Problem Gambling: How To Tell
The National Council on Problem Gambling cautions that from 6 to 9 million Americans already have a gambling obsession. This is defined as behavior that disrupts some aspect or other of their lives: work, business, normal physical activity, social and family relations. In common with other addictions, however, many problem gamblers live in a state of denial. So how does a concerned friend, family member or colleague at work to recognize when there is a problem?
Frequenting a casino or racetrack week in and week out may be an obvious sign but relatively infrequent visits by someone you know well is no reason to be complacent either. Going on a gambling binge just twice a year can also have hurtful consequences on personal finances, on emotional wellbeing, and on otherwise serene relationships within a family.
In some ways, counselors and therapists observe, problem gambling has the same mood-altering effect as taking alcohol or using drugs. Like ingesting Ecstasy or drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, the gaming experience gives the player a "high". The roller-coaster of emotions - dazzled by the occasional win, wallowing in the troughs of despair when on a losing streak, the excitement of near-misses - seems to leave the susceptible gambler wanting more. But, again like mainstream addiction, the problem gambler develops a tolerance for the initial levels of excitement. He needs more frequent or more sustained gambling experiences to satisfy his craving. And as this desire manifests itself more intensely and more often, the susceptible gamer finds he is less able to resist.
Even more readily observable is the fact that some problem gamblers are also addicted to smoking, alcohol and drugs. Or, at least, researchers will go so far as to say, those who are already addicted to one substance are probably more susceptible to becoming dependent on another that creates artificial excitement and a psychochemical lift.
As well, upbringing may have a correlation with problem gambling. Quite a number of those undergoing therapy for obsession with gambling attest that at least one parent had a drinking or gambling problem, too.
And for those who may themselves be wondering whether they are still leisurely gamblers or have become problem gamers, here are ten easily-detectable behavioral manifestations:
• No set bankroll: playing down to the last dollar and even searching for an ATM to withdraw some more.
• Dipping into savings for just "one more round" at the casino
• In the wan hope that winning at the tables will "solve" debts or meet ordinary housekeeping bills.
• Staying in the casino or at racetracks longer than originally intended.
• Obsessing about gaming to the point of not getting enough sleep anymore.
• Brazenly borrowing money so as to "recoup" losses.
• Worse, entertaining thoughts of stealing or other petty crime just to procure another bankroll.
• Realizing that this is the nth time a problem gambler swore to stop.
• Which realization makes him remorseful.
• Gambling losses engender depression and thoughts of suicide.
At the end of the day, one need not fear that a tide of "gambling dependence" will overwhelm American and Australian social services. The man on the street has a solid contribution to make toward nipping problem gambling in the bud by recognizing both the behavioral and more subtle signals of gambling addiction.