Have I Got A Gambling Problem

• Signs and symptoms of a gambling problem include: getting a thrill from taking gambling risks, taking increasingly bigger gambling risks over time, a preoccupation with gambling, reliving past gambling experiences (through imagination or telling stories), using gambling as a way to escape problems or negative feelings, feeling guilt or remorse.
• Your loved one will probably have tried to hide the size of the problem from you, while they have at the same time borrowed or stolen to pay off debts. If, with the help of the 10 questions above, you can see that gambling is a problem for someone in your family, it's best to be honest with him or her about it.

1. I Got A Gambling Problem
2. Have I Got A Gambling Problem Involving
3. Have I Got A Gambling Problem Solving

Are you or a loved one dealing with a gambling problem? Explore the warning signs and symptoms and learn how to stop.

What is gambling addiction and problem gambling?

Gambling problems can happen to anyone from any walk of life. Your gambling goes from a fun, harmless diversion to an unhealthy obsession with serious consequences. Whether you bet on sports, scratch cards, roulette, poker, or slots—in a casino, at the track, or online—a gambling problem can strain your relationships, interfere with work, and lead to financial disaster. You may even do things you never thought you would, like running up huge debts or even stealing money to gamble.

Problem gambling is not just about the loss of money, but how it can affect a person’s whole life. Feeling a constant urge to gamble even when you are already in a difficult financial situation, or gambling as a way out of financial difficulty are both common symptoms of a gambling addiction. I have a terrible gambling addiction. My family is getting close to being fed up with my gambling problem. They're concerned that I'm just gonna completely implode when I'm gambling. I don't have to worry or think about all my problems. I just told them that I'm going to the casino. I don't think they're happy if I win, I am usually I'm like.

Gambling addiction—also known as pathological gambling, compulsive gambling or gambling disorder—is an impulse-control disorder. If you’re a compulsive gambler, you can’t control the impulse to gamble, even when it has negative consequences for you or your loved ones. You’ll gamble whether you’re up or down, broke or flush, and you’ll keep gambling regardless of the consequences—even when you know that the odds are against you or you can’t afford to lose.

Of course, you can also have a gambling problem without being totally out of control. Problem gambling is any gambling behavior that disrupts your life. If you’re preoccupied with gambling, spending more and more time and money on it, chasing losses, or gambling despite serious consequences in your life, you have a gambling problem.

A gambling addiction or problem is often associated with other behavior or mood disorders. Many problem gamblers also suffer with substance abuse issues, unmanaged ADHD, stress, depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. To overcome your gambling problems, you’ll also need to address these and any other underlying causes as well.

Although it may feel like you’re powerless to stop gambling, there are plenty of things you can do to overcome the problem, repair your relationships and finances, and finally regain control of your life.
The first step is to separate the myths from the facts about gambling problems:

Gambling addiction signs and symptoms

Gambling addiction is sometimes referred to as a “hidden illness” because there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms like there are in drug or alcohol addiction. Problem gamblers also typically deny or minimize the problem—even to themselves. However, you may have a gambling problem if you:

Feel the need to be secretive about your gambling. You might gamble in secret or lie about how much you gamble, feeling others won’t understand or that you will surprise them with a big win.

Have trouble controlling your gambling. Once you start gambling, can you walk away? Or are you compelled to gamble until you’ve spent your last dollar, upping your bets in a bid to win lost money back?

Gamble even when you don’t have the money. You may gamble until you’ve spent your last dollar, and then move on to money you don’t have—money to pay bills, credit cards, or things for your children. You may feel pushed to borrow, sell, or even steal things for gambling money.

Have family and friends worried about you. Denial keeps problem gambling going. If friends and family are worried, listen to them carefully. It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help. Many older gamblers are reluctant to reach out to their adult children if they’ve gambled away their inheritance, but it’s never too late to make changes for the better.

Self-help for gambling problems

The biggest step to overcoming a gambling addiction is realizing that you have a problem. It takes tremendous strength and courage to own up to this, especially if you have lost a lot of money and strained or broken relationships along the way. Don’t despair, and don’t try to go it alone. Many others have been in your shoes and have been able to break the habit and rebuild their lives. You can, too.

Learn to relieve unpleasant feelings in healthier ways. Do you gamble when you’re lonely or bored? Or after a stressful day at work or following an argument with your spouse? Gambling may be a way to self-soothe unpleasant emotions, unwind, or socialize. But there are healthier and more effective ways of managing your moods and relieving boredom, such as exercising, spending time with friends who don’t gamble, taking up new hobbies, or practicing relaxation techniques.

Strengthen your support network. It’s tough to battle any addiction without support, so reach out to friends and family. If your support network is limited, there are ways to make new friends without relying on visiting casinos or gambling online. Try reaching out to colleagues at work, joining a sports team or book club, enrolling in an education class, or volunteering for a good cause.

Join a peer support group. Gamblers Anonymous, for example, is a 12-step recovery program patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous. A key part of the program is finding a sponsor, a former gambler who has experience remaining free from addiction and can provide you invaluable guidance and support.

Seek help for underlying mood disorders.Depression, stress, substance abuse, or anxiety can both trigger gambling problems and be made worse by compulsive gambling. Even when gambling is no longer a part of your life, these problems will still remain, so it’s important to address them.

How to stop gambling for good

For many problem gamblers, it’s not quitting gambling that’s the biggest challenge, but rather staying in recovery—making a permanent commitment to stay away from gambling. The Internet has made gambling far more accessible and, therefore, harder for recovering addicts to avoid relapse. Online casinos and bookmakers are open all day, every day for anyone with a smartphone or access to a computer. But maintaining recovery from gambling addiction or problem gambling is still possible if you surround yourself with people to whom you’re accountable, avoid tempting environments and websites, give up control of your finances (at least at first), and find healthier activities to replace gambling in your life.

Making healthier choices

One way to stop gambling is to remove the elements necessary for gambling to occur in your life and replace them with healthier choices. The four elements needed for gambling to continue are:

A decision: For gambling to happen, you need to make the decision to gamble. If you have an urge: stop what you are doing and call someone, think about the consequences to your actions, tell yourself to stop thinking about gambling, and find something else to do immediately.

Money: Gambling cannot occur without money. Get rid of your credit cards, let someone else be in charge of your money, have the bank make automatic payments for you, close online betting accounts, and keep only a limited amount of cash on you.

Time: Even online gambling cannot occur if you don’t have the time. Schedule enjoyable recreational time for yourself that has nothing to do with gambling. If you’re gambling on your smartphone, find other ways to fill the quiet moments during your day.

A game: Without a game or activity to bet on there is no opportunity to gamble. Don’t put yourself in tempting environments. Tell gambling establishments you frequent that you have a gambling problem and ask them to restrict you from entering. Remove gambling apps and block gambling sites on your smartphone and computer.

Finding alternatives to gambling

Maintaining recovery from gambling addiction depends a lot on finding alternative behaviors you can substitute for gambling. Some examples include:

Dealing with gambling cravings

Feeling the urge to gamble is normal, but as you build healthier choices and a strong support network, resisting cravings will become easier. When a gambling craving strikes:

Avoid isolation. Call a trusted family member, meet a friend for coffee, or go to a Gamblers Anonymous meeting.

Postpone gambling. Tell yourself that you’ll wait 5 minutes, fifteen minutes, or an hour. As you wait, the urge to gamble may pass or become weak enough to resist.

Visualize what will happen if you give in to the urge to gamble. Think about how you’ll feel after all your money is gone and you’ve disappointed yourself and your family again.

I Got A Gambling Problem

Distract yourself with another activity, such as going to the gym, watching a movie, or practicing a relaxation exercise for gambling cravings.

Coping with lapses

If you aren’t able to resist the gambling craving, don’t be too hard on yourself or use it as an excuse to give up. Overcoming a gambling addiction is a tough process. You may slip from time to time; the important thing is to learn from your mistakes and continue working towards recovery.

Gambling addiction treatment

Overcoming a gambling problem is never easy and seeking professional treatment doesn’t mean that you’re weak in some way or can’t handle your problems. But it’s important to remember that every gambler is unique so you need a recovery program tailored specifically to your needs and situation. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional about different treatment options, including:

Inpatient or residential treatment and rehab programs. These are aimed at those with severe gambling addiction who are unable to avoid gambling without round-the-clock support.

Treatment for underlying conditions contributing to your compulsive gambling, including substance abuse or mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, OCD, or ADHD. This could include therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. Problem gambling can sometimes be a symptom of bipolar disorder, so your doctor or therapist may need to rule this out before making a diagnosis.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy. CBT for gambling addiction focuses on changing unhealthy gambling behaviors and thoughts, such as rationalizations and false beliefs. It can also teach you how to fight gambling urges and solve financial, work, and relationship problems caused by problem gambling. Therapy can provide you with the tools for coping with your addiction that will last a lifetime.

Family therapy and marriage, career, and credit counseling. These can help you work through the specific issues that have been created by your problem gambling and lay the foundation for repairing your relationships and finances.

Have I Got A Gambling Problem Involving

How to help someone stop gambling

If your loved one has a gambling problem, you likely have many conflicting emotions. You may have spent a lot of time and energy trying to keep your loved one from gambling or having to cover for them. At the same time, you might be furious at your loved one for gambling again and tired of trying to keep up the charade. Your loved one may have borrowed or even stolen money with no way to pay it back. They may have sold family possessions or run up huge debts on joint credit cards.

While compulsive and problem gamblers need the support of their family and friends to help them in their struggle to stop gambling, the decision to quit has to be theirs. As much as you may want to, and as hard as it is seeing the effects, you cannot make someone stop gambling. However, you can encourage them to seek help, support them in their efforts, protect yourself, and take any talk of suicide seriously.

Preventing suicide in problem gamblers

When faced with the consequences of their actions, problem gamblers can suffer a crushing drop in self-esteem. This is one reason why there is a high rate of suicide among compulsive gamblers. If you suspect your loved one is feeling suicidal, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the U.S. at 1-800-273-8255 or visit Befrienders Worldwide to find a suicide helpline in your country.

Four tips for family members:

1. Start by helping yourself. You have a right to protect yourself emotionally and financially. Don’t blame yourself for the gambler’s problems or let his or her addiction dominate your life. Ignoring your own needs can be a recipe for burnout.
2. Don’t go it alone. It can feel so overwhelming coping with a loved one’s gambling addiction that it may seem easier to rationalize their requests “this one last time.” Or you might feel ashamed, feeling like you are the only one who has problems like this. Reaching out for support will make you realize that many families have struggled with this problem.
3. Set boundaries in managing money. To ensure the gambler stays accountable and to prevent relapse, consider taking over the family finances. However, this does not mean you are responsible for micromanaging the problem gambler’s impulses to gamble. Your first responsibilities are to ensure that your own finances and credit are not at risk.
4. Consider how you will handle requests for money. Problem gamblers often become very good at asking for money, either directly or indirectly. They may use pleading, manipulation, or even threats to get it. It takes practice to ensure you are not enabling your loved one’s gambling addiction.

This leaflet is provided by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the professional body responsible for education, training, setting and raising standards in psychiatry. They also provide readable, user-friendly and evidence-based information on various mental health problems.

Is it a problem for me?

Answer 'yes' or 'no' to each of these 10 questions:

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• Do I spend a lot of time thinking about gambling?
• Am I spending larger amounts of money on my gambling?
• Have I tried to cut down or stop gambling - but not been able to?
• Do I get restless or irritable if I try to cut down my gambling?
• Do I gamble to escape from life’s difficulties or to cheer myself up?
• Do I carry on playing after losing money - to try to win it back?
• Have I lied to other people about how much time or money I spend gambling?
• Have I ever stolen money to fund my gambling?
• Has my gambling affected my relationships or my job?
• Do I get other people to lend me money when I have lost?

If you have answered 'yes':

• Just once - may be a problem. This one thing may be enough of a problem to need help.
• Three times - problem gambling. Your gambling probably feels out of control - think about getting help.
• Five or more times - pathological gambling. Your gambling is probably affecting every part of your life - get help.

This leaflet is for:

• Anyone who is worried about their gambling.
• The family, partner and friends of anyone whose gambling has become a problem.

In this leaflet you can find out about:

• Is problem gambling common?
• Is my gambling a problem?
• How can someone lose control of their gambling?
• Potential harms of problem gambling.
• Steps to reduce gambling - helping yourself.
• What help can I get?
• How to get help.
• Living with a problem gambler - advice for family, partners and friends.
• Further reading.

What is problem gambling?

This is defined as gambling that disrupts or damages personal, family or recreational pursuits.

How common is problem gambling?

Many of us like to place the odd bet or play the lottery - but it’s only a problem for about 9 people in every 1,000. However, a further 70 people out of every 1,000 gamble at risky levels that can become a problem in the future.

Who is most likely to get this problem?

Across the world it seems to be common:

• In men - but this might just be because women gamble less than men.
• In teenagers and young adults - but problems of this sort can start at any age. Children as young as 7 may find it difficult to control the amount of time they spend on computer games. Older people may have too much time on their hands.
• If someone else in your family - particularly one of your parents - is a problem gambler. This may be partly due to genes but can be learnt - by seeing a parent gamble or being taught to gamble by them.
• In people who work in casinos, betting shops or amusement arcades.
• In certain types of gambling:
  • Internet gambling
  • Video poker
  • Dice games
  • Playing sports for money
  • High-risk stocks
  • Roulette
• If you drink heavily or use illegal drugs.
• If you have depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder (manic depression).

How do you lose control of your gambling?

You may gamble:

• To forget about responsibilities.
• To feel better when you feel depressed or sad.
• To fill your time when bored (especially if not working).
• When you drink or use drugs.
• When you get angry with others - or yourself.

Or, you may have:

• Started gambling early - some people start as young as 7 or 8.
• Never been able to control your gambling.
• One or both parents who are problem gamblers.

Potential harms associated with problem gambling

Problem gamblers are more likely than other people to experience the following harms:

• Financial harms: overdue utility bills; borrowing from family friends and loan sharks; debts; pawning or selling possessions; eviction or repossession; defaults; committing illegal acts like fraud, theft, embezzlement to finance gambling; bankruptcy; etc ...
• Family harms: preoccupied with gambling so normal family life becomes difficult; increased arguments over money and debts; emotional and physical abuse, neglect and violence towards spouse/partner and/or children; relationship problems and separation/divorce.
• Health harms: low self-esteem; stress-related disorders; anxious, worried or mood swings; poor sleep and appetite; substance misuse; depression, suicidal ideas and attempts; etc.
• School/college/work harms: poor school, college or work performance; increased absenteeism; expulsion or dismissal.

Should I stop gambling or try to control it?

The first thing is to decide to get help - you can then work out whether you are ready to stop or just want to control your gambling better. Many people just want to control their gambling, but then decide to stop completely.

Looking for a counsellor?

Video appointments with qualified counsellors are now available in Patient Access

Steps to reduce gambling - helping yourself

Although there is no substitute for professional help, here are some simple and practical measures to reduce gambling:

1. Limit the amount of money you spend gambling

• Set a limit from the start on how much you are willing to spend on gambling in a session or in a week. Stick to it!
• Leave credit/cash cards at home when you go out to gamble.
• If you use a betting account, ask them to place a limit on it - say £50 - this works for online casinos too!
• On pay day, aim to pay all your priority debts first (mortgage, rent, council tax, food, etc ...).

2. Reduce the amount of time and days that you gamble

• Set yourself a limit on how many times a week you will gamble (eg, twice a week) - be specific and name the days.
• Avoid those 'I'll just have a quick go' scenarios.
• You can set your alarm on your watch or phone to remind you - even your PC will have a calendar reminder alert you can use.

3. Don't view gambling as a way of making money

• Always remember that you are buying entertainment.
• Always be prepared to lose - if you win, know that it will happen by chance.
• Never spend your savings or investments on gambling.
• Ask friends and family not to lend you money if you ask them.

4. Spend time doing other activities

• Spend more time with family or friends.
• Take up a new hobby or interest or revisit one that you enjoyed before gambling took over.
• Join a social group or organise events with friends who don't gamble.
• Talk to others about your worries or concerns rather than 'bottling' them up.

Where can I get help?

All of the following provide free support to help you cut down or stop gambling (see below for contact details):

• NHS: the CNWL National Problem Gambling Clinic in London has doctors, nurses, therapists, psychologists, debt counsellors and family therapists with special experience in helping problem gamblers.
• Gamcare - runs the national HelpLine and its online equivalent, the NetLine, to offer help and support for people with a gambling problem, their family and friends. GamCare also provides face-to-face online counselling in many parts of the UK.
• The Gordon Moody Association - a charity which provides treatment and housing for problem gamblers.
• The 12 step meetings of Gamblers Anonymous.
• Gamanon: groups for relatives of problem gamblers.

What sort of help is there?

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Research has shown that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can:

• Reduce the number of days a person gambles.
• Reduce the amount of money they lose.
• Help a gambler to stay away from gambling once they have stopped.

Have I Got A Gambling Problem Solving

How does CBT work?
If you are a problem gambler, you will think differently from other people about your betting. You will tend to believe that:

• You are more likely to win than you would expect by chance.
• In a game with random numbers, like roulette, certain numbers are more likely to come up than others.
• Winning twice in a row means that you are on a 'winning streak' - so you bet larger and larger sums.
• You are more likely to win at a game of chance if you are familiar with it.
• Certain rituals can bring you luck.
• Having lost, you can somehow win back your losses by gambling more.

How does CBT compare with other treatments?
We don’t know yet - there have not been enough large studies to be clear about this.

12 step programmes

This is an approach which assumes that a dependence on drink or gambling is a disease, and that the best people to support you are those who have had similar experiences. Regular meetings are held in which people can share the problems they have had and the ways in which they have overcome them. They also have a 'buddy' system, where each member has another member whom they can contact if they feel that they are about to drink or gamble again. The 12 Step Fellowship, Gamblers Anonymous, offers meetings throughout the UK and many problem gamblers find these meetings helpful. You may also need practical help:

• Managing your debts.
• Dealing with family problems.
• Treat other psychological/psychiatric problems - eg, depression.

Medication

No medication is licensed for the treatment of problem gambling in the UK, but antidepressants can be prescribed to help with low mood.

What if I don’t get help?

About a third of problem gamblers will recover on their own, without treatment, and about 2 in 3 will continue to have problems, which tend to get worse.

How to get help and when

Don’t wait until life does not seem worth living. If you get help, you will feel better and avoid many problems with your life and health.

You can refer yourself by calling or emailing the contacts below:

• NHS: CNWL National Problem Gambling Clinic: Tel: 020 7534 6699; further details below.
• Gamcare: Helpline 0808 8020 133.
• Gordon Moody Association: Tel: 01384 241 292; email: info@gordonmoody.org.uk.
• GA (Gamblers Anonymous): http://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/.

Living with a problem gambler

• Being married to or a partner of a problem gambler - or being their parent or child - is hard and can be distressing.
• Your loved one will probably have tried to hide the size of the problem from you, while they have at the same time borrowed or stolen to pay off debts.
• If, with the help of the 10 questions above, you can see that gambling is a problem for someone in your family, it's best to be honest with him or her about it. They need to know about the pain and trouble they are causing other people and that help is there for them.
• If your gambling relative doesn't take any notice, you can get support for yourself from one of the services listed at the end of the leaflet. There are groups and individual sessions to support family members.

References

• American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed, text rev) Washington, DC.
• Black D et al (2003) Quality of life and family history in pathological gambling. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 191, 124-126.
• Blaszczynsky AP et al (1991) A comparison of relapsed and non-relapsed abstinent pathological gamblers following behavioural treatment. British Journal of Addiction, 86, 1485-1489.
• Griffiths MD (1990) The acquisition, development, and maintenance of fruit machine gambling in adolescents. Journal of Gambling Studies, 6, 193-204.
• Ladouceur R et al (2002) Understanding and treating pathological gambling. New York, Wiley.
• Lesieur HR, Rosenthal MD (1991) Pathological gambling: A review of the literature (prepared by the American Psychiatric Association Task Force on DSM-IV Committee on disorders of impulse control not elsewhere classified). J Gambling Studies 7:5-40.
• Petry N (2005) Pathological Gambling. American Psychological Association.
• Shaffer HJ, Bilt JV and Hall MN (1999) Gambling, drinking, smoking and other health risk activities among casino employees. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 36, 365-378.
• Wohl MJA et al (2002) The effects of near wins and near losses on self-perceived personal luck and subsequent gambling behaviour. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 39, 184-191.
• Wardle H, Moody A, Spence S, Orford J, Volberg R, Jotangia D, et al (2010) British Gambling Prevalence Survey. National Centre for Social Research. London: The Stationery Office.

Further reading

• Orford J (2010). An unsafe bet?: The dangerous rise of gambling and the debate we should be having. Wiley-Blackwell, UK.
• Orford J (2003). Gambling and problem gambling in Britain. Brunner – Routledge
• Bowden-Jones H, Clark L (2011). Pathological gambling: A neurobiological and clinical update. British Journal of Psychiatry, 199: 87-89.
• George S, Copello A (2011). Treatment provision for Britain’s problem gamblers: present gaps and future opportunities. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 17:318-322

Content used with permission from the Royal College of Psychiatrists website: Problem gambling (February 2014, due for review February 2016). Copyright for this leaflet is with the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

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