Gambling Addiction 101

A lot many of us know something or the other about gambling, must have at some point or the other have indulged in it in some or the other form. A trip to Las Vegas takes us right into the heart of the matter although the start might be as simple as a game of poker with friends while waiting for the school bus. However there are still a lot of things you still might know abut the game – addiction to gambling is just one of those things.

According to stats from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, one percent or about two million Americans, struggle from addiction to gambling. Pathological gambling is defined as “the inability to resist impulses to gamble, leading to severe personal or social consequences” gambling addiction thus is very similar to any other addiction, be it nicotine, caffeine, drugs, alcohol.

Gambling addiction has several aspects related to it and is pretty complicated by nature with both psychological and individual nature clubbed along with them are socioeconomic and political too.

People addicted to gambling are not a very uncommon sight and when looked around for you may come across them in pretty much abundance.
Some particular symptoms may in effect point at such tendencies, while this can also be a “in the family” thing.

Gambling is not a straight forward thing for sure. It has more then one type to it.

Atlantic city and Las Vegas are filled with zillion ways of gambling which shall not only rob you out once but ensure you return to it to get robbed again and again.

The most popular ways of gambling are Card games like poker and black jack, which can really run long way even with a 20 $ bill, these games are relatively easier to understand and play.

Then we have the Slot machines/video poker. These machines involve pure luck, you have it or you don’t you can play on and on while winning nothing while your friend just might hit the jack pot on his first try. It’s all in the luck.
Another common thing loved by gamblers is sports betting.
Played without any special skill, machines and tickets, your own poll can be built with friends and co-workers. Bets are placed on all sorts of games, from national sports to other smaller events.

Lottery requires buying a ticket in hopes of making big money. Addiction can be detected among people by one or a combination of these:

preoccupation, increased tolerance towards gambling, withdrawal, escape from the world outside, chasing losses, compulsive lying, loss of control, illegal acts, risking most significant relationships, and finally bailout. Gamblers turn toward it due to some or the other problem.

These are classified as action problem gamblers, escape problem gambler, internet problem gambler, and the stock market problem gambler.
Like any other addiction this too has its own repercussions, be it social or economic and the addicted people need a lot of support.

There are again many ways of going about the problem, from talking to parents, counsellors or friends, to joining a support group. Another method is the Gamblers Anonymous which employs a 12 step recovery program aimed at helping these gamblers.

Mansi Aggarwal writes about Gambling addiction 101. Learn more at http://www.toomanybets.com

Mansi Aggarwal