Gambling refers to the act of staking valuables in the hope of winning more. This act is conscious and deliberate. Though casual gambling is not harmful and is only a recreational game, things become worse when it becomes addictive. Addictive gambling is unhealthy and needs to be treated just like any other disorder under a professional’s supervision. The options like non gamspot slots have been a huge trigger to illegal gambling, thereby leading to addictive behavior.
Signs that a person has become addicted to gambling include prolonged periods of gambling, irritability when gambling is inaccessible, increased consumption of alcohol or drugs, etc. The closed members should note the changes in behavior and the other signs, and adequate support and medical guidance should be made available.
Gambling addiction is primarily divided into two major types:
Compulsive Gambling
Compulsive gambling refers to the act of gambling due to an uncontrollable urge. The bettor here doesn’t just gamble for amusing but rather for pacifying the urge and gambling a lot. It is characterized by the eventual loss of control over gambling despite the consequences of failure. The gambler himself feels trapped and being unable to escape the clutches of the habit. Compulsive gambling, when prolonged and left untreated, develops into pathological gambling.
Pathological Gambling
It is defined as a chronic impulse control disorder that is progressive. It is classified as a psychiatric disorder under DSM IV criteria. It is persistent and maladaptive behavior to gamble. The pathological gambler shows signs such as-
- Restlessness on withdrawal:
The person addicted to gambling experiences high uneasiness while forbidden to do so. The urge is uncontrolled despite the want of the gambler himself.
- Increased threshold-
The person gambling doesn’t experience satisfaction unless gambled a lot and the minimum stake keeps on rising with the prolonging of the disorder.
- Hunting-
The gambler makes up for the lost matches by playing more and more games.
- Borrowing money-
The gambler gets so intrigued in the game that he becomes ready to even borrow money from his friends or family to gamble after investing the whole of his money.
- Not paying heed to relationship losses-
The gambler isn’t even budged by the loss of relationships due to the gambling practice. The game becomes so addictive for the gambler to avoid its huge impacts.
- Prevaricate on confronting-
The gambler tends to hide the gambling activities from friends and family. Moreover, when confronted with facts and shreds of evidence, the person lies about it and turns up furious to evade the questioner.
- Uncontrolled nature-
The gambler is unable to stop the practice despite trying to do so. This uncontrolled urge is due to chronic prolonged gambling practices. If not gambling, the person experiences restlessness, irritability, etc.
The gambler risks themselves into illegal activities just to be allowed to gamble. There are instances where the gambler steals money or goods to satisfy their urge to bet. Playing in non gamspot slots is also illegal. Identifying the type of gambling disorder and treating them accordingly can decrease the disorder’s progression.