If you are spending too much time at betting websites, casinos or race tracks and are losing more money than you can afford, you may want to get help. Gambling behavior that endangers personal finances, a job and family relationships is a sign that you may have developed a gambling addiction.
History
Gambling has been around for thousands of years. The Biblical book of Judges shows Jewish leader Samson wagering valuable possessions on solutions to riddles. The New Testament depicts Roman soldiers gambling for ownership of Christ's clothes at the crucifixion.
Prior to the 20th century, gambling, like alcoholism, was regarded as a moral weakness. An essay, "Gentlemen's Clubs," by the Jane Austen Society, describes how a gambling epidemic in the 18th century caused fiscal havoc and many suicides among the British upper class.
A modern view of addiction appeared with the founding of a self-help group, Gambler's Anonymous, in 1957. Gamblers Anonymous played a huge role in changing public perception of gambling addicts as sinners to people in the grip of compulsive behavior.
Expert Insight
Scientists are studying the psychology of gambling addiction and its effect on brain physiology, in hopes of creating additional addiction treatments. One example of these studies is a 2010 experiment by Dr. Henry Chase and colleagues at the University of Nottingham, England, which compared the brain function of recreational gamblers with that of addicted gamblers, when both groups played a slot machine that delivered occasional wins. The addicted gamblers showed a significantly greater response in their brains' reward circuits whenever they had a "near miss" than did the recreational gamblers. This brain response is similar to the brain patterns of drug addicts.
Signs of Addiction
Helguide.org, in an article, "Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling," provides criteria for determining if you have developed a gambling addiction. A gambling addict is secretive about the full extent of his gambling. An addict may continue gambling until all of his money is gone. An addict will take other peoples' money to use in gambling. Finally, if family and friends begin expressing alarm about a person's gambling, it's a red flag that the person may be addicted.
Treatment Options
Many treatment options exist for gambling addiction. The International Office of Gamblers Anonymous maintains lists of Gamblers Anonymous groups throughout the United States and many foreign countries. The National Council on Problem Gambling offers directories of counselors and treatment centers trained to deal with gambling addiction. Your family members can visit Gam-Anon groups, which provide support for gamblers' loved ones.
Hope
The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling warns that you may feel depressed during recovery from gambling addiction. Since gamblers are often impulsive, some of them opt for abrupt suicide attempts. If you are recovering from gambling addiction, and start feeling emotionally overwhelmed, seek out a therapist and get help. Two hundred years ago, many gamblers spent their lives in debtors' prisons, but today, you can look forward to recovery and a better life.
References
- The Jane Austen Society of Australia: Gentlemen's Clubs - Regency London
- "The Journal of Neuroscience"; Gambling severity predicts midbrain response to near-miss outcomes; Henry W. Chase et al., 2010
- Helpguide.org: Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling
- National Council on Problem Gambling: Residential and Inpatient Treatment Facility Information
- Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling: Gambling and Suicide
