loss of control. The person has unsuccessfully attempted to reduce gambling.
- Illegal acts. The person has broken the law in order to obtain gambling money or recover gambling losses. This may include acts of theft, embezzlement, fraud, forgery or bad cheques.
- Risked significant relationship. The person gambles despite risking or losing relationship, job, or other significant opportunity.
- Bailout. The person turns to family, friends, or another third party for financial assistance as a result of gambling.
Are there any treatments for compulsive/pathological gambling?
A variety of treatments exist for pathological gambling including counseling, self-help groups, and psychiatric medications. However, no one treatment is considered to be most efficacious and no medications have been approved for the treatment of pathological gambling.
Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is a commonly used treatment for gambling problems. Modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous, GA uses a 12-step model that emphasizes a mutual-support approach. Meetings are free and are held most nights of the week.
One form of counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to reduce symptoms and gambling-related urges. This type of therapy focuses on the identification of gambling-related thought processes, mood and cognitive distortions that increase one’s vulnerability to out-of-control gambling. Additionally, CBT approaches frequently utilize skill-building techniques geared toward relapse prevention, assertiveness and gambling refusal, problem solving and reinforcement of gambling-inconsistent activities and interests.
It's very early in terms of prevalence studies to know for sure. But when an individual does not have to leave home to gamble, it's a problem. When they can do something no one else knows about, it's a problem.
Compulsive gambling does not discriminate based upon age, gender, income, education or ethnicity and anyone can be at risk.
Do I:
Lose time from work or school or experience difficulties in other aspects of your life because of gambling?
Borrow money to pay gambling debts, place bets or solve financial problems?
Hide betting slips, lottery tickets or other signs of gambling from family members, friends or others?
Argue with family members or friends because of gambling?
Gamble as a way to escape personal or professional problems?
Experience difficulty sleeping because of gambling?
Continue to gamble to recover losses from previous bets?
Lie to family members, friends or colleagues about how much I gamble or the amount lost?
Become restless or irritable when trying to cut down, control or stop gambling?
Experience depression or have self-destructive thoughts because of gambling?
What can I do immediately if I have a problem?
Make lists. Figure out what you own, and figure out what you owe. Take what you owe, and put the major debts at the top of the list. Paying off those debts first will reduce the amount of interest that you are charged. Once that is paid off, you can then move on to the next item on the list, and so on.
And then...
Do away with all credit cards. There are no buts, simply get rid of them. Do not roll over balances, ever. Pay them off and get rid of them. Call the credit card companies and tell them to close up the accounts.
