Problem gambling. Gambling can take the form of pokies, lotto, scratchies, card games, racing or other forms of betting. Each year, 70% of Australians participate in some type of gambling, but for some, gambling can quickly become a problem. The treatment of compulsive gambling usually uses more than one approach, including psychotherapy, medication, financial counseling, support groups, 12-step programs, and self-help techniques. The prognosis of recovery from compulsive gambling is encouraging with treatment. It can help you determine if your gambling meets the criteria for a behavioral addiction. If you or a loved one has a gambling addiction, therapy can help. You can find a therapist in your area.

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2. Compulsive gambling is a serious condition that can destroy lives. Although treating compulsive gambling can be challenging, many people who struggle with compulsive gambling have found help through professional treatment.

The Life Process Gambling Program was developed to provide an alternative treatment option to Gamblers Anonymous (GA). We wanted to create a viable alternative for those with a gambling addiction that do not agree with the 12-step philosophy or did not find success with the steps. It is for people just like you who want to know how to stop gambling.

There is always hope. Gambling addiction affects all aspects of one’s life, no matter how much we convince ourselves that the problem is contained and no one else knows. With the Life Process Gambling Program we can help you stop gambling and show you how to overcome your gambling addiction on your own, from the privacy of your own computer.

Gambling addiction has been debated for decades. Dr. Peele first identified gambling as an addiction in 1975 and has written and lectured on the topic ever since.

The medical community has finally come around to Dr. Peele’s thinking on this topic. Recognising this, in 2013 the DSM-5 (the diagnosis manual for psychologists) included gambling addiction for the first time.

Your recovery is in your hands

It is important for you to know that the independent, self-motivated cure for your gambling addiction is possible. You may be asking yourself, “How do I stop Gambling?“. With our help, you can fight your own gambling addictions and learn to live an addiction free life once more.

This Life Process Gambling Program© does not ‘fix you’. It is an aid to help you overcome your gambling addiciton so that you can mature out from addiction more quickly, more surely, and more completely by examining your life from the perspectives presented here and following the self-help guidelines provided.

More than anything, the Life Process Program© makes it clear that you are the primary agent of change. Obviously, this program is not in tune with most addiction theory and therapy, which overwhelmingly favors the twelve-step philosophy. These treatments insist on the premise that the individual is powerless over an addiction. In reviewing the extensive research on gambling and other addiction treatment, however, we actually find that self-efficacy therapies, which focus on the individual’s power and self-reliance, succeed the best. If you are searching for alternatives to 12 step approaches such as the Gamblers Anonymous, you have come to the right place.

Gambling Integrity

“Gambling was ruining my life. I had lost so much money and my husband was going to leave me. I had never considered quitting before I found Dr. Peele’s program online. I was able to work through the program without missing out on my life. It hasn’t always been easy, but the LPP really helped me focus on what’s important.”

Kathy J, USA

“I attended Gamblers Anonymous for 10 years, and relapsed over 20 times. When I realized that I am not powerless and not diseased, I finally took responsibility for my addiction and was able to stop, without going to those meetings I hated with a passion. I am no longer sentenced to a life of meetings with sociopaths, liars, benefit cheats and criminals. For years I was told that GA was the only thing that worked, even though I had seen first hand that it didn’t. Thank you, Dr. Peele!”

Rob T, United Kingdom

“I wasted 25 years of my life in the bookies, arcades and casinos. The first two weeks of my journey on the program was up and down, but with the support of my coach I finally graduated and I haven’t looked back.”

Jim, United Kingdom

Am I addicted to gambling?

There are a number of criteria for what constitutes a gambling problem. The definition of gambling addiction LPP finds useful is: when we create an experience where use of a behavior or substance becomes compulsive, and we continue to pursue it in spite of harm to self or others, then that behavior has become addictive. If gambling is causing harm to you or your family, work, etc., then it falls on the addiction spectrum.

How can gambling be addictive?

“Disordered gambling” is the official term, now under the categories of Substance Use and Other Disorders in the ICD-11. It was previously categorized as a mental disorder having to do with impulse-control or compulsive behaviour. Recognition is growing that, like much addictive behavior, gambling problems are often episodic or temporary—although they may reappear.

Can gambling cause withdrawal?

In a word, “Yes.” Any activity that becomes compulsive, comes to dominate your life and that your structure regularly into your time may cause life disruptions should you choose to stop or reduce it. You may feel distracted, agitated, depressed, angry, weepy, ill, any number of things. Physical symptoms start to ease quickly. Mental and emotional upheaval may take some time. This is true of all addictions.

Isn’t everything okay as long as I’m not losing money?

Gambling Internet

That’s a good one for you to answer! Is it okay? What’s not okay? Sometimes gambling costs us time, attention, interest in things like our families or friends. There is nothing wrong with gambling itself. If it’s fun, that’s great. But if it’s getting in the way of the people and values you consider important, then it may not be serving you and your life well.

Medically reviewed:06/22/2018
Last updated: 04/17/2020
Author: Addictions.com Medical Review

Reading Time: 7minutes

What is Gambling Addiction?

Gambling addiction or gambling disorder is defined as persistent and recurring problematic gambling behavior that causes distress and impairs your overall livelihood. Gambling addiction affects roughly 0.2% to 0.3% of the general U.S. population, and tends to affects males more than females, though this gender gap has narrowed in recent years. Gambling disorder is a behavioral addiction that can be effectively treated using a range of cognitive and behavioral therapies.

The desire to buy scratch tickets, play slot machines, and visit casinos aren’t necessarily signs of gambling addiction. But when the desire to gamble becomes overwhelming to the point you can’t stop thinking about it until you gamble on something, may be a sign you need help. Those who suffer from gambling addiction will continue to gamble despite negative financial, legal, and social consequences.

Gambling disorder is a brain disease that can cause you to do things you wouldn’t normally do if you weren’t suffering from addiction. Behavioral addictions like gambling disorder are often difficult to manage and control without getting professional help. Addiction treatment centers can help you overcome gambling addiction and teach you important skills aimed at helping you repair problems in your life caused by your disorder.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Gambling Addiction?

There are no physical health symptoms associated with gambling disorder. Familiarizing yourself with common gambling addiction behaviors can clue you into whether you or a loved one may need professional help.

Chasing after losses is the most common tell-tale sign of gambling disorder. This particular symptom is marked by the urgent need to continue gambling to earn back a loss or series of losses. Individuals diagnosed with gambling disorder may abandon their usual gambling strategies to win back all losses at once and may lie to family, friends, and therapists to hide the severity of their addiction.

The following behaviors are potential signs of gambling addiction:

Gambling Interrogatories

• Needing to gamble using increasing amounts of money to achieve the desired rush and excitement.
• Feeling restless or irritable when trying to reduce or stop gambling.
• Inability to control, reduce, or quit gambling despite numerous repeated attempts.
• Preoccupation with gambling, such as devising ways to get more gambling money and reliving past gambling experiences.
• Gambling when experiencing feelings of distress, helplessness, guilt, anxiety, and depression.
• Chasing after your losses to get even after losing money gambling.
• Lying to conceal the severity of gambling behaviors, and the addiction.
• Loss of personal relationships, job, and educational pursuits due to gambling.
• Replying on others to provide money to resolve financial situations caused by gambling, such as a threat of eviction from the home.

Those with a mild gambling addiction may exhibit between four and five of these behaviors, while those with a moderately severe gambling addiction may exhibit six to seven of these behaviors. People who suffer from severe gambling addiction will usually exhibit all nine behaviors. Moderate to severe cases of gambling disorder tend to be more common than mild cases.

You might have a gambling problem if:

• You feel compelled to keep gambling until you’ve spent your last dollar. You may keep bidding until you’ve spent everything to win your money back, or you continue increasing bet amounts.
• You hide your gambling from friends or family members. You may sneak off to gamble without telling anyone, or lie about your gambling activities.
• You spend money you don’t have on gambling. You may use money intended for important bills like rent, mortgage, car payments, credit card bills, and other expenses for gambling.
• You steal from others or sell your possessions so you can gamble. You may steal money or belongings from others so you can gamble, or sell or pawn valuable possessions like musical instruments and vehicles to obtain more gambling money.
• You prioritize gambling over obligations related to work, school, family. You may stop going to work or school so you can gamble, or stop buying household necessities so you can use the money for gambling instead.
• You’re experiencing financial hardships due to gambling. You may have lost your home, car, job, and important personal possessions due to gambling.
• You’re facing a range of negative emotions triggered by gambling. Gambling may be a serious problem in your life if it’s triggering depression, anxiety, frustration, agitation, and remorse.
• You want to stop gambling but can’t. You have tried to stop gambling but can’t seem to stop despite your desire to do better and to stop gambling.

Negative Effects of Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction can produce many more negative effects than just financial hardship. Gambling disorder can affect your physical health, mental health, and social functioning, and lead to the loss of important relationships with friends and loved ones. You may also suffer a decline in work or school performance, and feel more restless and bored with all other areas of life that don’t involve gambling.

Those who suffer from gambling addiction tend to suffer from higher rates of poor general health than those who don’t gamble. Tachycardia and angina are common health problems among those diagnosed with gambling addiction. Many who suffer from gambling disorder also tend to experience distortions in thinking surrounding their addiction, such as superstitions, overconfidence, and a sense of power over the outcome of chance events. Nearly 50% of those receiving treatment for gambling disorder experience suicidal ideation, while an estimated 17% have tried to commit suicide.

Gambling Hints

The negative effects of problem gambling include:

Gambling Intercept

• Financial problems including high debt, poverty, or bankruptcy
• Domestic violence and child abuse in families
• Suicidal thoughts, attempts, or the act of suicide
• Legal troubles, including arrests for theft or prostitution
• Behavior problems in children of problem gamblers
• Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders
• Loss of relationships with friends and family
• A decline in performance at work or school
• Suicide and death
• A risk for drug or alcohol abuse

Casino Hints And Tips

How Does Gambling Addiction Interact with Addiction?

Alcohol and cocaine are the two most common substances associated with gambling and binge gambling, respectively. Alcohol is legally available in most gambling settings such as bars and casinos and is often rewarded to gamblers for free at many of these establishments. Roughly 44% of people with gambling disorder in the U.S. also suffer from an alcohol use disorder.

Binge gambling is defined as intermittent episodes of uncontrolled gambling after long periods of abstinence. For instance, a person who practices binge gambling may only visit the casino five times per year but gamble non-stop for long periods during their stay. Cocaine use tends to be common among these gamblers since it produces stimulating effects of increased energy, alertness, focus, concentration, and confidence.

Individuals with gambling disorders tend to suffer higher rates of co-occurring alcohol and drug use disorders compared to their peers. Gambling often takes place in environments that enable and encourage alcohol and drug use. Gambling can also trigger mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, which many may self-treat using alcohol and drugs like marijuana, painkillers, and other addictive substances.

How Are Gambling Addiction and Substance Use Treated?

Gambling addiction is commonly treated using cognitive and behavioral therapies that treat the root psychological causes of your addiction. These therapies also help you identify and change negative, unhealthy thoughts and behaviors that may have led to your gambling addiction. Treatments for gambling addiction can be tailored especially for you or your loved one based on the factors surrounding your disorder.

Gambling addiction can also be treated using community reinforcement, group therapy, and 12-step support groups like Gamblers Anonymous. These treatments help you identify your triggers that can lead to gambling and teach you ways to overcome and manage those triggers. For instance, if a stressful day at work usually makes you feel like gambling, you may learn yoga, deep breathing, or other healthy methods that relieve stress without putting your health and well-being at risk.

Gambling Addiction Help

If you or someone you love needs treatment for gambling addiction, it’s important that you use a treatment approach that best suits your recovery needs. Gambling addiction treatment is available in many different settings, including inpatient and outpatient treatment settings.

Inpatient gambling addiction treatment can greatly benefit those who suffer from severe gambling disorder, and who have suffered severe financial, legal, or social problems. Inpatient treatment includes around-the-clock supervision in a hospital-like setting where you can live for the duration of your treatment program. The intense level of therapy, counseling, and supervision provided by inpatient treatment centers can help significantly reduce the risk of relapse while in recovery.

Compulsive gamblers often need support from friends, family members, and peers to help them stop gambling. Gamblers Anonymous groups can provide peer and social support for those in recovery or for those who wish they can stop gambling. These groups can provide a solid, healthy foundation for a successful and long-term recovery from gambling addiction.

Here’s how to help a family member or loved one suffering from a gambling addiction:

• Understand the addiction. The first thing you can do to help a loved one who is addicted to gambling is to learn all you can about the addiction. Find a support group that can help you cope with the stress that comes from having a loved one who is addicted to gambling.
• Find support. Support for yourself and for your loved one who is addicted can be very beneficial in helping with a gambling addiction. Many support groups are available throughout communities and in treatment centers. Therapists and counselors can also provide support for gambling addiction.
• Manage money tightly. If your loved one is addicted to gambling and is actively pursuing help, take over managing all financial responsibilities for your loved one. This can help reduce any gambling impulses your loved one may be experiencing throughout their recovery.