What is Gambling Addiction?

While it may appear that addictions are solely pleasure-seeking behaviors, the roots of addiction can also be traced to a wish to suppress or avoid some kind of emotional pain.

In the broadest sense, addictive or pathological gambling is gambling behavior which causes disruptions in any major area of life: psychological, physical, social or vocational. Addictive gambling is sometimes referred to as the "hidden illness," because there are no visible physical symptoms. The American Psychological Association classifies compulsive gambling as a mental health disorder of impulse control. It is a chronic and progressive disease that is both diagnosable and treatable. About 2 to 4 percent of Americans have an active gambling problem.

Compulsive gambling can be categorized into two types: action gambling and escape gambling.

• In action gambling, the gambler is addicted to the thrill of risk-taking as his or her substance of choice. Much in the same way that a cocaine addict is hooked on cocaine. The action itself becomes the drug. Action gamblers typically engage in games with other players, since part of the adrenaline rush is in the appearance or identity as a winner.
   
• Escape gambling occurs when the gambler seeks to blot out some discomforting feelings or emotional life crisis. The action of gambling is secondary to the numbing effect of the activity. Escape gamblers prefer more singular outlets such as slot machines, where they can avoid human contact. Men tend more towards action gambling, and women tend to become escape gamblers.

It is significant to note that teens are about three times more likely to become pathological gamblers than adults. This is the reverse of the case in most addictions, where the problem among adults is statistically more prevalent than among children and teens. For this reason, early education about the dangers of gambling addiction and information on how to get help for the problem is vital for preventing the disease. Problem and pathological gamblers across age groups also use tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and other drugs more often than do other groups.
 

Signs and Symptoms of Gambling Addiction?
 
The American Psychological Association reports ten diagnostic criteria,for determining the extent of gambling addiction. These criteria are:

• Preoccupation - Preoccupied with gambling (e.g., preoccupied with reliving past gambling experiences, handicapping or planning the next venture, or thinking of ways to get money to gamble)
   
• Tolerance - Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement
  Withdrawal - Is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling
   
• Escape - Gambles as a way of escaping from problems or relieving dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety or depression)
   
• Chasing - After losing money gambling, often returns another day in order to get even ("chasing one's losses"). Chasing is a classical behavior pattern characterizing pathological gambling.
   
• Lying - Lies to family members, therapists or others to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling
   
• Illegal acts - Has committed illegal acts (e.g., forgery, fraud, theft or embezzlement) in order to finance gambling; risked significant relationship; has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job or educational or career opportunity because of gambling
   
• Bailout - Has relied on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling  
   
• Loss of control - Has made repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop gambling

Five or more of these signs = pathological gambler
Three or four = problem gambler
One or two = at risk gambler

Another way of assessing whether or not you have an addiction to gambling is to ask yourself the following twenty questions, provided by the self-help organization Gamblers Anonymous:

• Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
   
• Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
   
• Did gambling affect your reputation?
   
• Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
   
• Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
   
• Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
   
• After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
   
• After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
   
• Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
   
• Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
   
• Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
   
• Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
   
• Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
   
• Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
   
• Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
   
• Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
   
• Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
   
• Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
   
• Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
   
• Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

According to Gamblers Anonymous, if you answer "yes" to at least seven or more of these questions, you most likely have a compulsive gambling problem.