Gambling Addiction Information
The American Psychiatric Association is set to recognize pathological gambling as the first non-drug addiction. Yet, in doing so, DSM-5's authors must mythologize gambling addiction to match. Gambling addiction riddles an individual’s life and has the potential to take away or destroy all that is important to them. But what makes gambling so addictive? When someone with a gambling addiction wins a hand or spins a straight 777 on the slot machine, dopamine is released in the brain and creates a feeling of a thrill or a rush. The plague of addictive gambling As many as 750,000 young people have a gambling addiction. People between the ages of twenty and thirty have the highest rates of problem gambling (defined as “an urge to gamble continuously despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop”).
There are many different forms of gambling, just like there are many forms of other addictions. The issue isn't the act of betting money in hopes of winning money. The real issue is that for a growing number of people, gambling quickly becomes an obsession. The question is, how do you know whether or not that has happened to you?
You may have a number of different questions, like:
- If I like to gamble, is that a problem that needs professional help?
- If I'm a gambler, how do I know if I need help to recover?
- If I'm not a regular gambler, addiction isn't likely, is it?
- What is it that makes gambling so addictive?
- How did I develop a gambling disorder?
Getting the answers to these and any other questions you might have is very important. Unless your questions get answered, you're not likely to get the help you need to recover. If you do have a gambling addiction, you need to know.
At Northpoint Washington, we work with a lot of people with addictions. There are so many different types of addictions, and process addictions are one type. These addictions can be just as dangerous as substance abuse problems. Other addiction treatment centers may not treat them the same, but we do.
What Makes Gambling Addictive
If you struggle with gambling, you might be wondering if you have an actual addiction to it. We'd love to help you find the answers you're looking for.
Why Is Crack So Addictive
In this era, everything is easily accessible on the internet, even gambling. You do not have to leave your house and you can win a big fortune. This makes online gambling addictive. Why else is online gambling addictive? Let’s see.
Why Is Gambling So Addicting
- Online gambling sites are accessible 24/7 from anywhere there’s an internet connection. It takes more effort to get to a casino and other “brick and mortar” venues, and some of them don’t operate around the clock.
- If a problem gambler spends several days in a row at a casino or racetrack, his/her absence is likely to be noticed. Online gamblers can play via computer or mobile device at work, home, or anywhere there’s an internet connection at any time of day without being missed or revealing what they’re doing.
- Online gambling at home provides greater convenience, anonymity and comfort than playing in a casino. In private, it’s easy for players to place bets after heavy consumption of drugs or alcohol, which can increase the amount of time spent gambling and money wagered.
It’s easy for people to access their bank account online, whereas at a physical location, it takes more effort such as withdrawing money from a bank machine. This increases the likelihood of impulse betting and “chasing losses.” - On the internet it’s easy to forget that electronic money is still real money. Gamblers may be able to use a credit card to deposit funds they can’t necessarily pay back into an online account that they can access as other resources dry up.
- A lot of internet gambling websites are registered in locations where online gambling is legal, but not necessarily well regulated. It can be hard to know who is running them or whether they are legitimate. This makes it hard to take action against them when problems arise.
- It’s easier for traditional betting locations to ban underage or problem gamblers. Online gambling sites may have policies on restricting access, but their ability to enforce them is unclear. Thus, the only real limit is an individual’s self-control.
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