Gambling and betting addiction are serious problems. When a person has an unstoppable urge to continue betting, and can’t stop, it is time to ask for help. Sports betting my look harmless and fun thing to do for many. But sometimes consequences for those who can’t control their betting habits can be devastating.
Because of that, it is extremely important to examine your betting patterns, and if you feel that you can’t control the urge, to take appropriate action.
If you feel that yours (or someone close to you) betting habits may become a problem, you should know how to act.
That’s why we at Game Advisers believe that education about the issue is important, and we hope that this article will give you all the needed advice on the subject.
Problematic Betting Habits – The Definition
We already mentioned in our previous articles the definition of problematic betting disorder. People that have the urge to place wagers, or can’t control their betting habits, might have this addiction.
Betting addicts keep on placing wagers even though their betting negatively affects their personal life, or of those people around them.
If you think that your betting habits are starting to affect your life negatively, then this is the perfect article for you. Every problem can be solved if you admit that you have a problem and decide to take appropriate action.
Sports betting addiction is not related to the size of your wagers, or the number of wagers that you place daily, but the consequences of betting-related actions on your life, and the lives of your close ones.
Of course, people who place wagers on a daily basis have a higher likelihood of developing a betting addiction. But that is not the rule!
Although the “gamble responsibly” movement is present in the sports betting industry for quite some time. From the medical point of view, the betting addiction was not classified as an addiction till very recently. Problematic betting and gambling started to be treated as an addictive disorder in 2013 by the American Psychiatric Association.
We need to underline here the need to help all the players that have this type (or similar type) of addiction.
So if you or somebody close to you have any problems regarding betting or gambling addiction. Please feel free to contact us, and we will do our best to help you with your problem.
Betting Addiction can Change Shapes and Forms
Betting addiction isn’t a static problem, as symptoms usually tend to evolve and change over time, often to worse. According to some medical experts, gambling disorder often has three stages, and addiction develops through those stages.
The first stage is the so-called winning stage
Where bettor actually manages to get some profit from sports betting. Those initial winnings (even the small ones) hook the bettor, as he becomes more interested and intrigued by the sports betting industry.
After those first wins, bettors usually start to fantasize about more wins and bigger prizes. And this excitement in some cases can lead to a full-fledged addiction.
Just imagine, you play, you win. When you win, you get excited and happy, as everybody enjoys winning, but slowly you get more and more obsessed with sports betting. Eventually, you are totally addicted to it. During this stage, almost nobody will think that you are a compulsive gambler, but soon after this stage, the second stage will come, and you will be in severe problem.
After the winning stage, comes to the losing phase.
In our articles, we mentioned many times that it is extremely hard to maintain a steady profit over a long period of time. So, it is quite reasonable that the winning phase will come to an end at one moment, and then the severe losses will come.
During that stage, a bettor will experience many symptoms that will define him as a betting addict. In this stage, the betting starts to turn into a problem, not only because of losses, but also because in this stage bettor starts to change his personality, and his regular living habits (careless attitude, lack of productivity at work, etc.).
The last phase is, of course, the desperation phase
And in that phase, we already have the fully addicted bettor. The bettor gets preoccupied with betting, and many bettors must turn to illegal activities to obtain the money for sports betting.
In this phase, the bettors will most possibly hit bottom, and at that moment, bettors can turn to other addictions. Such as alcohol and drug abuse.
Most Common Symptoms of Betting Addiction
There are many symptoms of betting addiction, and they have negative consequences in many aspects of bettor life. We made several categories, where we listed the most common symptoms of betting addiction:
- Money-related symptoms such as loss of the vast amount of money because of betting, trying to get back previously lost money (chasing the losses), borrowing money to bet, increasing wager stake in order to feel the same thrill, etc.
- Time-related symptoms, such as betting for a longer time than expected and betting in time when you usually do other activities (friends, family, and hobbies).
- Work-related problems, such as decreased efficiency and loss of ambitions.
- Social life symptoms and
- Psychological symptoms such as suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, and inability to sleep.
As you see, all of these symptoms can affect your personal life severely. That’s why it is essential to read the next chapter and to see whether you have a betting addiction or not.
Do You Have a Problem with Betting Addiction?
In this segment of our article, we will talk about various types of tools that can help you make a diagnose and see if you have a problem with betting addiction or not.
One of the most prominent organizations that help betting addicts is, without any doubt, Gamblers Anonymous. This popular organization deals with problem betting and gambling in the world. And they cover a large number of gambling-related problems.
They have support groups across the globe, but they also have an online questionnaire that can help you determine if you have a problem with your betting habits.
The Gamblers Anonymous use a simple yes or no questionnaire with 20 simple questions. And if you answer seven or more questions with YES, you most probably have a problem with addiction.
Another popular tool that can help you determine if you or your close friend or relative has a problem with a betting addiction is the DSM-5 method.
This is the most widely used method in the world! And this method uses intricate and detailed criteria to diagnose betting and gambling disorders.
Also, according to the DMS-5, there are three levels of addiction severity:
- Mild
- Moderate
- Severe
Good news for potential bettors with addiction and those who already have a problem is that according to DMS-5, betting addiction can be cured. The process is long and complicated, but eventually, bettors can fight and win in the battle against this serious addiction.
Of course, there are many other tools designed to help bettors with an addiction, and you can use some of them.
The important thing is to remember that you are not alone. And that there´s many people that are willing to help you overcome your problem with the betting disorder.
Conclusion
If you realize that you or somebody close to you have a problematic betting habit, several things can be done. The most important thing is to take action and start fighting against this dangerous addiction. The worst thing you can do is to do nothing and to wait for things to get even worse.
If you decide to fight, you can contact us! Or you can read our article about how to overcome betting-related problems.
FAQ
Compulsive betting is considered to be a mental health disorder and needs to be treated that way. People who have this kind of addiction often have other problems like alcohol and drug addiction, personality disorders, and depression. If you think that you, or somebody close to you have a problem with gambling, it is best to contact professionals and ask for help.
The most important thing is to understand and recognize that you have a problem. After that, you should join the support group and talk to other people about your problem. Find alternative things to do, instead of visiting sports betting sites, and finally seek professional help.
The self-exclusion option is a new feature that many sportsbooks offer to their customers. You can restrict yourself from visiting and placing wagers in sportsbooks with this option.