The gambling environment, which covers a broad set of factors including economics, the socio-political environment, public policy, and culture of social responsibility. It is important to note that each jurisdiction is subject to different policies and regulations that can vary both within and between countries. Gambling addiction –also known as pathological gambling or compulsive gambling – is a serious mental health disorder. Those struggling with this condition are unable to control the urge to bet; in fact, they will gamble so excessively that it leads to serious consequences including damaged relationships, ruined careers, and financial devastation. Incidence and prevalence of problem gambling while attempting to reduce the emotional, physical, social, legal, financial, and spiritual consequences of problem gambling for the gambler and gambler's family and the community at-large. The public health model proposes that problems arise through the reciprocal.

Gambling addiction –also known as pathological gambling or compulsive gambling – is a serious mental health disorder. Those struggling with this condition are unable to control the urge to bet; in fact, they will gamble so excessively that it leads to serious consequences including damaged relationships, ruined careers, and financial devastation. This particular addiction affects an estimated 2 million Americans. In addition, another 4 to 6 million struggle with what’s commonly called problem gambling. They don’t meet all the criteria for a gambling addiction, but their behaviors are serious enough to cause problems in their lives.

Like any addiction, pathological gambling is a complex disorder. Many factors can contribute to its development. Following are some of the most salient risk factors that can increase one’s vulnerability to a gambling addiction:

Age

Research suggests that individuals under the age of 35 may be more prone to developing a gambling addiction. One of the most likely reasons for this is the fact that younger individuals are more likely to seek out new sensations and act impulsively than their older counterparts.

Although younger folks tend to have an increased risk for compulsive gambling, older individuals are also at risk. Senior gamblers are often more likely to play in order to relieve unwanted feelings such as loneliness or anxiety. Additionally, seniors now have wider access to wagering through gambling websites and apps, providing more opportunity for an addiction to develop, right from the comfort of home. Health plays a role in compulsive gambling among older individuals as well. Dementia and other types of cognitive impairment make it difficult for older seniors to make reasonable decisions when wagering.

Furthermore, casinos and licensed gaming facilities have been known to market perks specifically toward older gamblers. For example, many places offer free transportation, discounted meals, or free drinks to seniors, all of which are appealing – especially to those on a fixed income. Organized bus trips for seniors, in particular, can be very appealing to those who’ve become socially isolated or lost a spouse to death or divorce. The trips offer entertainment and the fellowship of other seniors.

Gender

While it’s not unusual to view gambling addiction as a problem that primarily impacts men, many women struggle with it as well. Experts estimate that 1 out of every 3 gambling addicts is a member of the fairer sex. Although women develop the addiction at somewhat lower rates than men, they appear more likely to do so later in life than male addicts.

It’s critical for individuals, families, and health care professionals to recognize and address this condition in women. Research suggests that women become addicted to gambling quickly; often within a year from when they first start placing bets. In contrast, it takes men an average of four years to develop a gambling addiction. This highlights the importance of getting a woman with gambling problems into treatment as soon as possible.

Mental Health Issues

Problem Gambling Environmental

The presence of certain psychiatric disorders also boosts the risk for a gambling addiction. It’s not uncommon for compulsive gamblers to suffer from depression, bipolar disorder, an anxiety disorder, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. For example, individuals with bipolar disorder often engage in high risk behaviors during manic or hypomanic episodes. Gambling would certainly fall into this category, especially for someone whose judgment is impaired and who’s highly impulsive. Manic individuals are more vulnerable to becoming addicted to the euphoria and excitement that gambling provides. Depressive episodes can make them vulnerable to using gambling as a form of distraction and a way to self-medicate painful emotions.

Personality Traits

Specific personality traits have been connected to an increased risk for compulsive gambling. Researchers discovered that pathological gamblers tend to be more impulsive by nature. Furthermore, one 30-year study found that participants with an “under-controlled” temperament at age three were more than twice as likely to have a gambling disorder as adults than those who had been considered “well-adjusted” as children.

Family History

As with many other mental health disorders, including depression and substance abuse, gambling addiction may also have a genetic element. One study found that when one identical twin has a gambling addiction, the other twin is more likely to develop it as well. This risk was higher among identical twins than fraternal twins.

In addition to genetics, family environment can also contribute to the development of a gambling addiction. For example, children of gambling addicts are often exposed to wagering and other types of gambling activity at an early age. Researchers discovered that teenagers who had received scratch-off lottery tickets as gifts were more likely to report symptoms of problem gambling later in life. Such a gift sends the message that gambling is acceptable. This type of home environment can promote gambling behavior in children and adolescents.

Certain Medications

Some prescription drugs raise the risk for impulsive behavior, which in turn increases the risk for a gambling addiction. Parkinson’s disease is often treated with medications known as dopamine agonists. Research suggests that individuals taking these particular drugs may be more likely to demonstrate impulse control problems and disordered gambling behavior.

Military Status

Recent attention on the health of current and former military members has focused on issues such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, and suicide. Gambling addiction is also a growing concern for American veterans. A study revealed that 8% of vets show symptoms of problem gambling, while an additional 2% have a gambling addiction – numbers that are approximately twice the rate for the general population. The researchers also found that male and female veterans had about the same rates of problem and pathological gambling. This contrasts with the general population, in which, as noted earlier, men struggle at higher rates than women.

Addiction Treatment

Like other addictions, gambling addiction is treatable. Treatment often involves a combination of talk therapy, support groups, lifestyle changes, and, in some cases, medication. If another mental health disorder, such as a substance abuse disorder or major depression, contributes to excessive gambling, then that condition will also require treatment if the addiction treatment is to be effective.

If you are finding it hard to stop gambling, or if you’re already suffering from consequences related to your gambling behavior, it’s time to get help. There are many treatment facilities as well as individuals mental health professionals who specialize in treatment gambling addiction. The longer you wait to get help, the more serious the problem will become, and the more devastating the consequences will be. Pick up the phone and set up an appointment for an evaluation. From there, you and an addiction specialist can determine the best course of treatment. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you can be on the path to recovery.

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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

Problem Gambling Environment Meaning

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

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

Problem Gambling Environment Definition

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.

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

• 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.