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Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction, also known as compulsive gambling, is a type of impulse-control disorder. Many compulsive gamblers use the internet and online gambling communities to gamble. Some of the online games that are now available include Las Vegas-type games including poker, sports betting, roulette, and blackjack. Compulsive gamblers can’t control the impulse to gamble, even when they know their gambling is hurting themselves or their loved ones. Gambling is all they can think about and all they want to do, no matter the consequences. Compulsive gamblers keep gambling whether they’re up or down, broke or flush, happy or depressed. Even when they know the odds are against them, even when they can’t afford to lose, people with a gambling addiction (like any addiction) are powerless once they have started.

Gamblers can have a problem, however, without being totally out of control. Problem gambling is any gambling behavior that disrupts your life. If you’re preoccupied with gambling, spending more and more time and money on it, chasing losses, online/internet gambling or gambling despite serious consequences, you have a gambling problem.

Treatment for Gambling Addiction

The biggest step in any treatment for an addiction is for the addict to realize he or she has a problem. It takes tremendous strength and courage to own up to this, especially if the gambling addict or problem gambler has lost a lot of money and strained or broken relationships along the way. Overcoming a gambling addiction or problem is never easy. But recovery and finding support and understanding is possible and available.