Irrespective of your social status, gambling problems can happen to anyone at any time. The principal objective of gambling is a form of entertainment and fun, whether you are gambling on sports, card games, slot machines, or roulette in a casino or online. However, departing from the basic principles and from harmless diversion to an unhealthy and uncontrollable obsession, you are risking serious consequences for yourself and your relationships with your family, friends and work colleagues. Gambling addiction can put you in a situation you never thought would occur, like running up huge debts, visiting non Gamstop casinos to gamble more, and even stealing to feed your gambling appetite.
The consequences of gambling addictions
Gambling addiction has different definitions, but the result is always the same. It can be known as pathological gambling, compulsive gambling, or gambling disorder. The common factor is that you have an impulse-control disorder. A compulsive gambler cannot control their inner impulse even if aware that it has negative consequences. They will gamble irrespective of the mood of the day, whether broke or flush and keep gambling even when the odds are against them and they cannot afford to lose.
You can also have a gambling problem and challenges without being totally out of control. If you are constantly thinking and preoccupied with gambling, spending more and more time and money on betting, and chasing your losses without considering the serious consequences your action can have, then you still have a serious problem that can heavily affect and disrupt your life.
There are instances that gambling addiction is referred to as a hidden illness. It is called so because there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms compared to other social challenges like drug or alcohol addiction. To make matters worse, gamblers with an addiction problem usually deny or try to minimise their problem to others and themselves.
Gambling addiction is a beast you do not want to encounter
People with gambling addiction often feel powerless to take the bull by the horn and address the predicament. Though you can feel uneasy and incapable of facing your fear and most of the time think you are alone, this is not necessarily correct. You can do plenty of things to win over the problem, mend your relationship with family and friends, improve your financial situation and regain control of your life.
It is of the utmost importance to accept and understand that you have a problem. No one can redress their challenge unless they understand and acknowledge that they have a problem. Once accepting the reality, it is equally important to learn about the issue. These elements together can empower you to take the lead and make the necessary sacrifices to eliminate the problem from your life. Be honest with yourself about the symptoms of the gambling addiction, ask your loved ones for their opinions to have a clearer understanding of the situation and how your challenge is affecting them, and start recognising the negative effects gambling has on your life.
Accepting and dealing with gambling addictions
Once you have accepted and recognised that you have a gambling problem, you can seek outside help through, for example, joining a support group. Support groups can provide assistance, guidance, and support, which are crucial elements in your journey towards eradicating your addiction. Support groups can be managed by people who have or had a similar situation to yours, they are voluntary, and you can physically participate in the group’s gathering or online. Specifically, Gamblers’ Anonymous is one typical support group built and managed for the requirements of people with gambling addiction. The set-up and approach are very similar to other support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. There are hotlines available for gamblers with addictions; all you have to do is pick up the telephone and reach out.
Gambling has a strong element of temptation. Seeing gambling as an addiction is important as it can help you use skills from your addiction recovery and relapse prevention. Recovering addicts must avoid people, places, and activities interlinked with gambling to lock down the trigger mechanism that brings thoughts and feelings encouraging gambling. You should also stop watching sports or visiting betting sites, cut your credit cards and let your family control your finances. Work with your support group, your sponsor, or your loved one on a list of triggers and find ways and means to eliminate temptation and reduce the urge to gamble.
All addictions lead to downfall; protect yourself before it is too late
The journey of life is full of cravings. We all crave a particular food, be it ice cream or that bar of chocolate. Similarly, people addicted to gambling crave to call their bookie, go to the casino or visit online gambling sites. Cravings are an intense pest; they can be very powerful and seem to last forever. Thankfully, nothing lasts forever in life, so cravings have their limits and closure. Be strong and resist them, and as long as you continue to postpone your gambling habits, you can stay steadfast on your recovery trip.
Distancing yourself from triggers and cravings is an excellent strategy, but you still need to find alternatives to make your life enjoyable and fruitful. Try to replace gambling with a healthy activity, preferably with family members or friends. Try physical activities like sports, go for walks, do yoga and go to the gym, explore new hobbies, travel or involve yourself in voluntary work. All these activities can keep your mind focused on positive things rather than relapsing into harmful gambling. Consider how fun and beneficial such alternatives can be to you and your family.
People with gambling addiction can occasionally feel shame and guilt due to their predicament. These negative elements can be very dangerous to a recovering addict but you can use and turn these factors to your advantage and encourage and motivate yourself to stay firm on your path to recovery. Just think of the consequences of gambling addiction and the bright future you can have without gambling. Try to distance yourself from the past but never forget how your life was and how much better it is today.
Help is a telephone call away by visiting Gamstop and other free charities. Your inner resilience and family support are also there. What is required is your strong will to commence a healthy quality of life away from gambling and elements that can re-entice you to go back to your old and harmful methods.
Disclaimer:
- As per the Public Gambling Act of 1867, all Indian states, except Goa, Daman and Sikkim, prohibit gambling
- Land-based casinos are legalized, with certain guidelines, in Goa and Daman, as per the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act 1976
- Land-based casinos, Online gambling and E-gaming (games of chance) are legalized in Sikkim under the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Rules 2009
- Only some Indian states have legalized online/regular lotteries as per and subject to the conditions laid down by state laws. Kindly refer to the same here
- Horse racing and betting on horse racing, including online betting, is permitted only in a licensed premise in select states. Kindly refer to the 1996 Judgement by the Supreme Court Of India here and for more information
- This article does not endorse or express the views of Qrius and/or any of its staff.
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