Gambling Recovery Blog

Gambling is very normalized in our culture, with approximately 85% of American adults having gambled at least once in their lives, and 65% within the last year. Although many people can gamble without becoming addicted, there are many risks involved when it comes to wagering any amount of money.

In order to help a family member who may be struggling with gambling, or to avoid developing a compulsive gambling disorder yourself, it’s important to be aware of the signs of each stage of a gambling disorder.

Sports betting is a common, casual activity that sports fans like to engage in as they watch games, but is it as harmless as it seems? With the NFL starting next week, and the NHL and NBA starting shortly after, it’s the perfect time to educate yourself about sports betting before placing bets on these games. 

Everyone has different coping mechanisms, and for some, it’s gambling. A gambling addiction seems easy to hide at first, but many who suffer from gambling addiction often suffer silently. Different subtypes of gambling disorder, such as action or escape gambling, use gambling habits to suppress distress, which brings up a range of issues particular to each group. 

Gambling addictions are not as black and white as they may seem, and quitting is not as simple as “just stopping.” By learning the differences between these subtypes of gambling disorder, gamblers can learn how to avoid hurtful habits. 

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.