How to Stop Gambling

How Gambling Addiction Impacts Your Body

When most people think of gambling addiction, they picture financial problems or strained relationships. But the effects aren’t limited to your wallet or social life - your body often bears a heavy burden too.

• Chronic stress - Living with constant worry, about money, secrets, or impending losses, keeps your body in a near-constant state of stress. This can lead to headaches, muscle tension, and even high blood pressure.
• Sleep problems - Many compulsive gamblers struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or rest easy at all. The excitement of the next bet or anxiety about mounting losses can lead to insomnia or irregular sleep patterns.
• Digestive issues - Stress and anxiety from gambling can wreak havoc on your stomach. Indigestion, ulcers, or changes in appetite are common when your mind is always racing.
• Immune system suppression - Chronic stress and sleeplessness can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to colds, infections, and other illnesses.
• Neglect of health - It’s not unusual for people deep in addiction to disregard exercise, routine check-ups, or even meals because gambling takes priority over self-care.

If you notice some of these physical symptoms creeping in, they’re not just “in your head.” Your body might be waving a big red flag, warning you that something’s off.

Do You Have a Gambling Problem? 

Many people can enjoy gambling occasionally, without getting hooked on it. These people are referred to as “social gamblers.” They get excited if they win and disappointed if they lose, but for the most part, they’re just gambling for the fun of the game. Gambling does not disrupt any areas of their lives, they know their spending limits, and stick to them. 

However, there are others who cannot gamble casually. These individuals are referred to as “compulsive gamblers” or “problem gamblers.” They find themselves gambling at any time, losing track of their obligations. In many cases, gambling spills over into other areas of their lives when they should be tending to responsibilities at work, school, or home. 

Compulsive gamblers feel a thrill from placing high, risky bets. They typically cannot stick to a spending limit, even if they have put one in place. When they lose money from gambling, compulsive gamblers try to “chase their losses” by winning it back through gambling. 

If you find that gambling is disrupting your life and causing you severe financial stress and mental illnesses such as depression, then now is the best time to hit pause and take a break. 

Unhealthy Beliefs That Fuel Gambling Problems

A major hurdle in overcoming a gambling problem is the set of misleading beliefs that can take root in your mind. 

This thinking doesn't just keep you spinning the roulette wheel, they fuel the fire that turns a pastime into a compulsion. Here’s a look at some of the most common unhealthy beliefs that some gamblers may have:

• The Gambler’s fallacy - This is where you convince yourself that you’re “due for a win” after a losing streak. Unfortunately, each round of blackjack, roll of the dice, or spin of the slots is completely independent of the last. It’s like flipping a coin. No matter how many times it lands on heads, the odds for tails don’t change.
• Superstitious thinking - Have a lucky shirt? Always bet on number seven? Superstition is a powerful force at the casino. But the hard truth is that external rituals or charms won’t sway your fortune.
• The illusion of control - This belief convinces people they can somehow steer the outcome of a game. Maybe by picking the “right” slot machine or by using a “system” to choose lottery numbers. In reality, the results are determined by randomness, not skill or strategies (unless you’re playing poker against other people, and that’s a whole different story).

These mental traps have real consequences. They give you false hope and encourage risky bets, making it harder to walk away, even when it’s obviously time to stop. Recognizing these beliefs for what they are is key. 

Remind yourself: if you lose a bet, it’s not because your luck is about to “turn around”; if you win, it’s not a sign that your magic number really works. The odds never change, and luck has no memory. Face these beliefs head-on, and you’ll be better prepared to break the cycle and regain control.

The Effects of Gambling Addiction: What Happens in the Short and Long Term

Gambling addiction doesn't just drain your wallet. It can upend your entire life in both subtle and major ways. The impact typically shows up in two waves: the immediate, short-term consequences, and the more serious, long-term fallout if the problem continues unchecked.

Short-Term Effects

In the short run, the most obvious side effect hits your finances. You might start missing bill payments, dodge calls from creditors, or lie to loved ones about where the paycheck went. 

These slip-ups can quickly spiral into guilt, anxiety, and a relentless urge to “chase your losses,” which only results in more stress. Beyond the bank account, your relationships can also be impacted. You might find yourself skipping family dinners or blowing off plans with friends just to sneak in a few more bets.

Sleep can also go out the window, traded for late-night sessions hunched over a phone or glued to a slot machine.

Long-Term Effects

Years of financial strain may lead to job loss, mounting debt, or even bankruptcy. And according to recent gambling studies, there’s also an increased risk of substance abuse, poor physical health, severe depression, and in some cases, suicidal thoughts.

Some gamblers even turn to illegal activities, like fraud or theft, in desperate attempts to recover what’s been lost. 
The damage from untreated gambling addiction can leave deep scars that affect every area of life: work, relationships, and mental well-being.

What Makes Someone Vulnerable to Gambling Addiction?

While gambling can seem like a harmless way to pass the time, for some, certain risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing a gambling addiction. Understanding these can help you or someone you care about spot trouble before it gets out of hand.

For starters, your social circle plays a surprisingly big role. If you regularly spend time with friends or family members who gamble, the urge to join in, or the feeling that gambling is “normal”, can quickly ramp up. 

Add alcohol or drugs into the mix and the risks skyrocket, since lowered inhibitions can make it hard to walk away from more impulsive bets. But it’s not just about who you’re with or what’s in your glass. 

Stressful life events, depression, anxiety, or even plain boredom can make gambling seem like a tempting escape. The rush of betting offers a temporary distraction, but it’s easy for that fleeting thrill to snowball into habit.

These challenges can feed off of each other, creating a cycle that’s tough to break. If any of these factors sound familiar, being aware of them is the first step toward regaining control.

If you find that gambling is disrupting your life and causing you severe financial stress and mental illnesses such as depression, then now is the best time to hit pause and take a break. Although it’s not easy to just quit altogether, here are some tips that can help you with your gambling problem.

6 Ways to Stop Gambling

1. Get to the Root of the Issue

Are you gambling out of boredom, stress, loneliness, or depression? Identify what your main triggers are, and seek professional help for whatever challenge you are facing that is causing you to gamble.

2. Distract Yourself with a New or Old Hobby  

When you quit gambling, your brain will crave the adrenaline that it got when you would gamble. Try to learn something new every day, and challenge yourself. 

You may get this “high” through sports and exercise, or through doing something mentally stimulating such as learning to play a musical instrument. You can also rekindle a hobby that you enjoyed before gambling started to take over. 

This will help establish a familiar sense of routine, and as you put more focus into your hobbies, you may also find joy in something that is completely separate from gambling.

3. Learn Ways to Cope and Handle Triggers

Gambling is often used as an escape from troubling thoughts and emotions. Gambling addiction therapy offers valuable insights into how you developed this addiction and ways to stop gambling for good, especially when triggers are present. 

In addition to therapy, you can also look into finding new ways to relax your mind and body such as meditation, taking a bath with lavender bath salts, watching your favorite movie, or drinking a warm cup of tea.

Identify Your Thoughts and Feelings

The urge to gamble can sometimes feel overwhelming, as if it will never go away. But remember, these feelings do pass. Paying close attention to your emotional wellness can help you regain control and build resilience against compulsive gambling.

If you notice your cravings to gamble increasing, take a moment to pause and check in with yourself:

• What thoughts are running through your mind? Are you daydreaming about winning big or replaying past gambling experiences?
• How are you feeling right now? Are boredom, stress, or loneliness fueling your urge to gamble?
• What coping techniques can you use? Distraction is powerful. Try picking up a hobby, postponing the urge for a set amount of time, or talking things out with someone you trust.

If negative emotions like depression or anxiety are pushing you to gamble, consider reaching out for professional support or confiding in a friend or family member. On the other hand, if you’re seeking excitement or simply trying to fill empty time, look for new activities that give you a sense of thrill or accomplishment.

The key is to become more aware of what’s triggering your gambling urges and to experiment with healthier coping strategies. Over time, these new habits can help you reclaim control and rediscover satisfaction beyond gambling.

Avoid High-Risk Situations

Coping with triggers also means steering clear of situations that could make you want to gamble. 

This might include:

• Avoiding casinos and online gambling sites
• Deleting sportsbook and gambling apps from your phone
• Not carrying large amounts of cash or access to credit cards
• Not taking out loans or putting yourself in a risky financial position
• Skipping venues or social gatherings where gambling takes place
• Steering clear of people and activities you associate with gambling

If you know that your route home passes by a casino, try taking a different way. If watching certain sports events makes you want to place a bet, consider changing the channel or watching with supportive friends who don’t gamble.

Making these small but significant changes in your daily routine can help prevent those cravings from taking hold, and give you the space you need to practice your new coping skills.

4. Surround Yourself with Positive Influences

Community is an extremely important part of recovery from any addiction. Surround yourself with people who you can trust, who you can learn from, and who will never encourage you to gamble. Consider joining a support group of people who are also recovering from compulsive gambling.

5. Write in a Journal

This method is about your experience and keeping your promise to yourself that you won’t gamble. Keeping track of your progress and seeing how far you’ve come is something that you can look back on when you feel the temptation to gamble. 

Over time, this journal will show how much better your life is without gambling, and why you should never go back. 

You can also include a list of things you are grateful for every day. Gratitude lists can change your perspective on life, and you will find that you are looking for the good things in each day, rather than the negative things. 

6. Pause Before You Play: The Power of Waiting

When the urge to gamble strikes, it can feel almost impossible to resist, but hitting the “pause” button, even for a short while, can make a world of difference. 

Giving yourself permission to wait lets your cravings subside, making it easier to regain control before making any decisions.

Here’s how to put this strategy into action:

• Take a few moments to slow your breathing and calm your mind.
• Step away from triggers. This could mean going for a brisk walk, soaking in a relaxing bath, or simply picking up a good book.
• Commit to holding off for at least an hour. More often than not, the intensity of the urge will start to fade.

Use this time to imagine the true consequences if you gave in. This might include the stress of financial setbacks or the disappointment of breaking a promise to yourself or your loved ones. 

By practicing a short delay, you’re training your brain to choose mindfulness over impulse, an important skill that strengthens your recovery journey.

Does Gambling Treatment Work? 

There are a variety of treatments available for gamblers. One of the most common treatments is a gambling-specific support group such as Gamblers Anonymous. 

This can be beneficial since you will be connecting with like-minded people who understand what you are going through. However, the important thing with support groups is to go continuously, even after you think you have conquered your gambling problem. 

Gamblers Anonymous, when coupled with outpatient therapy, is about 5 times more successful. Having frequent one-on-one sessions with a counselor can help get to the root of your gambling problem, which can be a more effective way to quit permanently. 

The most successful form of treatment is attending a residential treatment center for gambling. Getting away from your familiar environment, away from people or places that may remind you of gambling, can be highly beneficial. 

At Algamus, we offer residents a 30+ day stay at our mountain lodge in Goodyear, Arizona. Here, you will be in community with fellow gamblers, have access to counselors, and get to try out forms of therapy you may have never tried, including yoga and meditation. Attending a gambling-specific treatment center can get you permanent results in a timely manner. 

If you feel that it’s likely that you or a loved one has a gambling problem that needs to be addressed, reach out to us and we can help determine a treatment plan that is best suited for you. 

How Therapy, Medication, and Support Groups Support Recovery

For many people facing gambling addiction, overcoming it isn’t simply a matter of willpower—real healing often requires specialized support. Thankfully, there are proven strategies that can make a meaningful difference.

Therapy is often one of the first steps in recovery. Integrating approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can help you identify the underlying thoughts and emotions that fuel your gambling urges.

By working closely with a therapist, you'll develop practical coping skills to manage triggers, reshape unhealthy behaviors, and build new routines that support long-term recovery.

Medication can offer valuable support, especially if you’re dealing with co-occurring issues like depression or anxiety alongside gambling addiction. Depending on your needs, a healthcare provider may prescribe antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or other medications to help ease mental health symptoms, making it easier to focus on your recovery journey.

Support groups like Gamblers Anonymous bring an essential sense of community. When you share your experiences with others who truly understand what you’re going through, you benefit from encouragement, accountability, and collective wisdom. 

Whether you’re celebrating milestones or working through setbacks, having a group that "gets it" can help you stay motivated. Plus, you’ll have opportunities to offer your own support to others, which can reinforce your own commitment to change.

Many people find that a combination of these tools–personal counseling, appropriate medication, and regular support group participation– lays a strong foundation for lasting recovery. 

If you’re juggling other responsibilities, outpatient therapy and flexible group meetings can offer the help you need without disrupting daily life.

How to Get Help for Gambling Addiction

Overcoming a gambling addiction isn’t something you need to do alone. We offer a wide range of support options designed to help you, no matter where you are in your recovery journey.

Therapy and Professional Support

Working with a mental health professional is often a cornerstone of recovery. Our therapists specialize in gambling addiction and use evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy to help you develop healthy coping strategies, manage triggers, and address any co-occurring conditions such as anxiety or depression. It’s not uncommon for treatment plans to include both individual and group counseling.

Support Groups and Community Resources

Building a network of peers is another vital piece of the puzzle. Groups like Gamblers Anonymous are available in many of the US cities. These meetings give you a safe space to share challenges, celebrate victories, and learn from others who understand the road you’re on.

Flexible Outpatient Programs

For many, outpatient programs provide the right balance of structured care and day-to-day flexibility. These programs let you participate in therapy and support groups while continuing with work and family life. 

Outpatient treatment often includes regular check-ins with counselors, access to group sessions, and new skills to manage daily situations.

Residential Treatment Options

If gambling has deeply affected your life, a residential treatment center may be your best option. Retreat-style programs remove you from triggering environments and immerse you in a community focused on recovery. 

These centers usually offer a blend of therapy, holistic practices like yoga or meditation, and opportunities to connect with others on a similar path.

Taking the First Step

The most important thing to remember is that help is available, and your journey to recovery can start today. Whether you choose therapy, support groups, or a more intensive program, there is hope for lasting change.

If you feel that it’s likely that you or a loved one has a gambling problem that needs to be addressed, reach out to us and we can help determine a treatment plan that is best suited for you.