Pathological Gambling: The Silent Tormentor – Physical and Psychological Effects

How Placing Bets On Online Platforms Can Fuel Addiction And A Gambling Addiction

With immersive graphics, rapid gameplay, and instant gratification, online casinos are masterfully crafted to capture users’ attention. Macknik, S. L. et al.’s study “Attention and Awareness in Stage Magic: Turning Tricks into Research,” published in “Nature Reviews Neuroscience” in 2008, while originally exploring the world of stage magic, provides insights into the psychological mechanisms of attention and awareness that apply to online gambling scenarios.

The omnipresent accessibility of online casinos eliminates the naturally occurring breaks found in physical gambling environments, such as traveling to a venue or adhering to casino operating hours. Additionally, the anonymity provided by online platforms diminishes the influence of external checks, like peer judgments.

Regular incentives in the form of rewards and bonuses further amplify player engagement, ushering them into a cycle of relentless play and positive reinforcement. When married with tailored game recommendations matching individual user tastes, these elements curate an environment where self-control becomes increasingly challenging.

For some individuals, the line demarcating a casual pastime from an all-consuming obsession becomes perilously thin. Macknik et al.’s research emphasizes how the design of attention-grabbing platforms can profoundly influence user behaviors and their susceptibility to addiction, revealing the complex dance between technology and the human psyche.

Read our research on gambling addiction neuroscience and find out how your brain deals with all these signals!

Be Alert To Signs Of Gambling Addiction

Problem gambling has been on a significant rise since the inception of online gambling. Being free of the stigma of walking into a brick-and-mortar casino or bookies, people can now freely place bets and gamble on their devices in private, which has made the addiction to gambling increasingly problematic, as the signs are so often not obvious to see. As important as seeing the signs of gambling addiction in friends and family is being able to spot signs of gambling dependency and problem gambling in your behavior. Look over the following list to see if any of them jump out at you or ring a bell about your gambling patterns.

Anxiety over gambling losses

Do you gamble with more money than you can afford to lose? Suppose you have had a casino or sportsbook session, after which you have had to reassess your finances or find yourself rationalizing budgeting your living expenses to spend more on gambling. In that case, this is a sign that you are gambling too much, leading to a potential gambling problem.

Playing with big money for the thrill

Have you found that you can’t help but up the stake and make increasingly big bets to get the excitement you need from gambling? If you find yourself chasing the gambling “buzz” but betting big, this will quickly lead to heavy losses and a path down the slippery slope to gambling addiction. Limiting your bets is crucial to keep control of gambling habits.

Chasing losses

You deposited $100 one evening at a casino and quickly lost this initial deposit. Would you deposit another $100 immediately to win back the $100? The destructive pattern that occurs due to chasing gambling losses is usually where negative gambling habits begin. In nearly all cases, gamblers will find themselves in severe financial trouble when attempting to recoup their losses.

Selling your things or borrowing

Dipping into savings or selling off your cherished items to fund a gambling habit is a significant danger sign. If gambling requires you to jeopardize your comfort and lifestyle, then gambling has become a problem.

Feeling of depression

Waking up anxious after a losing gambling session, financial stress, and deep feelings of depression brought on by habitual gambling are severe signs that you should seek help and stop all gambling activities immediately.

Unable to stop until your balance is zero

Have you had successful gambling sessions where you win but cannot stop gambling until all of your winnings and initial stakes are zero? This is a sign that you are a compulsive gambler, and the winnings will always turn into losses.

Gambling Addiction Profile

Gambling addiction isn’t the same for every type of gambler or personality. Symptoms and signs can vary a lot between people. But there are some shared traits that most gambling addicts will have in common.

Compulsive behavior

It may be that a gambling addict already has a compulsive personality. As with many traits, compulsion can be managed in such a way that it can be a positive trait, but with gambling, the obsessive personality is thrown into the lion’s pit. Compulsive gamblers have no control over their gambling habits, and no amount of reason or logic will stop them from risking more than they can afford to lose on casino or sportsbook betting.

Bingeing

Like binge drinkers, binge gamblers may go for some time without gambling, but once they start gambling, they will continue uncontrollably until they have nothing left to gamble. It’s also worth mentioning that the connection between drinking and gambling is a lethal combination, as alcohol will make players lose inhibitions about betting and often cause players to gamble in situations they would not otherwise.

Helping A Gambling Addict

Pathological gambling is not a simple disorder; the longer gamblers have been fixed within the pattern of destructive gambling without taking accountability for the adverse effects or feeling responsible for the consequences, the worse the problem will be. For pathological gamblers, the reality of their gambling problem has been rationalized, and often, gambling will be the central motivation for their day. The psychological impact of this kind of behavior, if a gambler does not quickly seek gambling addiction treatment, can be as harrowing as substance abuse recovery. Therapy is vital for a gambling disorder that has gotten out of hand.

Digital Interventions: Paving The Path For Safer Play

The fusion of technology with the world of gambling has not only expanded its reach. Still, it has also created many opportunities to instill responsible gambling habits and avoid addictions.

As online platforms grow in number and complexity, so too do the tools and strategies that aim to promote safer gaming experiences. But what are these digital interventions, and how do they assist players in maintaining a balanced relationship with online gambling?

Customizable Play Limits

One of the most direct and effective digital interventions is the ability for players to set their limits. Platforms now empower users to define maximum deposit amounts, set loss limits, or even cap the time they can spend on a game within a particular time frame.

These player-controlled boundaries offer a tangible way for individuals to manage their gaming habits, ensuring they don’t exceed personal comfort zones or financial capabilities.

Self-Exclusion Features

Sometimes, the best intervention is taking a step back. Recognizing this, many online casinos and gaming platforms now offer self-exclusion tools. Users can choose to take a hiatus from the platform for a few hours, days, or even months.

During this period, they won’t receive promotional material and can’t log in, providing a clear break from gaming stimuli and an opportunity for self-reflection.

AI’s Role in Identifying Risk

Emerging at the forefront of digital interventions is the role of artificial intelligence (AI). Advanced AI systems can now monitor and analyze player behaviors in real-time, identifying patterns that might indicate gambling problems.

When erratic or potentially harmful behaviors are detected, these systems can alert the player or suggest taking a break. Some platforms also have proactive support teams that reach out, offering resources or assistance.

Educational Pop-Ups

Another subtle yet effective digital intervention comes in the form of educational pop-ups. These reminders, which might appear after a player has been gaming for an extended period or after a series of rapid bets, remind users of safe gambling practices, the odds of the games they’re playing, or even the time they’ve spent on the platform.

Daily Gambling

To gamble daily, however small the stakes, is a worrying early sign that you or someone you are concerned about could be or is becoming a gambler with a gambling addiction. The consequences of this pattern and the effect on family and loved ones can be disastrous. If you or someone you know gambles daily and puts gambling before other more rewarding activities, it is worth voicing your concern. Problem gamblers do not know that they have a disorder until the effects have become too severe to ignore and the impact on their life too negative not to do something about. The emotional strain of being around someone who practices pathological gambling and compulsive gambling is terrible, so for the gambling addict themselves and those around them, seeking help through the intervention of a therapist or psychiatrist, getting in touch with a gambling addiction treatment center and ensuring that the addicts have no access to the games or gambling platforms that feed their addiction, are crucial to stopping the problem from getting worse.

Finding Help

We don’t live in the dark ages of gambling anymore, and thankfully there are many avenues gamblers can go down to seek help for pathological gambling habits. The problem is often admitting that one has a gambling problem, to begin with. But, if you have read any of the typical signs above, and feel that your gambling activity harms your personal and family life, now is the time to take stock and get help. Understanding the disorder of compulsive gambling is complex. It is often made more difficult by the rush of online access to gambling apps, sportsbooks, casino bonuses, and big slot titles advertised as harmless fun. Taking a step back from the online hype and looking at the real-world effect gambling addiction has, many players will realize that they are either on the path to becoming a gambling addict or that their betting patterns tick to boxes of pathological gambling. Getting help from various online resources like the National Gambling Helpling and many other local organizations, like the Mayo Clinic, NCPG, Addiction Center, The Recovery Village, or Ohio’s Get Set Before you Bet – which provides many tools for helping gamblers with addition, all of these are out there for a reason. Getting in touch and nipping your gambling problem in the bud is never too late.

Online Support Groups

One of the primary online resources for those battling gambling addiction and a gambling disorder is virtual support groups. Websites like Gamblers Anonymous host virtual meetings where individuals can share their experiences, struggles, and success stories, all from the privacy of their homes.

This is also true when battling with illegal drugs. These platforms create a safe space for open dialogue, offering the comforting knowledge that one is not alone in their journey.

Digital Therapy Sessions

With the rise of telehealth and digital therapy platforms, personalized professional help has never been more accessible.

Individuals can now book sessions with licensed therapists specializing in addiction recovery without physical appointments. This provides flexibility and ensures immediate assistance when the urge strikes, regardless of the time or day.

Self-help Applications

In the digital age, self-help applications have surfaced as valuable assets for individuals seeking to manage their gambling behaviors effectively. For instance, the “GamblingTherapy” app offers a comprehensive suite of features, including behavior tracking, coping strategy recommendations, and instant guidance through emergency chatbots.

This technology-driven approach ensures that individuals can have a supportive resource at their fingertips, aiding them in maintaining control during moments of vulnerability and promoting a healthier relationship with gambling activities.

Educational Portals

Gaining insight into the nature of addiction can significantly empower individuals on their journey to recovery.

With this understanding, individuals are better poised to identify triggers, comprehend their responses, and adopt effective coping strategies. Here are three of the top online courses dedicated to educating individuals about gambling addiction:

• “Understanding Problem Gambling” by the National Council on Problem Gambling: This online course offers comprehensive insights into gambling addiction, its causes, and potential treatments.
• “Gambling Addiction Awareness” by Udemy: A course that overviews gambling addiction, its signs, symptoms, and available support resources.
• “Gambling and Gaming Disorders” by Coursera: Offered by Yale University, this course explores the psychology of gambling and gaming disorders, shedding light on their impact and treatment.

Individuals can enhance their awareness and knowledge of gambling addiction by engaging in these educational courses, fostering a more informed approach to their recovery journey.

Worldwide Web of Support

The beauty of the internet is its ability to connect people from different corners of the world. International forums and chat rooms provide platforms for individuals to share resources, methods, and coping strategies that might be unique to their region or culture. This global perspective can offer fresh insights and novel approaches to recovery.