Gambling Addiction
At
sportbetting4all, we want to ensure that your online
betting experience is exactly what it's intended to be: an enjoyable, engaging
and potentially profitable experience.
Enjoy betting sensibly
If performed correctly betting can be fun, however, it
can easily turn into a negative experience. We know it sounds boring but
gambling addiction is a serious problem that affects many people. Our role at sportbetting4all is to provide you with as much
information as possible about online betting so you are best equipped to have a
positive betting experience. Our advice cannot guarantee to that you will win
however it will maximize your chances of success. It is important to recognize
that a positive betting experience is not just about winning but that losing is
also an inevitable part of betting.
It is important to recognize your level
of betting ability as many gambling problems derive from people thinking they
are better than they are. Unless you are a truly experienced or a
professional gambler we don't think earning money should be your main priority
when betting. For the regular/casual gamer, your main priority should be to
have fun. Money certainly adds to the enjoyment and the higher the stakes the
higher the thrill but it is easy to get addicted to this thrill and allow your
betting to get out of control. Be honest to yourself about your betting and
make sure that your betting behavior matches your experience and ability. Being
open about your betting experiences to others can help keep your betting under
control.
Remember: you should never bet what you can't afford to lose.
Make sure you carefully monitor how much you are spending on your betting and
adjust your stakes accordingly. Bankroll management is a very important aspect
of betting.
Definition of compulsive gambling
Gambling
addictions, also known as compulsive gambling, are characterized as an
impulse-control disorder. Those diagnosed with gambling addictions cannot
refrain from gambling, regardless of the financial consequences and strains on
their relationships. Their behavior results from the impulse to gamble, without
taking into consideration the negative impacts of their behavior. The
intoxication of a "big win" produces a high which the gambler tries
to obtain again. Compulsive gamblers also fall victim to the "gambler's
fallacy" in which they believe they can predict the future chance events
based on past events, fuelling their compulsion and false-belief in future successes
with gambling.
Gambling
addictions can be sub-typed into two distinct categories:
1.
Type one is classified as Action
Gamblers. Action Gamblers are drawn to compulsive gambling because of
the "risk" involved, and usually prefer gambling around others and
prefer games of skill.
2.
The second type of compulsive gambling is an Escape
Gambler. These gamblers are compelled to gamble in order to escape
some sort of pain, where they can numb their worries, loneliness and pain.
Early warning signs
Like most mental illnesses, sure signs of gambling
addictions appear when one's gambling behaviors begin to interfere with their
ordinary day-to-day life and relationships. Since compulsive gambling is not a
physical illness, the symptoms of gambling addictions are sometimes more difficult
to detect. Furthermore, like most illnesses, the gambler tries to conceal their
behavior and keep their impulses secretive, in order to alleviate suspicions
and concerns. However, some signs of compulsive gambling problems include: lack
of money without income change, overdue bills, secrecy over finances, stealing,
borrowing or selling things for extra dispensable cash, secrecy over time spent
gambling, neglecting family and personal obligations, using gambling to
celebrate, as well as deal with stress.
Addicted
gamblers tend to go through a four phase process of addiction:
1.
Phase I is the Winning Phase where the gambler experiences
"big win" which causes the gambler to attribute his/her win to their
own personal talent, and strive to continue their success.
2.
Phase II is the Losing
Phase where they,
despite losing large sums, become more concerned with gambling and begin to
ignore family, friends, work and the realization that they are losing.
3.
Phase III is the Desperation
Phase where they lose
all control over their gambling habits. Continually losing money, and hoping to
win it back, causes them to realize their problem, but are unable to stop.
Often times, their neglect of reality causes job loss, divorce, ruined
relationships and financial and criminal troubles.
4.
Phase IV is the Hopeless
Phase where the gambler
has lost everything, even hope. They often resort to drugs or alcohol to deal
with their losses and some even go as far as suicide or suicidal attempts.
Treatment and getting help
There are
several methods to help an individual deal with their gambling addiction. All
treatments however require the individual to first admit that they do in fact
have a problem. Methods such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and participation
in recovery programs are the first steps to getting treatment and help
compulsive gamblers rebuild their personal lives, finances and stability. For
more information on treatment programs, as well as hotlines, diagnoses, and
self-help programs, please see the following websites.
Another
suggestion to help treat compulsive gambling problems is to install programs
which won't allow gambling software to run on your computer. This removes the
temptation to participate in online gambling and removes a significant
contributor to secretive gambling. If you are worried that your betting is
becoming a serious problem you should consider using this kind of program to
help reduce the opportunity to bet. We recommend the software called Gamblock.
Remember to
enjoy the excitement that betting incites and make positive choices in your
gambling behavior.
May you have
happy, safe and enjoyable betting experiences!
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