A gambling addiction has a terrible financial impact on you since it causes serious credit card debt. On top of that, gambling has sports and lottery betting risks and leads to mental health issues. Depression is one of the most common issues resulting from compulsive gambling. Investing money and time in casinos without getting anything back causes stress and depression in the long run.
Fortunately, the best online casinos in India help gamblers if they experience issues stopping this habit. On these sites, gamblers set daily, weekly and monthly spending limits. In addition, self-exclusion is possible, where gamblers stay away from online gambling sites for a certain period until they get help.
Still, there is more to gambling addictions than you know. Keep reading to discover mind-blowing facts about gambling addiction.
Gambling Addiction Facts That You Didn’t Know
It is easy to assume gambling addicts choose not to stop the habit. Gambling addiction, like many other addictions, is almost impossible to stop without professional help.
Here are more facts about this compulsive disorder:
- Limitless Casinos and Games Do Not Lead to Gambling Addictions
Many gambling sites are available online. Above that, brick-and-mortar casinos are set up in most cities worldwide. Anyone of legal age who wishes to enjoy slots or table games can set up an account or walk into the casino closest to them. This availability has nothing to do with a gambling addiction.
Instead, an individual’s ability to control themselves causes this compulsive behaviour. Inarguably, several other players are occasionally gambling and have no issues stopping. According to The Times of India, 30% are problem gamblers, compared to 70% who gamble without control issues.
- Compulsive Gamblers Suffer from Other Disorders
Drug and alcohol addictions influence a person’s ability to make good decisions. If you are a compulsive drinker and always drink while gambling, you are less likely to stop when you should. Unfortunately, it becomes a recurrent habit, and you add an addiction on top of another. After all, anyone with an existing addiction problem proves their inability to control themselves.
- Men Have More Gambling Addictions Than Women
Based on research by the BBC, men are 7.5 times likelier to develop gambling addictions than women. When enjoying a drink at the pub with friends while watching football, men see gambling advertisements on TV. Placing bets has become more of a competition between male friends, especially when it comes to sports betting. Only a few men can resist the temptation. Most start gambling with friends and later branch off to place bets on sports and other popular casino games.
- Problem Gamblers are Not Necessarily Unemployed
When you hear about a gambling addict, you picture a jobless, hopeless individual. On the other hand, gambling addicts are strong, intelligent, and successful individuals. These individuals use gambling as an escape from their busy lives. Unluckily, gambling is highly addictive since it’s entertaining and earns you quick cash prizes if you play games correctly.
Gambling Addiction: 5 Signs You Have a Gambling Problem
The online casinos in India are hard to log out of because of their game variety and aesthetic appeal. You often find yourself on your phone, tablet, laptop or PC placing real money bets. While this is ordinary for most gamblers, here’s how to tell if you’re a problem gambler:
Being Preoccupied with Gambling
If playing in your favourite casino is the only thing you think about for most of the day, you need help. On top of that, you bet on every game, aiming to make money or atone for the money lost. Once you get your paycheck, you go straight into a casino to place bets before anything else.
Gambling Consistently Without Caring About the Consequences
Since gambling is your only priority, you don’t focus on anything else, professionally, financially, or socially. Instead of saving money to invest in the future, you spend the last coin on gambling. It becomes difficult to maintain friendships since you must lie about your habits. Again, asking for money to gamble from friends leads to losing meaningful friendships.
Blindly Chasing Losses
Losing online slots is no fun. Good players know when to chase a loss and when to quit. Professional gamblers avoid losing too much money by setting spending limits. Comparingly, problem bettors place bets every day without a strategy. As expected, this leads to excessive money loss. On top of that, gambling addicts keep betting when they’re up. Although they might get wins from doing so, they waste a lot of money to fuel the thrill of playing.
Incessant Efforts to Stop Gambling
This sign is the most common. If you feel the compulsive need to stop or cut back on betting, yet you’re unsuccessful, you have a gambling problem. Of course, most problem gamblers insist on playing one game, and then they’re out. Unfortunately, one game leads to another and problem bettors end up in the same gambling spiral.
Gambling Withdrawal Symptoms
A gambling addict, like an alcohol addict, shows withdrawal symptoms when they don’t play games. The side effects become so evident. The side effects include the following:
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Extreme anger issues
- Extreme sadness
What to Do If You Have a Gambling Addiction: Treatment and Coping Measures
Gambling addictions are treatable. The first step is self-diagnosis, or getting a professional’s opinion on your gambling habits. The doctor gives their expert opinions, depending on the extent of the addiction. Most patients recover from addiction after getting treatment. The most common treatment methods for gambling addiction include the following:
- Psychotherapy
- Joining support groups
- Medications
- Finding new activities
Cognitive behavioural therapy is at the top of the list of addiction treatments. Problem bettors identify triggers and the thought process before compulsive gambling. They learn to replace these thoughts with healthier ones.
Online gambling has become a popular pastime for millions of people around the world. This industry has grown significantly in recent years due to the increasing availability of internet connectivity and the rise of online casinos and sports betting platforms.
The convenience of online gambling is one of its major advantages. Players can access their favorite games from anywhere, anytime, without having to leave their homes. Additionally, online gambling offers a wide variety of games, including slots, poker, blackjack, and roulette, among others. Another advantage is the bonuses and rewards offered by online gambling platforms, which can help players boost their winnings. Read online gambling overview
However, it is important to note that online gambling can also come with some risks, such as addiction and loss of money. Therefore, it is essential to gamble responsibly and only within one’s means.
Professionals advise against visiting casinos since one bet can trigger addiction. The company you keep determines if you will recover and avoid betting or if you will relapse during or after treatment.
Gambling platforms create an environment for avid gamblers to have fun and make money. These sites cannot control how much a person bets and the betting frequency. Control comes from the individual, and if it’s impossible to resist gambling, professional help is available.
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