No one knows what causes problem gambling. Although there are relationships found between family gambling behaviour, age of onset of gambling, and experiencing a big win early in their gambling career, it is not possible to determine cause and effect. This is further complicated by the fact that problem gambling is rarely found in isolation.
Gambling disorder was once considered an impulse control disorder, until research found that people who are addicted to gambling shared many of the same characteristics of alcoholics and substance abusers, both in terms of their brains and their behavior. Gambling disorder became fully recognized as an addictive disorder when the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) came out in 2013.
- Gambling disorder is sometimes associated with spontaneous, long-term remissions. Nevertheless, some individuals underestimate their vulnerability to develop gambling disorder or to return to.
- Causes & Risk Factors of Gambling Disorder. As is the case with substance use disorders, a behavioral compulsion such as gambling disorder may result from the confluence of several genetic and environmental factors, including the following.
Here are some facts you should know about gambling addiction:
- As common as gambling is, developing an addiction to gambling remains fairly rare. Someone's lifetime risk of developing it is only about 0.4%-1.0%. The average rate of 'problem gambling' – a broad category that includes individuals with varying degrees of the disorder – is 2.2% across all U.S. states, according to a 2012 report.
- Men are likelier than women to have the disorder and they bet differently; men are more apt to wager on cards, sports and horse racing, while women are more likely to work the slot machines and play bingo.
- People who are addicted to gambling are more likely to be in poor health and have chest pain or arthritis. They may also be struggling with depression and loneliness. And though studies aren't conclusive, some 17% to 24% will attempt suicide. Research suggests that compulsive gamblers tend to show disordered and superstitious thinking, impulsivity and competitiveness.
- Certain medications, such as drugs used for Parkinson's and restless legs syndrome, can actually cause an urge to gamble. (This isn't the same as having a gambling disorder, unless the urge to wager continues after the medication is stopped.)
Causes
There's strong evidence that gambling runs in families. Researchers at the University of Iowa found that first-degree relatives of compulsive gamblers are eight times more likely to develop the disorder than those with no close familial relationship to a compulsive gambler. This and other studies suggest that problem gambling most likely has both genetic and environmental causes:
- Environment: Several studies have found that early exposure to gambling likely contributes to the development of a gambling addiction. In one creative investigation, researchers discovered that teenagers who'd received scratch-off lottery tickets as gifts were more likely to report symptoms of problem gambling later in life.
- Genes: Researchers have found that the disorder is more common among identical twins than it is among fraternal twins, suggesting that an addiction to wagering and betting also has a strong genetic component.
Symptoms of Gambling Addiction
Like all addictions, gambling addiction happens on a continuum. Its signature characteristics are similar to substance addiction, too: increasing preoccupation with the 'drug' of choice, experiencing an emotional response to gambling and behavior that has a detrimental impact on finances, job and/or relationships. The DSM-5 has identified nine symptoms of gambling disorder; these are listed below. If a person shows four or five of these symptoms in a year, they're believed to have a mild gambling disorder; six or seven symptoms suggest a moderately severe case and eight or nine symptoms indicate the most severe form of gambling addiction. Symptoms include:
- Gambling with bigger and bigger sums in order to attain the same thrill
- Becoming irritable when attempting to reduce gambling
- Making repeated attempts to cut back or stop gambling
- Being preoccupied with gambling and constantly thinking about past experiences and upcoming opportunities
- Gambling when depressed or anxious
- Returning to gamble after a bad outing, to recoup losses
- Concealing or mischaracterizing the extent of the gambling
- Losing or being close to losing a valued relationship, job or opportunity because of gambling
- Seeking financial help from others after gambling losses
It's possible to have difficulties stemming from gambling without those problems rising to the level of having a diagnosable disorder. People who fall into this category are considered at risk of developing an addiction to gambling, says the National Center for Responsible Gaming.
Risk Factors
Anyone can develop a gambling addiction, but it's most often associated with being young, male and African-American. As with other addictions, having another mental health issue or someone in the family with a history of problem gambling or substance abuse raises the odds of developing the problem. Here's more information on risk factors:
- Gender
Men are substantially more likely to gamble than women, although with the growing trend among states toward expansion of legalized gambling in casinos and lotteries, the gender gap is decreasing. And while men bet and wager more, women are likelier to develop a gambling problem at a later age. - Mental or emotional problems
Nearly one-half of problem gamblers have a co-occurring disorder, meaning the person also has a mental illness. Some of the mental health problems most often seen in people with a gambling issue include narcissistic personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder. Problem gamblers are also more likely than the general population to suffer from chronic depression and anxiety. - Drug or alcohol problems
Perhaps it doesn't come as a surprise, then, to hear that gambling addicts are often struggling with substance abuse as well, reports the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. More than 70% of those with gambling disorder have an alcohol problem, and nearly 40% have a drug abuse problem. - Personality traits
Researchers have found that pathological gamblers tend to be more impulsive by nature. One 30-year study noted that children with behavioral problems such as extreme restlessness at age three were more than twice as likely to have a gambling disorder as an adult compared to kids who'd been considered well-adjusted. - Family
As mentioned above, gambling addiction tends to run in families. Children who are exposed to gambling at an early age appear to be more likely to develop a problem later in life, and studies of twins suggest that compulsive gambling is, in part, an inherited disorder. - Military
For reasons that aren't clear, military service appears to double the likelihood of developing a gambling disorder. A Veterans Administration study of nearly 2,000 vets found that the rate of gambling addiction was twice the national average and four times that number had a lifetime probability of developing a problem with gambling. The researchers also found that male and female veterans had about the same rates of problem gambling, but female vets had higher rates of pathological gambling than male veterans. - Age
Young adulthood and middle age seem to be the peak times for developing a problem with gambling. That said, if someone starts wagering early – as a child or teen – they're likelier to develop the disorder; and adolescents who use marijuana are at higher risk. In addition, seniors who are lonely, depressed or in pain seem to be at higher risk than those who are healthy and socially active.
We'd all like to be rich. Playing the lottery or making an occasional trip to Las Vegas or some nearby casino allows us to indulge in the dream of being wealthy someday. Bright lights lure us in and sporadic gaming payouts tempt us into believing we might just hit it big. But, while it's generally fine for most people to wager on games of chance once in a while, for those at risk of a gambling addiction, giving into the temptation may trigger a slide into a gambling problem.
Why do People Gamble?
People don't usually gamble for one single reason, although the underlying motivation for gambling is typically profit based. The thought of seeing coins flowing out of a slot machine like an endless silver waterfall or the Hollywood movie scene of a casino piling stacks of money in front of a winner can move almost anyone to take a chance on gambling.
Aside from profit, however, people often gamble for:
- Excitement – think about the thrill of the flashing lights and bells that go off when someone wins on a slot machine
- Pleasure and the euphoria of winning every so often
- Escape from troubles
- Social valuation – even if they lose a lot of money, a person may feel that the act of gambling shows they are successful enough to be able to afford to lose it (even if that isn't really true)
- Pride – if someone wins a few hands of poker, they feel smart and invincible
- The chance you could change your life with very little effort
- Social acceptance – this applies to many games, ranging from playing bingo at church to joining in football pools with friends on Game Day
What Causes Gambling Disorder Symptoms
Pathological Gambling Risk Factors
Around 1 to 3 percent of people in the United States are impacted by a gambling problem. As with other addictions, gambling disorders tend to run in families. Those who suffer from this impulse-control disorder also tend to have issues with anxiety and depression and/or problems with substance abuse or alcoholism. The disorder symptoms may come and go, but without treatment, the problem will return.
A gambling addiction usually starts between the ages of 20 and 40 in females and in early adolescence in males, however it can happen at any stage of life. While it can affect anyone, the risk of compulsive gambling increases in those who are highly competitive, are workaholics, have a friend or family member with a gambling compulsion, or in those who have bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD).
Symptoms of a Gambling Addiction
In the same way as alcohol or drugs, gambling stimulates the brain's reward center. Just like with any addiction, a person with a gambling disorder can't resist gambling even if they don't have the money to lose. They hide their need to gamble from family and friends and vehemently deny they have a problem. They feel compelled to keep playing in order to recover their losses. They also become tense and anxious when they can't satisfy their urge to gamble and will feel relief when they finally get their 'fix.'
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines a gambling disorder as involving 'repeated problematic gambling behavior that causes significant problems or distress. It is also called gambling addiction or compulsive gambling.'
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines a gambling disorder as involving 'repeated problematic gambling behavior that causes significant problems or distress. It is also called gambling addiction or compulsive gambling.'
If family, friends, or coworkers have talked to you about your gambling, you may have a gambling problem. Four winds casino buffet crab legs buffet. To help clarify if you may be a compulsive gambler, this list from the APA can help you decide:
A diagnosis of gambling disorder requires at least four of the following during the past year (Note: this questionnaire is not intended to replace professional diagnosis):
- Need to gamble with increasing amount of money to achieve the desired excitement
- Restless or irritable when trying to cut down or stop gambling
- Repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back on or stop gambling
- Frequent thoughts about gambling (such as reliving past gambling experiences, planning the next gambling venture, thinking of ways to get money to gamble)
- Often gambling when feeling distressed
- After losing money gambling, often returning to get even (referred to as 'chasing' one's losses)
- Lying to conceal gambling activity
- Jeopardizing or losing a significant relationship, job or educational/career opportunity because of gambling
- Relying on others to help with money problems caused by gambling
Add up your score:
- 4 to 5: Shows a mild gambling problem
- 6 to 7: Points to a moderate gambling problem
- 8 to 9: Indicates a severe gambling problem
Self-Help for Gambling Addiction
The biggest step toward recovery is acknowledging that you have a gambling problem. While it is difficult to quit gambling, many people have done so and were able to rebuild their lives. The path is easier when you have support.
Some self-help tips are:
- Find a support group, like Gamblers Anonymous or get support from a mental health professional
- Seek treatment for any underlying mood disorders, such as anxiety or depression, which can trigger a gambling problem
- Reach out to family and friends for help
- Practice relaxation techniques, such as yoga or mindfulness
- Distract yourself by starting an exercise program or taking up a sport.
- Spend time with non-gambling friends or take up a hobby. Be certain not to isolate yourself
- Visualize what will happen if you gamble. How will you feel if you disappoint everyone again or if you lose all your money again?
- If you are the family member or friend of a gambler, don't pay off their debts. You run the very real risk of enabling them to gamble again.
What Causes Gambling Disorders
Help for Gambling Addiction
If you or a loved one need help to stop compulsive gambling, the mental health professionals at The Center for Treatment of Anxiety and Mood Disorders in Delray Beach, Florida can help. For more information, contact us or call us today at 561-496-1094. The bengali meaning of poker words.
