Gambling - more information
The Attractions of Gambling
- Its fun and exciting
- Its a form of play
- Provides entertainment
- Is easily available
- Its possible to win
- Its part of the culture in this country
- Its human nature to take risks
- Can seem like a magical fantasy world (escapism)
- Involves taking risk
- Can involve a problem solving process
- Often is sited in a venue that is a good place to be
Reasons for Excessive Gambling
To Escape
Problems and pressures that can become overwhelming can be escaped from whilst gambling. The gambling environment aids this escape from reality. Problem gamblers are often distressed and socially isolated
To Feel Powerful
The feeling of disempowerment and lack of control can be reversed through gambling. Gambling can give the individual a sense of achievement and control, the challenge of beating the machine becomes an obsession
For Action
The need for the "buzz" associated with risk taking is a powerful urge for some people. Gambling on fruit machines in particular is an activity where the individual is able to experience that feeling. Financial difficulties start when the person has to risk more and more money in order to keep the "buzz" going
Adverse Effects on the Gambler
- Leads to economic difficulty and debt
- Has serious negative and harmful consequences for the individual concerned, for his/her family, and for others
- Takes over the life of the gambler to the exclusion of everyone else
- Becomes a cause of relationship stress and strain that can have detrimental effects on adults and children
- Be the cause of serious criminality, the victims of which are often employers
- Creates such feelings of despair so as to lead to suicide attempts
Other People Affected by the Problem Gambling
- Partner or spouse
- Own or partners children
- Own or partners parents
- Other relations
- Friends and work colleagues
- Employer
- People at the establishment where the person gambles
Signs and Symptoms of a Gambling Dependency
- Request for help from the Gambler
- Admission by gambler that they are spending too much money on gambling
- Gambler saying they are spending too much time gambling and cannot keep away
- Gambling seen as a legitimate means of making money
- Persuading friends against their will to gamble
- Gambling alone for long periods
- Frequenting gaming venues several times a week
- Committing crime to fund gambling or to pay off gambling debts
- Persistent reports that a person has been seen gambling and in the informers view has a problem
- Frequently in possession of fruit machine tokens or betting slips etc.
Some Strategies for the Gambler
- Be honest with yourself and other people
- Deal with debts by seeking advice from a specialist agency
- Talk to some one who will listen - a partner, a relation or a friend
- Abstain from all gambling while you are breaking the dependency
- Record in a diary or on a calendar each day you do not gamble
- Take one day at a time, say to yourself "Just for today I will not gamble"
- Be positive, don't think yourself a total failure should you have a lapse
- Reward yourself after a gambling free period
- Manage money by getting someone else to handle it for you for a short time
- Develop your range of interests
Some Strategies for the Person affected by someone else's Gambling
- Remember you are not alone
- Recognise that a gambling dependency is a serious problem
- Understand that they like what they do
- Leave responsibility for the gambling with the gambler
- Be firm by not allowing a gambler to manipulate the situation
- Remind the gambler that you still love / care for them
- Manage the gamblers money if you both agree this may help
- Listen non-judgementally to what the gambler tells you
- Encourage the gambler all the time, support their efforts to change
- Seek support for yourself, share your feelings with others
Call the GamCare Helpline on 0845 6000 133 or visit the GamCare website at www.gamcare.org.uk
The information on this page has been reproduced with kind permission of GamCare