Online casinos have sprung up practically overnight into a multimillion-dollar business, attracting a large number of
gamblers worldwide. Compulsive gambling has been around for decades, but now access and opportunity are even greater with
the invention of Internet gambling, bringing with it a new form of addictive behavior.
Pathologic gambling and problem gambling affect between 5 to 15 million Americans. Most pathologic gamblers begin
gambling when they are young.
What is problem gambling?
Problem gambling refers to any gambling that goes beyond "normal" bounds of gambling for fun, recreation, or entertainment. Pathological gambling is the inability, over an extended period of time, to resist impulses to gamble. It is often characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling and a general loss of control. Pathological gamblers often "chase" their losses, feel a need to bet more frequently and in larger amounts, and continue to gamble in spite of the serious negative consequences of their behavior.
Are pathological gambling and compulsive gambling the same thing?
Yes. Most scientists and mental health professionals prefer the term "pathological gambling" as the condition is not believed to be related to "compulsions" like excessive hand-washing. The term "disordered gambling" has often been used to describe this condition.
Is someone who gambles a lot a pathological gambler?
Not necessarily. Many people who gamble frequently are simply people who enjoy gambling as entertainment. Generally these people set aside a predetermined amount of money for gambling, gamble for fun rather than for the "certainty" of winning, recognize that they are likely to lose, and don't bet more than they can afford to lose.
Can you have a gambling problem without being a pathological gambler?
Much as it's possible to abuse alcohol without being an alcoholic, it's also possible to have gambling problems without being a pathological gambler -- someone can go out and lose a lot of money at a casino after being denied a promotion, for example. Often this sort of problem resolves itself without professional intervention. Pathology is determined by both severity and frequency of the problem.
Are there phases to pathological gambling?
According to Dr. Robert Custer, an expert on pathological gambling, there are three phases to pathological gambling:
- The adventurous phase -- marked by an increasing desire for gambling as excitement and often including a big win which the gambler sees as resulting from their personal abilities;
- The losing phase -- in which the gambler bets increasing amounts of money "chasing" the money they've lost;
- The desperation phase -- when gambling becomes a full-time obsession, the gambler increasingly gambles on credit, and takes greater and greater risks.
These phases do not represent an inevitable progression. Most people experiencing a big win do not become pathological gamblers, and some who begin to chase their losses stop before reaching the desperation phase. However, most of those seeking treatment have passed through the adventurous and losing phases and have reached desperation.
How can I tell if someone is a problem gambler?
Some warning signs of a gambling problem might include:
- Looking for the "high" that comes from gambling
- Increasing isolation from family and friends
- Declining work performance
- Neglecting basic needs like money for food and rent
- Pressuring others for money as financial problems crop up
- Lying about how money is spent
- Escaping to other excesses (alcohol, drugs, sleep)
- Denying there is a problem
Fortunately, many of the same things that help drug addicts with recovery help gambling addicts as well.
