Gambling Addiction Does Exist

[Doug]

At its basic core, gambling is a fun and harmless way to increase the interest and enjoyment of sports action. However, the fact is for certain people gambling can become addictive. As casino and sports gambling expands outside of Las Vegas and Atlantic City through both Internet gambling websites and increasingly favorable legislation for on site gambling on a state-by-state basis, new outlets for individuals to develop gambling addictions have developed.

Recent statistics from Gamblers Anonymous suggest that four to six percent of gamblers eventually become problem gamblers or pathological (compulsive) gamblers. While this is a small percentage of the total number of people gambling, when you consider the millions of people who gamble each year the raw numbers of problem gamblers are significant.

Could I Have a Problem with Gambling Addiction?
Compulsive gambling is a progressive disease.
There are many stories of devastating financial, emotional, and mental effects - not only upon the gambler, but also on his or her loved ones. Recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as a “disorder of impulse control” in 1980, gambling addiction is a chronic disease that most people consider to happen in three phases, as defined by Robert L. Custer, MD.

The Winning Phase: The experience of a big win leaves a gambler with an overwhelming (and unreasonable) optimism that his or her winning will continue. This leads to increased excitement and, usually, increased dollar amounts of the gambler’s bets.

The Losing Phase: This phase is often characterized by the gambler bragging about wins that he or she never had, beginning to gamble alone (often times online), thinking about gambling more often and borrowing money (legally or otherwise) with which to bet. Lying to family and friends becomes commonplace and the gambler becomes more irritable, restless, and withdrawn. An important element of this phase is the concept of “chasing” a loss, which essentially means the feeling that a gambler must return to the game as soon as possible to win back his or her losses.

The Desperation Phase: During this final, debilitating phase, there is a massive increase in the amount of time a person spends gambling. As a reaction to the disintegration of his or her life, the gambler experiences remorse, the blaming of others, and the alienation of friends and family. A feeling of hopelessness overcomes the gambler and is often manifested in suicidal thoughts, arrest, divorce, substance abuse, or an emotional breakdown.

[Doug]

20 Questions-to determine if the signs/symptoms of an addiction exist.

1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3. Did gambling affect your reputation?
4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5. Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7. After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
8. After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
10. Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
11. Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
12. Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
14. Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
18. Do arguments, disappointments, or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20. Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

As a general rule of thumb, if you answer 7 or more questions with a “yes,” you should seek treatment. However, even if you answer less than seven questions with a “yes” answer, you may need help controlling or managing your gambling habits, and there are resources available to all persons with complete confidentiality. Information is the ultimate problem helper.

[gettingbetter]

I would like to thank the administrators of the site for adding gambling addiction. Society, unfortuanately has been escalating at a dizzying pace thses poker tv shows, tournaments,on-line , and even on your cell phone. The younger adults have been exposed to a new can of worms that will lead most of them deeper into lifes problems,alcoholism, drug addiction, divorce, and jail and death.

[shutterbug]

Number 4, 9, 13, 14, 15 and 18...all me

Not a total of 7, but right on that fence...as I sadly suspected I am. I pray I can get away before it gets worse and before more of those on the list start to fit my life.

I have tons of addiction issues on both sides of my family. Mostly alcohol on my father's side and gambling and alcohol on my mothers.

I have only ever had addiction problems with cigerretts (a deadly one for me and my asthmatic and very unhealthy lungs...and which may end my life in the next 10 years if I can't quit soon...and even possibly still if I do quit).

Gambling...I never EVER thought I would have issues with! While in college I worked in about 6 different casinos and bingo halls over the years...during summers and weekends. I saw first hand from my first job with a casino how serious a gambling addiction is and what it can cause, but I truely never thought I would have any problems...as I hated to lose any money that I had worked hard for while putting myself through school.

It's been about 10 years since my first job at a gambling site...and now...they are everywhere and so MANY incentives to go in and play...like free money to play with and drawings and shows and ...well, I just can't drive anywhere in my hometown without seeing one or a sign for one!

Two years ago...maybe I went and played $20 once a month or every 2 months. Now....2 or more days a week...and in February alone, one of those stops after work left me minus $104 and the other $110. I felt physcially sick after both times. I've lost somewhere between $300-$400 this month alone! And I only bring home about $600 (after taxes and health plan deductions) every two weeks!

A move 40 minutes to the town I've been working in for nearly a year now would go a LONG way toward getting me away from the constant reminders and easy access to so many venues....but I haven't had to pay rent in several years and scared and stress of the thought of having a large rent cost due each month.

But that is still what I'm trying to do sooner than later....what i've lost this month alone....is a nice rent payment!

Thanks Morning Glory and Doug for opening and starting this forum!

[Wino40]

Hi

I just thought I would share how I became addicted to gambling.

Winstar Casino hosted a cage fighting event. I attended with three friends and we bought ringside seats. As a gift (I see now, a way to hook me into a life of gambling) the casino gave each of us $10 in free money to spend.

I found a friendly looking slot machine and found it was a $5 per play machine. A lady that was on the next seat showed me how to insert my card and push a button. The little deals spun and I did not win. I pushed the little button again and the little deals spun and again I did not win. I lost $10 in less than 8 seconds. As a marketing technique, the casino picked a bust.

My addiction lasted a VERY short time. I wish my first drink had been that unsuccesful. :>)

Ray

[SaTiT]

I'm glad this section got started.
There's no GA where I'm at.
And I'm met many and many of BW's freinds in casinos.

There's damn casinos are in every directions I drive thou.
And they just got done putting one closer.

Seriousely....for years we could never get pass the casino.
We make plans to have a nice weekend at the beach or something.
But you know...just stopped in for five minutes turns into an all weekend.

many, many heart aches and chaos.

It all started out innocent enough.
Just something different to do, a weekend get away.
Spent a couple of hours and have dinner and actually , walk out
$25 richer. I was actaully scared to bet $0.25.lol
We both had never gamble before and was wondering what hell
everybody was talking about, The ADD campains

It got out of hand.
I'll slam hundreds and thousands in a weekend easily.

I think I paid for a certain section of the casino to be remodel,
at the very least.lol

It's also getting out of hands. The so call indian tribes
are trying or build casions that's not on reservation.
It's big bussiness and easy money.
The so call indian tribes are just a couple of familes.
There's a million thing you can do beside building a casino to make money
but it's easy and fast money.

There's plans to build a casino in my community....I'm done.lol
The mind set is different today.
20 years ago, the community would be up and arm if a casino was to
be build so close. It sucks a lot out of a community

If I made $10000000000000 a year , I can aford to give away
a couple of mills here and there to put back into a community
All propaganda crap. But they campian it thou.

And hell yes..the damn music of a slot with a certain temple.
Screens flashes a certain way...i wonder if they have sublimenal masseages.lol
There's a study...some peaple gets relax by watching
flashes on screens....I think I'm one of them

A cage that you put a rat in and run experiments
Feed the rat, shock the rat....
The damn rat just be taping the damn botton.lol
It's a ........skiner box.lol

Very few exit
No clock
it's dark so you can't tell if it's day or night.
The coffee makes you wired as hell...AA coffee ain't nothing close.lol
It's designed to take money.lmaf


But there's liquor store everywhere too, and I don't drink becuase
of that.

I purchase a PC software slot..
I actaully get the same rush without going broke...I'm trying.
I'm substituting ...not CT..lol
But I've never won a major jackpot.

My GF has...and she's serching for that ultimate rush....
as you would do with a drug.

You left out one Doug......
Have you ever cursed and kicked the mechine and put more money in it? lol

[SaTiT]

If you ever watched Serching for NEMO...it a has recovery references.
The 12 step meetings and what not.

The part when two fish get chase into the deep.
And there's creature with a light tentiale, as a lure.
The fishes gets mesmerize by the light.....that's what happens
to me when I sit at a slot machine . i can sit there for days
and it would only seem like 5 mins.

I'm not sure if it runs in my genes.
My GreatGradmother had major gambling problems.
My mother never told me the story.
I just knew her as my greatgradma and she lived across the way
from our house. And that she was a nice lady.
My grad mother owns a lot of land back in the home land (thailand)
But at one piont my greatgradma....was like stupid rich.
She had servents working for her even.
She lost all of her wealth and land due to gambling
and had to move in with my gradmother or what was
left of the land. I guess my gradfather was very bitter
toward my greatgradmother. There was sometype of
tension...as a child I didn't know what it was.

[shutterbug]

Thanks SaTiT for sharing your stories!

I have not gambled this week...and if I make it the rest of the week...then it will be my first in several months to not have gone to a casino at all.

But tonight...I wanted to, though not as strong as my typical desire is.

I'm on the fence with this addiction and I continue to pray I can safely climb back down the way I came.

[best]

Originally Posted by SaTiT

I'm not sure if it runs in my genes.

I think that all of us that have an addictive personality can become an addict to just about anything. I would tend to say that what we feel is our needs is what tells us what we become addicted to for many things.
Insecurity, greed, pride, the rush of the moment, low selfesteem, ... the list can be long.
When I would play lier's poker, I would lose at least 10% of my paycheck every Friday. The desire to beat the other guy...driven by pride and my resistance lowered because of the drinking. I am glad that when the drinking stopped so didn't the gambling.
Have been on the other side of the fence as well. IRS looking for money because of gambling by another. The hiding of what was going on. The lies or excuses that went along with the missing money. All the same negatives that go along with drugs or alcohol except for the harm done to the body that they can do.
Solutions are tough but solutions are there and do work.
People on both sides of the issue can find answers and support. It can be beat if you are willing to set and hold boundaries and use the tools of recovery.
steps 1, 2, & 3
I have a problem
I can't control the problem
Help...

[calabash]

My first visible or manifested addictionm is/was gambling. I spent massive amounts of money, and my family suffered as a consequence. I really did noit undersatand how it was possible that I was so completely without the ability to stop. And it was always coupled with drinking - heavily. And then after loosing so much money I would go home and drink some more. Eventually I had myself banned from the local casino, and went into a therapy programme offered by trhe casino. Aftyer the 6th session the therapist told me that I should go to meetings - but there were none where I lived. Towards the end of my gambling career I started using coacaine heavily. And when I stopped gambling, I simply put cocaine in its place.

After a couple of years of that, I entered the rooms of na. Today i am grateful I know I am an alcoholic, gambling addict and drug addict. ADDICT in general. So I know I have to be very carefularound things that feel toooo good. But I have found understanding addcition better and having a 12 step programme has allowed me to arrest all my addictions.

[SaTiT]

I havn't gone gambling in a while
I don't miss it.
Probably becuase of all the pain it has caused me.
I tell my GF gambling is like indian Joe catching
my soul with his dream catcher. The pain is just
greater than the rewards at this piont in time.

However I'm surrounded by peaple at home and
work that talks about gambling all the damn time.
My entire crew...basically.

I'm codi and whatever else A's program I'm qualifiy for.
Yes...I'm addict all over. God help me....

Even in my music...I gotta have 10 + guitars that I don't play. But i had to have it and will obsess over it until
I get it...spends hundreds and thousands.
The only guitar I've played is a $150 run of the mill
piece of crap that I've gotten used to playing.
Even when i record or write music...I'll obsess sometimes.

My hobbies...I actally spent $2000 on a R/C car. it was a
stupid rush i was after. Spending upgrades after upgrades.
Do i play with it now.....nope.

hang in there shatterbug...i can't tell you something that you already don't know.

[THE KING]

i ANSWERED YES TO 7, 8 AND 14 so whats that mean? ( I think I answered yes to 7 because of my competitiveness

[Doug]

Originally Posted by THE KING

i ANSWERED YES TO 7, 8 AND 14 so whats that mean? ( I think I answered yes to 7 because of my competitiveness

As a general rule of thumb, if you answer 7 or more questions with a “yes,” you should seek treatment. However, even if you answer less than seven questions with a “yes” answer, you may need help controlling or managing your gambling habits, and there are resources available to all persons with complete confidentiality. Information is the ultimate problem helper.

What does it mean to you? How do you feel about it?

[kelsey]

I attended my first ga meeting last night. It was a huge relief and terribly sad all at the same time.

hearing the stories, seeing the faces of people it had such a hold over, made me feel like I've found the right place.


I suppose I had to reach this stage to figure out how deep in I'd gotten.


The Desperation Phase

[SaTiT]

It's another friday night and we havn't thought or made plans to go
gambling. Havn't touched the PC slots either.
This is the longest stretch we've gone without gambling since
we started, as acouple 2 months .The longest i didn't go was 6-8 months.

[THE KING]

Originally Posted by Doug

What does it mean to you? How do you feel about it?

ummm with all do respect if I knew I wouldnt have asked

[SaTiT]

Another friday night went by...we didn't go gambling
or didn't even mentioned it.

[Baz]

I need treatment so badly but cannot face telling my wife and family. It will crush them. I have lost a fortune. This has gone on for the better part of a decade. It is tearing me apart, and I feel like I am living in a nightmare. Will my wife divorce me? Will my children, parents, siblings, and friends, ever be able to look at me again with respect? Can anyone refer me to a great compulsive addiction shrink in the Los Angeles area? I am in dire need.

[LeftBehind]

Gambing certainly is an addiction. I'm glad I don't have that addiction but certainly empathize with those recovering from it.

[best]

Hello Baz
Welcome to SR
Many states are setting up gambling hotlines... found it.

If you think that you or someone you care about might have a gambling problem, call: the California Lottery Problem Gambling Help Line:

1-888-277-3115

Some areas are starting to set up a Gambler's Anon. as well.
AA meetings would help if you can't find any GA meetings. Where they would say...alcohol... replace the word in your mind with gambling. Same solution different name. It does work.

[historyteach]

Originally Posted by Baz

I need treatment so badly but cannot face telling my wife and family. It will crush them. I have lost a fortune. This has gone on for the better part of a decade. It is tearing me apart, and I feel like I am living in a nightmare. Will my wife divorce me? Will my children, parents, siblings, and friends, ever be able to look at me again with respect? Can anyone refer me to a great compulsive addiction shrink in the Los Angeles area? I am in dire need.

Baz;
My husband began gambling after 20 years of marriage. He almost lost our home. When it came out, I forgave him. It was difficult getting out of the financial hole, but, we did it together. For me, it was between my husband and I; it was no one else's business.

When he started gambling again, with the concometant lies, anger and sneakiness, that was the end. He almost lost our house again. This time, I had to dig out myself -- thankfully with the help of my family. Only then did they know. But, I divorced my husband. He would do nothing to change or to help himself. And I was NOT about to let *him* make me homeless!

Please do not misconstrue what I'm saying. If he had done anything to help himself, I most likely would not have divorced him. (There were other problems too; my son's heroin addiction, which caused much stress in our marriage, for example.) But, he refused to learn anything, and I had enough. Today, he is making over 70K a year, and living in a broken down trailor with an old beat up car. It's so sad... :

You can do this. Please do before your life and that of your entire families, is in peices.

Shalom!