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Understanding
Gambling
Gambling is simply putting something at stake on the
outcome of an event before it happens. People usually
gamble because they hope to gain something of larger
value. Gambling includes everything from buying a
lottery or a scratch ticket to playing Bingo to betting
on the outcome of a sports event.
What is Problem
Gambling?
Problem gambling is gambling to the extent that it
causes emotional, family, legal, financial or other
problems for the gambler and the people around the
gambler. Problem gambling can get worse over time, and
gambling problems can range from mild to severe.
Any kind of gambling can become a problem to the gambler
and his or her family. Problem gambling includes all
gambling behavior that disrupts or damages the gambler’s
personal life, family, or work/employment. In problem or
compulsive gambling, the gambler’s life is more and more
taken up with gambling, thinking about gambling, and
planning to gamble. Symptoms include a need to bet more
money more frequently. There is also a restlessness and
irritability when the gambler attempts to stop gambling. The gambler
loses more and more control over their gambling and continues
gambling in spite of mounting personal, emotional, and
financial losses. In extreme cases, problem gambling can
result in financial ruin, legal problems, loss of career
and family, or even suicide. For more information on
criteria for gambling problems, see Wager Often- below.
The first step of your journey is to figure out if
you need or want to change. Try to answer the following
questions:
WAGER OFTEN:
A Self-check for problem gambling
Withdrawal.
Do you feel restless or irritable when attempting to reduce or stop
gambling? ( )Yes ( ) No
Affects relationships.
Have you jeopardized or lost a significant relationship,
job, or educational or career opportunity because of
gambling? ( ) Yes ( ) No
Goal is to get even by
chasing losses.
Have you gambled again to break even after losing money
gambling? ( ) Yes ( ) No
Escape.
Have you gambled as a way to escape problems or relieve
a bad mood like helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or
depression? ( ) Yes ( ) No
Rescue.
Have you ever had someone give you money to rescue you
financially? ( ) Yes ( ) No
Outside the law.
Have you ever committed an illegal act, such as forgery,
fraud, theft, or embezzlement to finance gambling? (
)Yes ( ) No
Failure to control.
Have you made repeated unsuccessful efforts to reduce,
control, or stop gambling? ( ) Yes ( ) No
Tolerance.
Do you need to gamble with increasing amounts of money
or to risk more to achieve the desired excitement? ( )
Yes ( ) No
Evades telling the truth.
Have you ever lied to family members, employers,
healthcare providers, or others to conceal the extent of
involvement with gambling? ( ) Yes ( ) No
Needs to think about next
gambling venture.
Is preoccupied with reliving past gambling experiences,
handicapping or planning the next venture, or thinking
of ways to get money with which to gamble? ( ) Yes ( )
No
Distorted Thinking
Common Among Problem and Pathological Gamblers
- The illusion of control is the
belief that one can control or influence random or
unpredictable events, such as picking winning
lottery numbers or controlling the fall of the dice
by how they are thrown.
- Biased evaluation involves
attributing wins to one's special skill or luck,
while losses are blamed on external circumstances.
- The gambler's fallacy is the
misunderstanding of independent probabilities. For
example, if a coin is tossed 10 times resulting in
10 heads, one would think it more likely to get a
tail on the next toss, rather than realizing the
odds of a head or tail is the same for any one toss.
Gambling frequently coexists with
another addictive behavior.
The first step in dealing with a gambling problem
is to admit the possibility of gambling problem
and make an appointment with a counselor for an
assessment of your gambling behavior.
If there is problem gambling behavior, you and the
counselor can then develop a treatment plan that will be
your doorway to a better future.
How the Body Gets
Hooked on Gambling
In the November 1, 2000, issue of Biological
Psychiatry, researchers in Germany demonstrated that
gambling can be just as addictive as drinking or taking
drugs. They found that gambling for money provokes
physical symptoms including increased heart rate and the
release of certain hormones that contribute to an
overall state of arousal and, perhaps, addiction. The
researchers wrote, "Physiological responses to gambling
enhance mood, and winning has the ability to
produce a ‘euphoric’ state."
The research team suggests that the physiological
responses of the study participants while gambling for
money may explain how a person can become addicted to
gambling. The release of hormones provides the gambler
with an elevated mood, excitement, or “rush” that can
be maintained for a number of hours after the gambling
has ceased. This “rush” may well be what keeps
bringing the gambler back for more.
A Chance to Change
offers treatment programs for problem gambling. Call
405-840-9000 for more information or to make an
appointment.
(This program is offered through funding from the
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Services.)
Therapy Can Help
the Families and Friends of Problem Gamblers
Friends and family of a problem gambler can suffer
emotional and financial distress because of a loved
one’s gambling. Therapy can help them improve the
quality of their lives whether or not the gambler they
care about gets help and recovers. The partner and
children of a gambler can regain their self-respect and
composure in spite of the gambling problem. They can
learn to take better care of themselves, to take over
the family’s financial matters, and feel more confident
in making decisions. When a gambler does stop gambling
and enters a period of recovery, his or her family faces
learning how to adjust to a new lifestyle and overcome
some of the bitterness and insecurities of the past.
From: State of Connecticut, Department
of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Gamblers Anonymous
20 Questions
- Did you ever lose time from work or school due
to gambling?
- Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
- Did gambling affect your reputation?
- Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
- Did you ever gamble to get money with which to
pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
- Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition
or efficiency?
- After losing did you feel you must return as
soon as possible and win back your losses?
- After a win did you have a strong urge to return
and win more?
- Did you often gamble until your last dollar was
gone?
- Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
- Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
- Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for
normal expenditures?
- Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of
yourself or your family?
- Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
- Have you ever gambled to escape worry or
trouble?
- Have you ever committed, or considered
committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
- Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in
sleeping?
- Do arguments, disappointments, or frustrations
create within you an urge to gamble?
- Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good
fortune by a few hours of gambling?
- Have you ever considered self destruction or
suicide as a result of your gambling?
Signs Someone You Love
has a Gambling Problem
Signs of Problem Gambling – Unlike alcohol or other drug
abuse where those under the influence may appear
intoxicated or “high”, problem gamblers usually do not
exhibit easily recognizable signs. However, there are
signs that may indicate someone is experiencing a
gambling problem.
According to Gam-Anon, if you answer “YES” to at least
six of the following questions, you may be living with a
person who has a problem with compulsive gambling:
-
Do you find yourself constantly bothered by bill
collectors?
-
Is the person in question often away from home for
long, unexplained periods of time?
-
Does this person ever lose time from work due to
gambling?
-
Do you feel that this person cannot be trusted with
money?
-
Does the person in question faithfully promise that
he or she will stop gambling; beg, plead for another
chance, yet gamble again and again?
-
Does this person ever gamble longer than he or she
intended to, until the last dollar is gone?
-
Does this person immediately return to gambling to
try to recover losses, or to win more?
-
Does this person ever gamble to get money to solve
financial difficulties or have unrealistic expectations
that gambling will bring the family material comfort and
wealth?
-
Does this person borrow money to gamble with or to
pay gambling debts?
-
Has this person's reputation ever suffered due to
gambling, even to the extent of committing illegal acts
to finance gambling?
-
Have you come to the point of hiding money needed
for living expenses, knowing that you and the rest of
the family may go without food and clothing if you do
not?
-
Do you search this person's clothing or go through
his or her wallet when the opportunity presents itself,
or otherwise check on his/her activities?
-
Does the person in question hide his or her money?
-
Have you noticed a personality change in the gambler
as his or her gambling progresses?
-
Does the person in question consistently lie to
cover up or deny his or her gambling activities?
-
Does this person use guilt induction as a method of
shifting responsibilities for his or her gambling upon
you?
-
Do you attempt to anticipate this person's moods, or
try to control his or her life?
-
Does this person ever suffer from remorse or
depression due to gambling, sometimes to the point of
self-destruction?
-
Has the gambling ever brought you to the point of
threatening to break up the family unit?
-
Do you feel that your life together is a nightmare?
From: Massachusetts Council of Problem
Gambling,
www.masscompulsivegambling.org
Resources for
Problem and Compulsive Gambling
Links
Oklahoma Association for Problem and Compulsive
Gambling
www.oapcg.org
Gamblers Anonymous
www.gamblersanonymous.org
Gam-Anon
www.gam-anon.org
National Council on Problem Gambling
www.ncpgambling.org
Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling
www.masscompulsivegambling.org
Your First Step to Change
www.basisonline.org/selfhelp_tools.html
Books
Chin, J. (2000). A way to quit gambling for
problem gamblers. Lincoln, NE: Writers Showcase.
Custer, R. L., & Milt, H. (1985). When luck runs out:
Help for compulsive gamblers and their families. New
York: Warner Books.
Berman, L., & Siegel, M. E. (1998). Behind the
8-ball: A guide for families and gamblers. New York:
Kaleidoscope Software, Inc.
Blaszczynski, A. (1998). Overcoming compulsive
gambling: A self-help guide using cognitive behavioral
techniques. London: Robinson Publishing Ltd.
Federman, E. J., Drebing, C. E., & Krebs, C. (2000).
Don't leave it to chance. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger
Publications, Inc.
Heineman, M. (1992). Losing your shirt.
Minneapolis, MN: Comp Care Publishers.
Horvath, T. A. (1998). Sex, drugs, gambling, &
chocolate: A workbook for overcoming addictions. San
Louis Obispo, CA: Impact Publishers, Inc.
Booklets
National Endowment for Financial Education. (2000).
Personal financial strategies for the loved ones of
problem gamblers. (booklet). Denver, CO: Author.
(This booklet can be ordered through the National
Council on Problem Gambling at 1-202-547-9204.)
Svendsen, R., & Griffin, T. (1998). Gambling: Choices
and guidelines. (booklet). Anoka, MN: Minnesota
Institute of Public Health. (This booklet can be ordered
through The Gambling Problem Resource Center at the
Minnesota Institute of Public Health at 1-800-782-1878.)
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