Signs that an individual is struggling with gambling addiction

Gambling addiction is one of the behavioral types of addiction that people struggle with. One of the major reasons why people gamble is because they want to win money. They see it as a fast means to make some quick bucks without much brain work and physical effort.

Also, some people may gamble because they want to escape boredom or loneliness. Other reasons why people may gamble are to socialize, escape from tough situations or emotions, etc.

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If you are addicted to gambling, or you suspect that someone is struggling with gambling addiction, it is important to seek help promptly.

Here are some of the signs to help you recognize that someone has a gambling disorder.

Inability to stop gambling

If a person is not addicted to gambling, they would know when to stop, and the ideal time to resume. However, a gambling addict is not wired like that.

When someone is addicted to gambling, they will keep talking about how interested they are in it, and they will love to relive past experiences, particularly the ones with big wins.

These days, it is quite difficult for a gambling addict to quit because it can now be done from the comfort of your mobile device and any location of your choosing.

Withdrawal symptoms

When a gambling addict is unable to gamble for some time, they may experience withdrawal symptoms. It is important to mention that these withdrawal symptoms are typical of what any addict will experience irrespective of the type of addiction.

Some of these symptoms include depression, anxiety, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, mood swings, etc.

Poor relationships

Gambling addicts are likely to experience tough times in their relationships with people. Sometimes, it might be due to negligence because they will spend most of their time gambling. Other times, it could be because of financial problems caused by excessive gambling.

Being defensive about their problem

When you converse with a gambling addict about their problem, they may get defensive. No one likes to admit that they have a gambling problem, so they will most likely not accept your point of view the first time you approach them.

Mediums to warn people about the ills of gambling

Addicts of gambling do not just suffer emotional and financial problems as a result of their addiction. Several other evils were also pioneered by it. What it does is create a false sense of security. In my view, it is the Gambler’s Fallacy. 

Several forms of gambler’s fallacy can occur, but the most common one believes that something is about to happen. So, for example, you believe them to be due during roulette if you haven’t seen red for 2 or 3 spins.

This is partially true, but the reality is that both red and black will appear in equal amounts in the long run. Over the long run, you will spin 100,000 or more times. The long-run is far greater than three, five, or ten rounds.

They end up losing a great deal of money on these things as they believe something is due to happen. Their problem is that they don’t understand how probability works.

Although they understand that something huge is supposed to happen, they don’t understand that they will have to test all possibilities to see it happen. 

Gambling games are often based on the gambler’s fallacy, and this is why casinos make so much money from these games. Fortunately, if you understand how large numbers and probability work, you can avoid that evil.

Many people do not realize this, so they stake ever greater amounts of money. Everyone must be made aware of the dangers of gambling to prevent this from happening in the future. We need to ask ourselves, through what medium does gambling promote its ills?

These mediums include: 

  • social media
  • The use of online advertising and promotions
  • Websites and applications for gambling
  • Public advertisements such as billboards
  • sports-betting sponsorships on uniforms and sports grounds.

These methods will work as it has proved effective in instilling interests in the minds of people. 

Preventing gambling among children and teenagers

You might believe that it’s too early for you to think about gambling and your child. Especially since the legal betting age for pokies, the TAB and casinos are 18 years of age.

But some children start to gamble at such a young age – as young as 10. Before they turn 15, most children have already gambled.

Most children and teenagers get their gambling fix through card games and lottery tickets. As children get older, they switch to more serious gambling activities, such as betting on sports and racing.

In addition, children may gamble without money using Facebook applications and smartphones. Many video games feature gambling themes. Young people can gamble anytime, day or night, thanks to these devices.

Countless children are exposed to gambling and gambling-like experiences throughout their lives, including while playing sports. Gambling advertisements convey that gambling is exciting, fun, and a simple way to make quick money.

This act may lead to massive loss of money for them and consequentially causing them to be knee-deep in debt. To correct this attitude, it must be prevented and corrected at a tender age.

To prevent gambling in teenagers and children, take these few steps:

  • Give an overview of how gambling works

The children in the upper primary school years usually understand the low chances of winning long-term associated with gambling.

The gambling industry is designed so that it always makes more money than it pays out to gamblers. This is because businesses wouldn’t exist if they couldn’t make money.

  • Watch out for warning signs of gambling.

For teenagers experiencing hardships at home or school, gambling can escape boredom or escape stress.

By being aware of their social, educational, and mental health problems, you can prevent gambling and other unhealthy activities.

  • Consider the attitudes and activities of your family

Your family’s attitude toward gambling can influence your child. It is less likely that your child will develop problems if he isn’t exposed to too much.

If parents gamble regularly, children might see gambling as normal behavior and want to copy what they see their parents doing – playing poker machines, using scratchy cards, or betting on races and sport.

  • Talk about screen use and online gambling.

The best way to help your child make good decisions about online gambling and gaming is by talking about quality media choices.

How executives can treat Gambling addiction

Executives, just like everyone else, can be affected by addiction. There are two categories of addiction: Behavioral and Substance addiction.

Gambling addiction falls under behavioral addiction and it refers to a compulsive and obsessive behavior to always gamble for money.

When someone starts to gamble, it is very difficult for them to stop. The reason is, they always want to win. Anytime they lose, they encourage themselves that they can win their money back. And if they win, there is this motivated desire to win more.

Gambling addiction can destroy an executive if care is not taken and this is why they need help. Typically, an executive would not walk up to a regular person to seek for their help.

There are several people who look up to an executive, and they would be disappointed to hear that their favorite individual is struggling with gambling addiction.

Some of them would be demotivated and they would be unable to distinguish the addictive habit of the executive from their wonderful personality.

For this reason, this is why luxury rehabs exists. Not everyone is entitled to attend a luxury rehab except if you are financially buoyant.

Luxury rehabs are for the crème de la crème of the society. At the luxury rehab, you will see top professionals, top executives, and even politicians there. Due to their influence in the society whatever goes on in the luxury rehab stays there.

At the luxury rehab, the counselor and the therapist helps the executive uncover the root cause of their gambling addiction problem.

Then, they will create an individualized schedule for the executive to receive the needed therapy that would help them conquer gambling addiction.

The beautiful part about luxury rehab is, it doesn’t affect the work schedule and the personal life of the executive. In addition, the services offered at the luxury rehab are top-notch and better than what goes on at the regular rehab.

Executives are assured of a clean bill of health after undergoing gambling addiction at a luxury rehab.  

Effects of Gambling on executives

Gambling is one of the oldest known activity and over the years it has evolved in diverse ways. Before, if you wanted to gamble, you need to meet up at a physical location. These days, you can gamble from the comfort of your mobile phone or personal computer.

The primary reason why people gamble is because they want more and they are not satisfied with what they have. And it is important to know that gambling is prominent even among executives whom several people look up to.

Below are some of the effects of gambling on executives

Reduced productivity

An executive might think that his gambling habit does not affect his productivity. However, he would realize in the long term that hours have been wasted trying to make a living off gambling.

The precious time needed to strategize on how to advance the organization would be spent gambling.

With time, the executive begins to shy away from the demands of work, leaving a huge chunk of work to unqualified individuals. If care is not taken, the company begins to collapse.

Influences other individuals

If the people around the executive are aware of his gambling habit, they might be motivated to follow suit. The executive has a status that enables him to influence those around. Hence, for both positive and negative things, he would most likely influence those around.

Health problems

Gambling affects the health of an executive. For instance, anytime he loses a bet or gamble, his mood is affected and he can sink into depression if care is not taken.

Also the executive experiences anxiety during gambling. In the long term, these experiences can cause permanent mental health problems.

Financial problems

In most cases, money is used to gamble. The executive feels he has the capacity and uses most of his money to gamble away. With time, the executive discovers that it is seriously affecting his finances. At this stage, it might be impossible to stop because it has eaten deep into them.

GAMBLING AMONG EXECUTIVES

Gambling is the process of placing wagers on games, sports or any event, whose ending is uncertain, and has the intention of winning either money or other substances. Gambling is an activity which is carried out by people in all cadres of life.

From the person who finds it difficult to afford a three-square meal, to the wealthy man who has everything he needs at his disposal.

It would interest you to know that, gambling goes beyond what is done at the table. It could be done with assets, which might be either corporate or personal.

A good number of times, gambling could be done under the guise of work or business. People who are very powerful and wealthy gamble with their assets, not minding if the investments of other individuals are there.

It is difficult to identify executives who are addicted because, they do not do it in the open.

Executives are very busy people, and when they want to gamble, they could do it over the phone or perhaps, at any of their high-profile gatherings, where you would not find people having lower classes.

Looking at personal assets which people gamble with, they usually use things like boats, vehicles and a host of other investments.

They use these assets in several money making ventures, which involves house flipping, stock market betting and the likes. As far as someone wants to make a financial gain, there is always a risk involved.

There are some people who take gambling to another level entirely, and these set of people are the addicted ones.

They do not mind putting all their corporate assets at stake, simply because they want to win big. Only the wise executives gamble with calculated risks, and others are motivated by obsessive gambling proclivities.

If a gambler finds his way to the reins of power, it would be difficult for them to make sound financial decisions.

This happens because, they would put their desire for gambling over any important decision which should be made. Executives who gamble are advised to do so with caution, so that they do not go bankrupt.

DEMERITS OF GAMBLING

Gambling can be defined as the act of wagering money on sports, games or any event which has an uncertain ending, with the intent of winning either material goods or money. There are three basic factors which are required in gambling, and they are: Chance, consideration and prize. There are two basic time-frames of gambling; it could be immediate and it could be in the long-term.

The points listed below, are negative effects of gambling:

  • Addiction: Gambling addiction is undoubtedly top on the list. It is a well-known fact that men are prone to being more addicted than women, when it comes to gambling, and it is also known that the thirst for gambling is high among those who are low-income and average-income earners, than the high-class citizens.Gamblers find it hard to stop because, they believe they can win when they try the next time. In addition to this, the prize for a bet is usually high, hence, there is this desire to strive better next time.

With time, the gambler would realize that all his money has been wasted on gambling. However, there are times when gamblers rake in some money, the periods when they lose are often the most painful and disadvantageous.

  • It affects the family: A gambler would barely have time to take care of his family. This is because, the money needed for their upkeep, would be invested in trying out different gambling opportunities. Hence, the family would be at the receiving end. It particularly affects children, because they are more likely to toe the path of a parent-gambler, as this is done in a bid to assist their parents in their own little way.
  • Anxiety and depression: A good number of gamblers are usually victims of depression and anxiety, as it is very difficult for them to think and sleep. Moreso, solving problems becomes a herculean task for them. With time, it affects their mental health, and makes them very unstable.
  • Risk of suicide: Gamblers are prone to commit suicide, this is usually after a huge sum has been lost, when they invested it in a bet. Also, those who are already down with depression and anxiety, are at a higher risk of committing suicide.

Addiction to the Risk of Gambling

gambling risk addictionMany people who have a gambling addiction do not understand the psychology behind their addiction. They simply know that their craving to gamble is overwhelming. What they do not realize is that it is not the gambling itself that is addictive. It is the risk taking element. Taking risks is part of human nature. There are healthy risks to take and unhealthy risks to take. Those who are addicted to gambling are addicted to risk taking, regardless of how calculated the risk is. Risk is exciting and creates the pleasure chemical dopamine, which a person will attempt to generate again and again despite negative consequences.

We all know that taking risks is exciting. Taking risks is in our psychological make up. We are meant to get a thrill from taking risks that are calculated in a healthy, moral frame of mind. However, some people discover the pleasure that can be found in risk taking and lose all ability to exercise control over it. They love the rush they receive from it and begin to take risks that are purely motivated by pleasure seeking, lacking any intelligence or foresight.

The reason that risk taking gives people such pleasure and excitement is because it produces dopamine. Dopamine is the brain chemical that is released when people discover a substance or process that gives them pleasure. When people who are prone to addiction discover something that rewards them with dopamine, they quickly become hooked on it. Dopamine is something that everyone should be able to enjoy in moderation, but it is problematic for people who struggle with addiction.

These types of people tend to become addicted to gambling when they discover it. Despite it being too great a risk, people will invest everything they own into it and end up losing it all, which frequently jeopardizes their careers, reputations and relationships. Gambling is an addiction that can unravel your life and even end it if you borrow money to gamble with from the wrong people. If you or someone you care about are addicted to gambling, do not hesitate to receive treatment.

High Profile Gambling

high profile gamblingNot all gambling is done at a craps table. Gambling can be done with any assets a person possesses, both personal and corporate, and sometimes gambling is even done under the guise of business. People with wealth and power can and do gamble with their personal and corporate assets, even if other people’s investments are tied to them, which is both unethical and unlawful. The fact of the matter is that we know how to identify a gambling addict who is of a simple nature, playing the slot machines and tables in Vegas. But we do not know how to identify high functioning gamblers who put their professional and personal assets on the line for the sake of a thrill.

When someone gambles with their personal assets, they typically leverage things such as houses, vehicles, boats and other major investments. They gamble with these assets in a number of money making efforts, such as flipping houses, betting on the stock market and making deals with other investors. Anywhere someone stands to make a financial gain, there is risk involved. Where there is risk involved, people need to put something of value on the line. For high rolling gamblers, this can easily include their life investments.

It is one thing for a person to gamble with their personal assets, but some gamblers take it to the next level and gamble with their corporate assets. These are people who are executors of company accounts and stocks. It is unethical and often illegal to tie these assets up in risky ventures, but it is done regardless. Some of these gambles are made with an appropriate amount of calculated risk, while others are driven by compulsive gambling tendencies. When a compulsive gambler makes their way into a position of power, they are undoubtedly going to make poor financial decisions with money that many people depend on.

 

The thrill of gambling is a legitimate addiction that requires treatment, regardless of what level it is carried out at. A compulsive gambler in front of a slot machine has just as much of a problem as a person with far more money and assets to gamble with.

Risk-Taking Addiction

risk taking addictionGambling addictions are more psychologically complex than they may seem. Those who do not understand a gambling addiction are usually trained to judge those who are gambling addicts and treat them like they are degenerates. This is a very shallow estimation of who gambling addicts are. Every form of addiction can be traced back to a neurological chemical reward. When we encounter something pleasurable, our brain lets us know through a chemical response. Those who have an abnormal chemical response may be prone to addiction. The similarities that addiction has with disease are remarkable.

The underlying cause of any gambling addiction, and arguably any addiction period, is an affinity for risk-taking. Being attracted to risk-taking has everything to do with the evolution of our brains and our psychological make-up. The pleasure chemical that our brains release is called dopamine, and once we know how to achieve it, we regularly go back for more of whatever triggered it. Some people’s brains have stunted dopamine production, which causes them to repeat the trigger activity heavier and more frequently than the average person would. This is where the addict stigma comes in.

The addict’s brain and the highly functional person’s brain are actually of the same composition. The urge to pursue great feats in order to achieve the chemical dopamine is the same urge to pursue heavy immersion in addiction because initially, they achieve the same result. Obviously, over time, addiction proves to be unmanageable and devours the person’s life, where as the pursuit of incredible feats returns great rewards to the individual.

This all comes back to risk-taking behavior. Gambling, whether it is on a small scale in front of a slot machine or large scale with a multi-million dollar stock market investment, satisfies the need to take risks that serves as many people’s means of achieving dopamine. In essence, it is simply how some people feel alive. We need this type of person in the world because they are responsible for so many great achievements. We simply need to help encourage them back to their potential when they become too immersed in their addiction.