Excessive gambling often causes a multitude of emotional symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts and tendencies. In extreme situations, these thoughts may lead a gambler to actually making an attempt to end their life. Losing everything to gambling is devastating and leaves many people feeling completely hopeless. These adverse effects can lead to marital discord or even divorce and family breakdowns; perhaps you are a victim of these circumstances. The impact of the online poker phenomenon, in particular, is a major contributing factor to high levels of out-of-control gambling.

Approximately 10 million people in the United States live with a gambling addiction problem. A gambling addiction occurs when a person continues to gamble despite negative effects that may impact their finances, relationships, or well-being. Gambling addiction involves compulsions to seek out gambling, betting, and wagering, and the end result can be devastating for the gambler as well as his or her family.¹

People who struggle with a gambling or shopping problem often hide their issues out of shame and a desire for secrecy.

This often delays recovery and treatment and allows a gambling addiction to lead to other serious effects, including loss of jobs, failed relationships, and severe debt. Problem gambling is often associated with mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. Gambling problems don’t just affect mental health. People who have struggled with gambling benefit greatly from treatment and often also need family counseling and financial coaching to fully recover.

Christine’s Story

“You have to do the work in all areas of your recovery, including your finances. I chose to not do all the work necessary for a well-rounded recovery. Even though I was no longer actively gambling, my financial and legal troubles told me I still needed to work with a gambling addiction specialist. After my troubles occurred, I worked with a specialist for a year while I went through the legal mess I created.

“Now that I have reached eight and a half years in recovery from gambling addiction and alcohol abuse, I know it is my job, my duty, to be of recovery service to others. Life today is good!”

— Read Christine C.’s story and more at www.HeroesInRecovery.com

>>> READ THIS NEXT:What Is Integrated Treatment Really?

The Cost of Problem Gambling in Your Community

Studies have shown that more than $6 billion has been lost each year to gambling addictions. This problem is far-reaching and can cause both individuals and companies to panic and act in ways they would not normally act.¹

Gambling addictions also place a severe hardship on prison systems, public assistance programs, and legal systems. There are many consequences of gambling addictions that result in community economic costs.

Some community gambling addiction dangers include:

Increased rates of unemployment
Bankruptcy
Fraud and check forgery

Forced home sales
Increased alcohol and drug abuse
Poor mental and physical health of individuals and families

How Gambling Impacts the Individual and Family

While the addicted person will definitely suffer during a gambling addiction, that person’s family will also face challenges. The stress that the problem gambler experiences may cause irritable behavior, secrecy, and arguments. Calls from creditors and bill collectors erode relationships. Financial strains impact all family members, and strained relationships make the experience difficult for even extended family members, friends, and colleagues.

The children of gambling addicts also suffer in many ways, including:

Emotional neglect and abandonment (and even physical abandonment) when one parent is consumed in an addiction.
Stressed and irritable parents may lash out at children angrily, and even if they do not, these children can sense their parents’ tension.
Children of people with gambling addiction are at higher risk of experiencing their own addictions later in life.

If You Can’t Stop Gambling, Your Life Will Be Forever Changed

The effects of a gambling addiction are often quite clear. A large number of people who engage in compulsive gambling will use credit cards and debit cards to pay casinos or internet gambling organizations. If you engage in problem gambling, you will most likely incur debt, damage your relationships, and lose sight of your goals in life.

Gambling psychological effects definition

There are many ways that an untreated gambling addiction can change your life.

Gambling psychological effects on the body

Family problems are very common. Almost all compulsive gamblers around the world have issues at home with their family because of their addiction.
Financial devastation is unavoidable. People with a gambling addiction will go to extreme measures to get money to gamble. Many people eventually resort to stealing, taking out large loans, or other desperate means that are out-of-character.
Job loss is very high among gambling addicts. Gambling addiction may lead you to miss work, or come to work distracted. Gambling addictions will interfere with work relations, promotions, and employment.

No matter how bad a gambling addiction has become, it is possible to turn things around. Call us for help today at 269-280-4673.

Gambling can be found everywhere from physical casinos to a multitude of online websites and apps.It is easier than ever to gamble in the privacy of home or on the go with a smart phone. It’s easy to place bets with PayPal, credit cards, bitcoin, or money-transfer apps. All of this ease has led to an increase in gambling addiction across the world.

Gambling does not lead to a physical dependence like opioid drugs or alcohol, but it can destroy relationships, jobs, finances, and dreams.

Problem gambling can become a compulsive behavior and gambling can be emotionally addictive. Addictions to behaviors (as opposed to addictive substances) are known as “process addictions,” and, just like substance addictions, they require supportive treatment. Specialty rehab programs and support groups are available for people who struggle with gambling addiction. If you or someone you love struggles with gambling behavior, you are not alone. One look at the statistics behind gambling addiction reveal that this problem is prevalent… but treatment is available.

What is Gambling Addiction?

Gambling addiction begins once betting and gambling behavior causes distress, becomes habitual, leads to financial stress, disturbs everyday life functioning, or negatively impacts relationships. This condition (also known as compulsive gambling or pathological gambling) often leads people to experience an uncontrollable urge to engage in gambling despite the negative effects it might have in their lives.

Once gambling addiction has begun, the person who can’t stop betting may continue to chase the high of a big win, even if it involves continuous loss, lying, cheating, or even stealing to support the habit of gambling. In severe cases, it almost seems like the addicted person experiences a personality shift, but it is possible for a person to hide a gambling addiction and continue working and participating in everyday life, all while consequences build up behind the scenes.

>>> READ THIS NEXT:How to Address a Loved One’s Substance Abuse Problem

Compulsive Gambling:
United States Gambling Addiction Statistics

The North American Foundation for Gambling Addiction Help reports that approximately 2.6% of the U.S. population has some type of gambling issue. That adds up to nearly 10 million people in the United States who struggle with a gambling habit. This issue adds up to approximately 6 billion dollars each year, which impacts the U.S. economy and citizens.¹

Gambling costs American taxpayers. Public funding for problem gambling went up to $73 million in 2016, but despite those costs, gambling remains regulated by each state, and is not federally regulated. Ten states (and the District of Columbia) do not offer any publicly funded gambling assistance. These funding discrepancies mean that public treatment services can vary widely from s

Gambling Psychological Effects