Gambling, the act of placing a bet on the future result of some event, whether it be an actual occurrence or purely planned for entertainment purposes, is both a mental and physical activity. Gambling is a form of psychological addiction. One who engages in this activity desires victory and often times compels themselves to keep at it, even if it is against their very nature. Gambling is simply the act of betting something of worth on an event without the intention of winning anything else of equal value. Gambling requires three components for it to exist: risk, consideration, and a goal. Without any of these three, it would be pointless.
When considering gambling addiction, there are a number of factors that come into play. Firstly, the addict engages in the activity in order to relieve stress or to have a pleasurable experience. Often times, this happens along with a substance abuse or dependence issue and as such should be treated separately. It can also be that the person is simply “addicted” to gambling, which is a different addiction altogether. Nevertheless, there are some commonalities among all forms of gambling addictions.
Almost all types of problem gambling include habitual gamblers, those gamblers who gamble multiple times a day and in large quantities, those gamblers who place high bets even if they have no idea what they are doing and those who often gamble with money from their bank accounts. As stated before, all problem gambling include habitual gamblers. In addition, problem gambling addiction includes those gamblers who do not care if they loose all of their money or if they win. These types of problem gamblers may get involved with high stakes gambling in hopes of getting rich quick or even if they feel like they have a dire need to gamble.
Problem gambling addiction is further categorized into two main categories. The first category is considered the higher risk type of addiction while the other is considered the more moderate risk. In general, the higher risk form of addiction is associated with substance abuse and addiction while the lower-risk form of addiction is associated with gambling. Problem gambling addicts fall under the higher risk category of addictions because of the nature of their addiction. Gamblers can develop addictions when they come into contact with money that is considered “tainable.” This includes winnings from slot machines, bingo, video poker machines, internet casinos and sports betting.
Many people who suffer from problem gambling addiction can find help through a rehab program. These programs offer individuals the ability to reduce their emotional and physical stressors so they can recover more quickly and function properly. In many cases, those attending rehabilitation programs are closely supervised by trained social workers and professionals. However, many people who suffer from gambling addiction are self-medicated. This means that they take medications that they believe will help them cope with stress or help them relax so they can gamble more.
When it comes to problem gambling addictions, it is important for everyone to realize that there are a variety of treatment options available. Rehabilitation programs often incorporate a twelve step program that assists the addict in identifying areas of their life where they may be suffering from addiction or loss of control. This type of intervention is extremely helpful in addressing gambling addiction as well as other types of addictions including prescription drugs or alcoholism. There are also many online resources that offer advice on overcoming addiction or living with gambling addiction.