Gambling addiction is characterised by having a constant urge to gamble, despite the negative consequences it brings to your life. It is believed that it may reflect a diagnosis of impulse control disorder, where you have trouble regulating your emotions and behaviour, resulting in a lack of control from acting on impulses.

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It can be completely out of character and irrational, especially as debt begins to mount. While you can get lucky and make money from time to time, ultimately, the lucrative industry which is designed to win, always does. It can become a vicious circle, as you place hasty and increasingly risky bets to recover money, but only end up with greater losses.

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The amount gambled will often be much more than other people are prepared to lose, and more risk is taken, often feeling the urge to immediately bet anything won.

     

There isn’t one type of gambling in addiction, and it could involve any of the following:

• Online sports betting

• Online casino games

• Betting in a bookmakers

• Betting on slots or quiz machines 

• Betting at a sporting event such as the horse 

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Most people who gamble occasionally do so for fun, aware that they are likely to lose and if they win it is luck. They understand that gambling is a game of chance and are willing to lose whatever they stake.

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Problem gamblers believe that they can predict the outcome of a game and change the game of chance, spending more than they can afford to lose. They believe that a big win will solve all their problems and have a belief that they deserve to win. It transitions from entertainment and starts to take over their life. Gambling becomes an obsession, thinking about how to fund the next bet.

 

There are usually family problems due to arguments, and the deceit that comes with the gambler’s denial.

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