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It has never before been so easy to place a bet, as now we have access to quality gambling and betting services from our smartphones. But this poses a significant risk if it gets out of hand, especially among younger men and adolescent boys who are more prone to the inherent risks of gambling and betting. Here, we break down the main risks of gambling, and we share a guide on how to recognize the behavior that leads to potential gambling issues. Below, you will find contacts to the most essential globally available gambling helplines and learn how you can go about helping someone who is struggling with gambling addiction.
- Excessive gambling can pose a significant risk, as it can bring financial, mental, and physical problems.
- Gambling disorders can cause too much stress, which can ruin your life and family.
- Keeping track of your spending and only gambling in moderate amounts is essential for not falling into the trap of gambling addiction.
- If you note that you have a gambling problem, seek help from mental health professionals and adequate support groups.
Main Risks of Gambling
Trouble arises when things get out of control, as there are severe risks of gambling that can have detrimental effects on all aspects of life. A post published by Yale Medicine covers this at length; here we list the prime dangers of gambling that indicate that you or someone close to you is on the road to gambling addiction.
Financial Issues
Perhaps the most obvious risk of excessive gambling is financial loss. Often, when people struggle with gambling, they tend to gamble beyond their means. It involves placing larger and riskier bets, often with money they can’t afford to lose. It is related to poor bankroll management and poor financial decisions, like borrowing money from family or friends that they use for gambling, and not taking responsibility for their financial ruin. In more extreme cases, people may even turn to illegal activities to continue to gamble, which, again, leads to poor financial decisions and going into significant debt because of excessive gambling.
Physical Health Issues
A common issue that compulsive and excessive gambling brings is physical health issues. When a person gets addicted to gambling, they experience stress, and stress has a cumulative effect on the body. It can mean frequent headaches, bowel/digestive issues, loss of appetite or excessive appetite, weight loss or weight gain, sleep disorders, and overall lack of personal hygiene and self-care. People who are struggling with gambling problems can often, but not always, look more disheveled, malnourished, and in overall poor health.
Mental Illness & Suicide
Continual stress due to gambling problems leads to mental health issues. Chronic stress is a cause of anxiety, depression, feelings of despair, and a significant blow to self-esteem. It also leads to an increase in substance abuse, like excessive alcohol consumption or the use of narcotics. It is common for people who have a gambling problem to resort to smoking if they’ve not smoked before, start drinking alcohol in excess, or even begin abusing drugs. In some cases, mental health problems can be more severe and even lead to suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide. It is a serious issue that one must address with haste.
Familial Breakdown
Gambling addiction not only affects one person; it is a problem that has a more profound effect on a broader community. When a person is having trouble with gambling or excessive sports betting, they are more likely to neglect their responsibilities towards their family and friends. It also causes strain on relationships and brings a substantial emotional toll on the spouse and children. In many cases, where one spouse is dealing with gambling problems, this can lead to broken trust, financial instability, family breakdowns, and divorce. Plus, it affects children, as there is a significant lack of parental support, emotional support, and even forgoing the basic needs of children, which leads to emotional damage, struggles, and long-term trauma.
Crime and Violence
A significant risk of gambling is the increase in crime and violence. Many people who are directly affected by gambling addiction may resort to fraud, embezzlement, or other criminal activities as a desperate act to fuel this addiction. It puts a significant strain on society as a whole, as well as on local communities. But there is the risk of increased violent behavior that gambling addicts may express. The violent behavior may be aimed towards the closest family members, such as the spouse or children, or it can be aimed towards others, which leads to the person causing distress in the community.
Recognizing Risky Gambling Behavior
Gambling affects every person differently, which is why there is no size-fits-all guide. Still, there are signs that you can look for that indicate that a person is experiencing issues with gambling or is becoming a gambling addict. A post from the American Psychiatric Association explains this at length, and here we list some of the symptoms of gambling addiction:
- Lying – lying is one of the key symptoms of people who struggle with gambling, as excessive gambling leads to feelings of shame, which is why many keep this a secret. However, it often leads to more significant problems like stealing, forgoing responsibilities towards the family and the workplace, and changes in social life.
- Risky behavior, anxiety, or depression – unusual changes in behavior and increased anxiety or sudden depression may mean that the person is having trouble controlling their gambling. Another sign is engaging in risky behavior that is unusual for the person and engaging in conflicts, especially about money.
- Mood changes – if you start to experience mood swings when gambling is brought up, it can be a symptom that something is not correct. Other changes that may arise are anxious feelings, restlessness, bouts of anger, depressing thoughts, changes in sleeping or eating habits, and similar symptoms.
- Impulsivity and sensation seeking – it includes seeking novel, high-intensity experiences that can bring forth the dopamine rush that is also associated with a gambling win. These are usually people who get quickly bored and dislike routines, so while this may be pretty normal for some, in many people, it is directly related to their struggles with gambling. More frequent impulsive decisions are directly linked to gambling disorders.
- Substance abuse – for many, gambling may be an escape from reality, but when problems arise there, these people may resort to other coping mechanisms, and substance abuse is the top one. It means more frequent alcohol consumption and increased cigarette smoking or drug use.
Gambling Addiction Help
If you feel like your gambling or sports betting is becoming a problem that affects your life, then you should stop immediately. The first and most challenging step is to admit you have a problem, and the next step is to seek appropriate help. We have a complete guide on gambling addiction, and here are some of the treatments that help people with gambling disorders:
✅ Counseling and Psychotherapy
Counseling and several psychotherapy programs are the initial steps for tackling gambling disorders. The most studied and most-used one is cognitive behavioral therapy, which involves talking to the person dealing with gambling problems and seeking ways to modify the risky behavior, such as:
- Correcting the preconceived rationalizations one may have about gambling and finding healthy ways of channeling the energy
- Help in the development of valuable skills that one can use to solve problems and learn to control the urges to gamble
- Developing social skills can help the individual gain new friends, have meaningful interactions with people, and not fall into the trap of finding solace in gambling.
✅ Support Groups
The support groups are a form of group therapy for people who are undergoing similar problems and want to find help and support to overcome their gambling addiction. These can be 12-step programs like Gamblers Anonymous, where the participants go to meetings to share their experiences and offer mutual support while abstaining from gambling. Other support groups provide support for the entire family of the person who struggles with gambling. Still, please keep in mind that these are not a substitute for professional psychological help.
✅ Medication
There is no commercial medication that a doctor can prescribe to a person who struggles with gambling addiction. However, there is medication to help with the accompanying conditions, like help with anxiety and depression. Some drug companies work on specific medicines that show promising results in helping people with gambling disorders, but these still need to be sufficiently studied.
✅ Gambling Addiction Helplines
Recognizing that you have a problem is the first step towards solving it, and the next step is to seek professional help. We advise you to seek help from your healthcare or mental health professional. However, several globally available services provide help and support to people struggling with gambling addiction:
| Helpline | Contact | |
|---|---|---|
| Gamblers Anonymous | GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS is a globally available fellowship of men and women who share their experiences, strengths, and hopes with each other so that they may solve their common problems and help others recover from gambling problems. | Phone: (909) 931-9056 Address: GA International Service Office1306 Monte Vista Avenue, Suite 5, Upland, CA 91786 USA |
| National Council on Problem Gambling | The National Council on Problem Gambling is a US-based service that provides a range of resources, including answers to commonly asked questions, a gambling behavior self-assessment, information about treatment, and the National Problem Gambling Helpline to help connect you with local resources. | Phone: (800) 426-2537 Address: National Council on Problem Gambling 730 11th Street NW, Suite 601, Washington, D.C. 20001 |
| Gambling Therapy | Gambling Therapy is a global service offered by Gordon Moody, and it provides free practical advice and emotional support to anyone affected by gambling. | Email: [email protected] |
FAQs
What Are Some Adverse Effects of Gambling?
Gambling can bring immense excitement and pleasure, but when done in excess, it has adverse effects. These include changes in mood and behavior, increased stress, feeling helpless, increased alcohol and drug use, anxiety, depression, eating and sleeping disorders, increased violence, financial problems, lying, and family problems.
Does Gambling Affect My Brain?
Gambling affects the pleasure centers in the brain, especially those that target dopamine production, which is nicely explained in a post in the APA’s Monitor of Psychology in July 2023. So, every time we win, a portion of dopamine gets released, making us feel good, and when we lose, we are deprived of this dopamine rush that increases stress levels and brings anxiety and behavioral changes.
What Are The Riskier Types of Gambling?
Some forms of gambling are less risky than others, and based on the conclusions of several studies, like one published in BMC Public Health in May of 2020, electronic and online gambling machines, and some table games are far more dangerous than large traditional lotteries. The level of involvement also plays a role here, so people who gamble more often are exposed to a greater risk of developing gambling problems than people who gamble less often.
How Can I Be Safe When Gambling?
You can be safe when gambling when you establish a proper gambling budget and stick to it, and when you practice responsible gambling techniques. These involve gambling only with money you can afford to lose and never spending above your limit. Maintaining discipline when gambling or betting online is also essential.
Is Gambling Addiction Worse Than Drug Addiction?
Both gambling addiction and drug addiction are complex problems that have severe consequences, which are well explained in a post by the American Psychiatric Association. Both of these adversely affect the brain and the reward system, and both involve mental and physical health. Drug addiction brings more physical health issues and can lead to physical dependency; gambling addiction affects the family, financial loss, debt, and even legal problems.
Do Gamblers Stop Gambling?
Generally speaking, compulsive gamblers tend to develop gambling addiction and have trouble stopping. However, with enough therapy and support, a person can stop gambling. Still, unfortunately, this is often related to a severe problem like the foreclosure of a home, wasting an entire savings account, or, in some cases, even with legal intervention.
Can You Help Someone With a Gambling Addiction?
You can help someone with a gambling problem, but this effort takes a lot of patience, determination, and open communication. It is also a test of a relationship, as many obsessive gamblers may resort to breaking the ties before they admit they have a problem and need help. The best way to do this is to encourage the person who struggles with a gambling disorder to seek professional help.
How Much Gambling Is Too Much?
If you note that you are losing more money than you can afford and you are spending the money you need for essential expenses, then it is time to take action. Also, suppose gambling is taking too much of your time and is causing stress, anxiety, depression, and it starts impacting your everyday life and relationships. In that case, it is time to reconsider your choices. Lastly, if you’ve tried to cut back your gambling habit but find that you can’t stop, this is a clear sign that it is time to think things through.
