Gambling Addiction

Gambling Addiction, also referred to as Problem Gambling, is gambling behaviour that’s undertaken, despite the negative impact it may have on your life. In this guide, we’re going to talk in detail about what gambling addiction is and the major signs of a potential addiction to gambling. We’ll also explore how you can stay in control of your betting, along with details of support organisations that can help if you’re at risk of developing an addiction.

Gambling Addiction - What it is

Gambling addiction can be seen as a mental health problem. An addiction can be described as an inability to stop particular behaviour, even when it causes hurt, pain and other issues in everyday life.

A gambling addiction can have a severe impact on your life, as well as those around you. There are different types of bettors, all of whom might be at risk of developing an addiction. For example, there are bettors who have an uncontrollable urge to gamble, despite potentially dire consequences. Others might be classed as binge bettors, where they might go a reasonable amount of time without gambling but struggle with the urge to do so often, leading them to place a huge number of bets in a short space of time.

Gambling addiction can happen to anyone at any time. Throughout this guide we’ll examine the major signs of addiction, but it’s important to note that you should seek advice for your gambling habits, even if they’re not yet causing any issue in your everyday life.

An addiction to gambling might occur for many different reasons. Biological factors and social factors could all play a part in a developing addiction.

What are the signs of Gambling Addiction

Judging whether you and someone close to you has a gambling addiction can be difficult. The main definition of a gambling addiction is if it has a huge negative impact on your life. For example, if you or someone else is spending time gambling and disregarding work commitments or time with family. Or, you or someone else is spending money gambling that they can’t afford, neglecting bills, rent or other payments. If gambling is having an impact on your life in a negative way, no matter how big or small the impact, this could point to a potential addiction.

Let’s look at some of the signs that a gambling addiction might be developing or have developed. Any or all of the following signs might indicate a potential addiction.

Spending more time gambling

It can be really easy, especially when you bet online, to spend a huge amount of time gambling without realising how much time has elapsed. Take note of how long you’ve been logged into your account and placing bets. If you’re spending more time betting, in the process neglecting other areas of your life, this might mean an issue. Most betting sites across the globe allow their users to set Reality Check limits, which will notify you each hour (or whichever time frame you select) of how long you’ve been betting or playing.

Spending more money gambling

It’s incredibly important that you only bet what you can comfortably afford to lose. If you find that you’re spending funds on gambling that were allocated for something else, such as rent or food bills, this might point to an issue. Think about setting deposit, loss and wager limits - these are Responsible Gambling tools that most betting sites all over the world provide. Choose an amount, one that you’re comfortable losing, and the operator won’t allow any deposits, losses or stakes that go beyond this figure to be processed.

Chasing Losses

It can be incredibly frustrating when you lose a bet, especially if you lose a few consecutively. There is a temptation to place further bets in the hope of recouping some or all of those losses. This can be a dangerous thing to do - it’s rare that you can win all of your losses back on one last bet. Always have a figure in mind of how much you can afford to lose before you place your bets, and never go beyond this amount. Setting up deposit, loss or wager limits, as we saw earlier, can help here.

Relationship Breakdowns

If you’re experiencing issues with family, friends or work colleagues because of your gambling, this might indicate a potential gambling addiction. Placing bets, whether they ultimately win or lose, can cause anxiety, stress or guilt and therefore make you more irritable or experience feelings of sadness and depression. If your gambling habits are causing issues with the people in your life, this might indicate a possible addiction.

Lying about Gambling Habits

Following on from the above section, lying about or trying to hide your gambling behaviour might point to a potential addiction.

What can I do if I think I have a gambling addiction?

If any of the following applies to you, you might be in danger of developing a gambling addiction:

We also recommend that you contact your betting site. They offer functions such as Time Out, where you can self-exclude from your account for a typical period of between 1 week and 6 months. There’s also a Self-Exclusion option, which can block access to your account from between 6 months and 5 years. You can also permanently self-exclude.

As well as the above, there are other avenues which can help. Therapy, counselling, group support and medical treatment are all possible ways that can support you.