A gambling addiction is an unstoppable compulsion to gamble, despite increasingly harmful consequences for the gambler or those close to him. This compulsion may also be referred to as pathological gambling or problem gambling, though the usage of those phrases may not always involve the definition of addiction. Recent evidence indicates that gambling addiction can have a chemical basis just like any other substance-based addiction: Some problem gamblers have been observed to have lower levels of norepinephrine (the “fight or flight” hormone) than regular gamblers: In other words, problem gamblers don’t have the ability to cut their losses and run, but instead allow themselves to sink deeper in debt as their problems accumulate.
The Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), the commonly used therapeutic aid published by the American Psychiatric Association, has established the symptoms of gambling addiction. Most problem gamblers qualify on at least five of the following points:
Preoccupation: The problem gambler has frequent thoughts about gambling experiences, whether past, future, or imagined;
Tolerance: As is the case with increased drug tolerance, the problem gambler requires larger or more frequent bet-making in order to experience the same “rush” or “high”;
Withdrawal: Restlessness or irritability, even depression, associated with attempts to cease or reduce gambling;
Escape: The problem gambler gambles in order to improve mood or to escape problems;
Chasing: The problem gambler tries to win back gambling losses by engaging in more gambling;
Lying: The problem gambler tries to hide the extent of his or her gambling by lying to family, friends, employers, or therapists;
Loss of control: The problem gambler has unsuccessfully attempted to reduce their gambling schedule;
Illegal acts: The problem gambler has broken the law in order to obtain gambling money or recover gambling losses. This may include acts of theft, embezzlement, fraud, or forgery;
Risked significant relationship: The problem gambler gambles despite risking or losing a relationship, a job, or another significant opportunity; and
Bailout: The problem gambler turns to family, friends, or another third party for financial assistance as a result of their gambling debts.
It’s fair to suspect that any one of these criteria indicates a level of personal and psychological difficulty. A gambling addiction is a legitimate imbalance in the life of the gambler and his/her loved ones. If a gambler is spending inordinate amounts of time in that pursuit, then loved ones are being neglected. If a gambler has few or no loved ones, then the tendency toward depression inherent in the act may only become more pronounced. If a problem gambler indulges in increasingly dangerous behavior in pursuit of their gambling problem, they stand to put themselves in trouble with the law, or with creditors or debt collectors, and even with the criminal element. Employment status and marital status are likely to be in jeopardy.
More than anything, the problem gambler faces the danger of his or her own thoughts. Faced with the enormity of debt accrued, or the shame over his or her actions, or the general personal toll created by nights spent gambling, the problem gambler can experience the most profound desperation. Thoughts of suicide are common among problem gamblers, and many do ultimately follow through with an attempt. This in turn takes its toll on a family or community.
Gambling addiction is a serious problem, but not one without solution. The key is self-awareness and honesty, a willingness to seek help. Talking about a problem alone is an entryway into a changed life. There is counseling and debt management assistance available to those who are able to confront their gambling addiction. Step-based programs such as Gamblers Anonymous have proven as successful as their substance-oriented equivalents. There are even extreme measures such Voluntary Exclusion programs, wherein the gambler can submit to being banned from casinos and other establishments. The most important element of confronting a gambling addiction is probably peer support, as it proves to a person that they are not alone with their addiction, and that they can find a healthier way to a happier life.
