Gambling Addiction Help, Symptoms, Treatment
Gambling offers a dopamine rush. The moment when you think the big win is right around the corner. And you chase it again and again. No matter how much money that costs you and no matter how much time spent on gambling was to be actually spent working, going out, doing household tasks and actually being with your family. If you find yourself unable to stay away from gambling, you might have an issue. And the first step is recognizing you have such. If you're wondering if your habit's turning into an addiction or if you're a family member of a person who's spending too much time betting their money dry and you're worried about their gambling, read on to see what gambling addiction looks like and how to find help.
What is a gambling disorder and how does compulsive gambling affect the brain?
Pathological gambling is an impulse-control disorder which makes a person continue with their gambling habit even despite the many negative consequences they already suffer due to the time and money they spend on playing at casinos or betting sites. People with gambling problems can develop addiction that makes them feel unable to stop. They're preoccupied with gambling and it can soon turn into the only thing they want to do and feel like doing. While everything else in their life may suffer.
Gambling affects the brain and the associated disorder is similar to drugs or alcohol addiction. It follows the same general pattern of getting increasingly involved in a destructive habit that you find yourself unable to stop, even after trying repeatedly.
If you feel like you or someone you love is addicted to gambling, don't hesitate to seek help. The disorder frequently makes one think that recovery isn't possible but it very much is thanks to the recent advancement of addiction therapy. With proper treatment for gambling addiction, everyone can get back to their feet and start living a successfull, happy and normal life.
Who is the most vulnerable to addiction?
Various gambling studies have shown that some people might be more prone to getting addicted. That's especially true for:
- Teenagers and young adults
- Adults aged 50 to 64
- People from a poor socioeconomic background
- People with low income
- People who suffer from mental health issues, like depression
- People who suffer from other types of addiction disorders, such as excessive use of alcohol or use of illicit drugs
Those groups are more likely to develop a gambling disorder but that doesn't mean everyone else can't. Addiction isn't a one-size-fits-all and anyone can be affected. At the same time, while men account for most of the people affected by gambling disorders, the addiction can happen in women, too.
Types of gambling associated with gambling addiction
Any form of gambling can lead to an addiction. Most commonly we can break those down into two main groups.
In-person gambling
That's the gambling which's always been an issue because the landbased casinos have existed for centuries. And people throughout all ages have gotten addicted to in-person gambling.
Online gambling
That's the newest type of gambling which's got several important negative factors for developing an addiction. First, the online websites feel like a video game, with interesting, flashing graphics, fast-paced rhythm and many other features that increase the dopamine rush and make people more vulnerable to develop a gambling problem. At the same time, the fact that gambling websites and apps are available anywhere is another issue.
How common is gambling addiction?
According to a survey done byt the Gambling Commission 2.7% of the adults within the UK show a highly problematic gambling. It's been estimated that severe gambling addiction is present in about 1,4 millions of residents of the UK. According to a survey in 2024 those who had gambled throughout the last 4 weeks were a stunning 48% of adults with most of them aged 45 to 64. But those was mostly due to loterry play included and, when this factor is taken to the side, we see a significant percentage of gamblers within the 25-24 age group with 36% of them gambling throughout the last four weeks. Around 10% of the respondents to the survey aged 18-24 were found to be problem gamblers.
Signs of Gambling Addiction
There are various signs that are common among people with a gambling problem. If you notice any of those, now might be the perfect time to get the help you need.
Obsessive gambling behaviour
One of the first signs that a gambling addiction is developing is the obsession you might have with it all. You might stop caring about everything else and just think about gambling. Those obsessive thoughts which you seem unable to get out of your head are usually followed by compulsions, aka. you start gambling. Here follows the second major sign.
Compulsive gambling even when you know you have a gambling problem
Or, simply put, being unable to stop gambling. Many people who fall down the spiral of addiction try to stop but find themselves unable to. And this compulsive gambling may result in huge financial losses, bancrupcy, job loss, family problems and many more gambling-related harms. The worst part of this sign isn’t necessarily that you go back to gambling after promising yourself you wouldn’t. But the thoughts that go through your head keep telling you that since you didn’t manage to do it this one time, you wouldn’t be able to stop in the future either. Remember that this is the disease talking, though, and read down below to see some further steps to get help.
Gambling regardless the bad consequences
People who’ve started developing a gambling addiction usually overlook the issues their betting habits cause. But financial losses, problems with your relationships, family life, job, social life… they’re quite a common occurrence. The negative consequences are there but you keep gambling? That’s one of the most prominent signs of a habit that’s turned into an addiction.
Withdrawal when trying to stop gambling
You might think of withdrawal as something associated with drugs and physical symptoms. That’s not always the case, though. Plenty of addiction disorders actually cause a psychological withdrawal. Gambling included. Most common signs of that are depressed mood, irritability, restlessness, anger, feeling like you cannot be happy if you’re not gambling.
Thinking gambling makes you happy
This symptom follows the previous one right after. Because once the psychological withdrawal sets in, you might feel like gambling is the only thing making you happy. If you notice something similar in yourself or someone you love, that’s a definite sign of an addiction taking place.
Financial problems
As with any addiction, one of the most visible signs (to the person who’s having a problem and the ones around them both) is the financial one. Because compulsive gambling leads to issues with the personal finances and you soon find yourself taking loans.
Breaking the law
Once the financial issues arise, some people who suffer from gambling addiction start breaking the law. That’s due to needing to fuel their gambling which is a strong sign that the disorder is getting more control over their lives.
Denial of the gambling harms
Of course, one of the main signs of gambling addiction is that people who suffer from it and exhibit one or more of the symptoms above deny it. Even when faced with hard evidence in support of the issues.
Hiding your compulsive gambling problem
When the evidence of gambling addiction starts mounting up and the people close to you start noticing it, you might begin to hide your behavior. That’s another tell-tale sign of the disorder and the problems associated with it.
How to spot gambling addiction?
If you’re wondering you, or someone you know, are developing an addiction to gambling, the following questions might show problematic gambling:
- Are you spending most of your time and money on gambling
- Have you tried unsuccessfully to stop gambling
- Are you lying your friends and family about your gambling habits
- Do you feel shame, anger or guilt related to your gambling
- Are you experiencing any negative social, financial, family or job-related impact due to gambling
- Are you using gambling as a way to escape boredom, stress, anxiety, etc.
- Are you feeling restless and tense when unable to gamble
- Are you thinking of gambling most of the time
- Are you getting in fights with friends and family because of gambling
- Do you chase your losses
If you’ve answered yes on a couple or more questions, that might be a sign you need professional assistance to overcome your gambling issues.
If you’re a family member or a friend to someone you believe might have problems with gambling addiction, think about if you’ve noticed:
- Unusual change in behaviour
- Frequent restlessness, higher secrecy or a withdrawal from social activities
- Depression, sadness, withdrawal from personal connections
- Mood swings
Especially worrisome are the cases where you notice money missing or you see that your friend/family member might be working extra and getting into even bigger financial troubles. Valuables, devices, etc. might disappear because they’ve been pawned and increased credit card debt isn’t uncommon.
Gambling addiction symptoms
If I was to sum it up, here are the main symptoms of gambling addiction:
- Spending too much time gambling
- Spending too many money on gambling
- Chasing losses
- Feelings of anxiety, especially when not gambling
- Feeling like you’ve lost control over your gambling
- Low self-esteem and feelings of guilt and shame
- Sleep changes
- Mood swings
- Problems concentrating
- Lack of interest in activities you’ve once enjoyed
- Feeling like nothing besides gambling is enjoyable
- Neglecting family life
- Neglecting personal and social relationships
- Neglecting job responsibilities
- Lying about your gambling habits or hiding them
- Thinking about gambling only and using it to escape from negative feelings
- Inability to control your gambling and cut it down
One of the main symptoms which you should never ignore is having troubles controlling gambling. Even if you're doing perfectly well financially, socially and within your family, if you're not being successfull in managing your gambling: you're unable to stop when you want to, you feel the compulsive need to go back to gambling and you do so even after promicing to stop, this is a sure sign of addiction.
Gambling addiction help: How to assist your loved ones if they are a problem gambler?
If you believe someone close to you is having a problem with gambling, there are plenty of ways to help. First off, though, recognize that gambling addiction is a psychological disorder which makes it hard for the person affected to stop gambling, despite the negative consequences. Just like what happens when someone is addicted to drugs or alcohol. To prevent that, or help treat it, it would be good to recognize the symptoms associated with the disorder. If you notice some of the symptoms mentioned in our article throughout the last 12 months, this means your loved one might be starting to develop, or has already developed, a gambling addiction. And let’s see how you can help.
Start by talking about the gambling harms
You’re probably going to wonder a lot about what to say to someone going through an addiction. After all, their first instinct might be denial, hiding it, even from themselves. So, start by letting them know you care. Don’t be judgemental, don’t use ‘you’ statements to not make them feel accused and close up. Rather, talk with ‘I’ statements to show how much you love them, how you feel and that you’d like to help them out.
Mention the consequences that gambling is causing
Even though they might already know them, and might have experienced them, it’s always useful to hear it from someone else. Talk to them about what can happen due to the gambling addiction, such as debt, bankruptcy, health issues, relationships problems, issues with the law.
Be patient throughout the recovery journey
Addiction isn’t like many physical disorders where you get a pill a couple times of a day and get better within a week. Don’t expect that from your loved ones. Rather, recognize that it might take time and patience. Don’t rush them, don’t force them to make too many changes at once. Think about whether they might need help with other underlying issues and urge them to talk to a mental health specialist.
Find alternatives to prevent gambling relapse
Try to unravel why your loved one has started gambling. Was it because of boredom? Due to needing someone to socialize with? Because they wanted adrenaline? Once you realize the cause behind the gambling behavior, find ways to replace it, be it with new hobbies, challenging sports or a support group.
The latter’s especially important for people going through a gambling addiction. They’re often feeling like their journey is unique and they’re isolated, they’re misunderstood. If they join a support group, such as the 12-steps meetings, they’d realize that many others have been through the same and they’ll find people to talk to about coping strategies, underlying issues, etc.
Suggest professional treatment options for gambling addiction
Even though many people can find the strength to get back on their feet without professional help, they would do it much easier and faster with it and for many it’s a life-saver. So, encourage your loved one who’s suffering from addiction, to find help. Mental health professionals can utilize plenty proven-to-work methods, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and medication if the underlying issue is associated with mental health disorders.
Help yourself
Helping someone get better doesn’t mean neglecting yourself. First, don’t blame yourself and take care of your own well-being. Protect your money and don’t keep loaning money or turning a blind eye. Take care of your mental and physical health and seek assistance from group sessions for people whose loved ones are suffering from addiction. Focus on your family, set boundaries and distance yourself if it’s necessary.
Problem gambling: How to cope with the financial impact?
Most commonly gambling becomes a huge financial problem. You lose money, you go back trying to chase your losses, you lose, you loan some gambling money thinking you'd win big... but you lose. This accumulated quickly and soon enough you might find yourself almost bankcrupt. If you're dealing with such a situation or if you're a family member of someone who's unable to control their gambling and finances are going downhill fast, you can get in touch with the GamCare team. They've got great resources on how to minimize the financial issues, get help with treatment of gambling and how to get back on your feet money-wise. Their financial assistants are there to help people who've found themselves in financial troubles (and they provide great resources to family members, too).
How to stop gambling addiction?
There are various treatment options for gambling addiction along with various tools to help you out. GambleAware is the non-profit organization dedicated to helping people all over the UK reclaim control of their lives. They offer:
- A self-assessment questionnaire which takes about 2-4 minutes and is completely anonymous but it’ll help you find out if your gambling’s getting out of control.
- A gambling spend calculator
- Blocking resources with Gamban (blocks access to gambling sites) and the GAMSTOP scheme (a self-exlusion tool for all UK gambling sites)
The National Gambling Support Network, on the other hand, helps out with free treatment and support on almost areas of your life that might be affected by gambling.
Gambling addiction hotline
People in the UK who’re having issues with their gambling, regardless if the problem hasn’t reached the level of addiction yet or is it a full-blown habit, can call the:
- 0808 8020 133 – problem gambling helpline of the GamCare program, available at all times, 24/7.
- 1-800-522-4700 – the hotline of the National Council on Problem Gambling, available 24/7
- 0300 300 1490 – the NHS Northern Gambling Service
Other useful numbers and resources to use are:
- 116 123 – the 24/7 helpline of The Samaritans for people who’re experiencing self-harming or suicidal thoughts
- The live chat, support services and useful information at http://www.gamcare.org.uk/ -
- 0330 094 0322 – Gamblers Anonymus (https://gamblersanonymous.org.uk/contact-us/ - Contact us)
- Help for friends and family members of people with a gambling addiction is available at https://gamanon.org.uk/
Signs and symptoms of depression and suicide risk in people with a gambling addiction
Many times gambling is also associated with depressive disorders. Those might have been the reason that lead to gambling or might have been a consequence of the addiction itself. Regardless, this is not to be ignored because it might quickly spiral into suicidal ideations, self-harm and suicide attempts. Be on the lookout for:
- Huge change in sleeping patterns
- Huge mood swings
- Big changes in eating patterns
- Taking risks that are too dangerous
- Giving away items
- Looking like they're saying goodbye to loved ones
- Increased alcohol consumption
- Talking about being a burden, having no reason left to live, feeling trapped and hopeless
- Reseaching the different ways to die
- Making plans for suicide
If you've seen your loved one being severely depressed and talking about/considering/making plans for suicide, then suddenly improving and looking like they've gotten much better, seek help. This might truly be an improval of their condition but... it might also be a warning sign they've made their decision. Reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 0800 587 0800 and talk to a mental health professional as soon as possible.
What is gambling addiction treatment?
The main treatment used for gambling addiction is through therapy sessions. Those can be one-on-one or group sessions, similar to the 12-steps programs and the like. They most commonly integrate cognitive-behavioural therapy where you can learn how to combat the compulsive behaviour, how to deal with the thoughts about gambling and substitute it with other activities.
When it comes to addiction, one of the most important steps are the peer support programs. Those offer you help from people who’ve been where you are and understand what you’re going through from their own experience.
For people whose gambling has been caused by, or is accompanied by, mental health issues medication treatments might be an option.
And, of course, if you feel like residential treatments would be the best for you, there are many such offering free treatment via The National Gambling Support Network.
Is it possible to achieve recovery from gambling addiction?
People with gambling disorder aren't doomed. Hope's out there and getting better is closer than you're thinking right now. The path might be hard but it's not near as impossible as you believe it to be. Recovery is possible and there are many ways to achieve it, as we saw above. For some talking therapy is the best option while others can benefit more from an in-patient therapy in a gambling clinic. What matters most is the following: Recovery from gambling involves effort and time but it's fully possible and you can return to a great life.
How do support groups help someone who's got a gambling problem?
One of the best therapies for gambling is through support groups. Those might be led by certified therapists or might be peer-only, like Gamblers Anonymus. They're of great assistance to all people who've gotten addicted to gambling. With them you can find people who've been on the same path as yourself and you won't feel alone anymore. You'd find resources, shared stories and people who hold you accountable. Especially useful those groups are when the obsessive thoughts look too strong to overcome. Once you have the peer support, you'll see that the cravings will pass and they don't have to control your life.
Help's out there: Don't let your gambling problem control your life!
Addiction to gambling is one of the biggest mental health issues in today's society. If you've been wanting to stop but found yourself unable to, don't hesitate to reach for help. Call the National Gambling Helpline, talk to your loved ones, make use of the resources that are out there for you. You need to admit you've got an issue first: that's the hardest step. But once you make it, you'll see that recovery is possible and your life can get back to normal.
