Gambling Recovery Blog

Losing a large bet would seemingly be a sign to stop gambling right then and there. But if this is the case, why do gamblers continue to bet even after they’ve lost? The issue is that problem gamblers don’t know when to stop gambling, even when they’ve set a budget and time limit. It’s the rush to keep gambling that fuels more spending, and then the inevitable happens.

What happens to gamblers when they start losing money?

Gamblers don’t just gamble for the sake of winning money. Compulsive gambling is a behavioral disorder that alters the structure of the brain, and there may be many motivations to gamble.

For many, gambling is a pleasant activity that serves as a distraction to the stresses of their daily lives, and they aren’t too focused on whether they win or lose. The action of gambling is what’s exciting, and winning just funds the gambler so that they are able to continue gambling.

If you are struggling with compulsive gambling, you may be wondering what the best treatment plan is for you going forward. There are a few options, the most common being Gamblers Anonymous or outpatient counselling. However, there is also the option of attending a residential treatment center for gambling. 

Over the past few years, cryptocurrency has skyrocketed in popularity, and many people are now using it as their main form of currency. However, there are huge risks associated with it, and as Elon Musk’s tweets continue to bring down Bitcoin, many have risked it all and lost it all. 

Online gambling casinos and online poker houses also push users to play with cryptocurrency, even connecting to cryptocurrency exchanges to cash out earnings. 

Is there a reason why so many people prefer to use cryptocurrency for online gambling, and what are the risks involved with crypto itself? The same high gamblers get from winning can also be applied to a hike in cryptocurrency values. 

While casinos love to create a fun, welcome atmosphere where everyone wins, there are tactics that casinos use which enable gamblers in their addiction. 

In fact, casinos design their building layouts and game rooms to keep you there as long as possible, so that they can make more money off of your losses. 

Here are a few ways that casinos enable your gambling habits. 

Gambling is often framed as being a harmless form of entertainment, whether it’s betting on sports, playing slot machines, or buying lottery tickets. The normalization and accessibility of gambling is greatly contributing to the rise in compulsive gambling.

Many compulsive gamblers know that it’s not a harmless hobby. In fact, gambling has serious effects on your mental health. One study found biopsychosocial effects caused by pathological gambling, leading to direct triggers and worsening depression, anxiety, obsessive disorders, and personality disorders. 

Craig Carton, host of WFAN’s radio show, “Hello, My Name is Craig,” recently attended Algamus to treat his compulsive gambling disorder. Over the weekend, he sat down with Algamus founder, Rick Benson, to discuss Rick’s past with gambling, and how he went on to start Algamus, one of the only gambling-specific treatment centers in America.

Listen to the audio recording of the interview here.

Just like any addiction, a gambling addiction creeps up on a person gradually. What may start as harmless sports betting, may turn into an unhealthy obsession with gambling that leads to serious consequences.

With the rise of online gambling, problems with gambling addiction are even more hidden than ever before. If you have a gambling problem, those around you may not even realize it, since they don’t see you spending endless hours at the casino. 

Online gambling can take place anytime, anywhere - all you need is a credit card and an internet connection. The online gambling industry has been growing in the past few years, but now even more so with many casinos being closed due to the COVID-19 restrictions. With the pandemic, many people are also experiencing increased feelings of boredom, loneliness, and financial stress, which can lead them to gamble. 

Glamorous advertisements for gambling and sports betting are also becoming unavoidable, and they don’t tell you about the risks associated with gambling. 

Teachers and parents will often talk to kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, but what about the dangers of gambling? Gambling is something that even children are familiar with, because advertisements are everywhere: from sports games on TV to websites and social media ads. In some cases, parents can encourage gambling without meaning to, whether it be through sports betting or purchasing lottery tickets. Although most people can gamble responsibly, for some, gambling can become a problematic obsession.