Gambling

It can happen to anyone from any walk of life, culture or ethnicity: Gambling can escalate from a harmless pastime or diversion from a stress filled day, to an unhealthy obsession with significant and serious consequences.

No matter the means of gambling, whether it be on sports, scratch cards, lotto, poker, or slots, whether it be in a casino, at the track, or online; if gambling becomes a problem, it can negatively impact your important relationships, interfere with work, and lead to significant financial stress. You may even do things you never thought you would, like lying, stealing money to gamble or pay related debts.

What is Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction is also known as pathological gambling, compulsive gambling or gambling disorder. If you’re a compulsive gambler, you can’t control the impulse to gamble, even when it has negative consequences for you, or the important people in your life. The internet has provided an access to gambling not previously experienced. Increased exposure through availability and accessibility to on-line gambling, betting and gaming has increased the risk to development of addiction for some.

Of course, you can also have a gambling problem without being totally out of control. Problem gambling is any gambling behaviour that disrupts, and causes problems in your life. If you’re preoccupied with gambling, spending more and more time and money on it, chasing losses, or gambling despite serious consequences in your life, you have a gambling problem. You’ll gamble whether you’re up or down, broke or flush, happy or depressed, and will keep gambling regardless of the consequences.

A gambling addiction or problem is often associated with other behaviour or mood problems. Many problem gamblers can also suffer with substance abuse issues, stress, depression, or anxiety. To overcome gambling problems, there is a need to address these and any other underlying causes as well. It may feel like you can’t stop, but with the right treatment and guidance, you can overcome a gambling problem or addiction, and regain control of your life.