CasinosHunter offers this educational guide on gambling addiction to help players recognize and address a potential problem on time.
Read the guide to learn the symptoms of gambling addiction, and ways to prevent it, and check out resources in Canada if you need counseling.
Gambling addiction is a mental health condition characterized by similar symptoms as other addictions (for example, drug addiction) and certain psychological disorders (like phobias).
The simple description of addiction is that the person is unable to control or change their behavior patterns connected to the source of addiction, even when the person is already aware that the behavior patterns are harmful or dangerous.
Recognizing You Have A Problem
The hardest step is to recognize that the problem exists and that the person has run into trouble. One of the hardest parts is not to stop gambling but rather to admit the person has failed to keep the situation under control.
The gambler may admit that their gambling patterns are too much. However, in their opinion, there is nothing in their life that could replace this activity and be equally satisfying. The gamblers may also successfully rationalize their behavior and hide the problem.
Yet, it is easy to go through a reality check by looking through a list of potential symptoms that signal addiction.
Problem Gambling - Symptoms
For different people, symptoms may differ, but the most common are:
- Increasing investments. The deposits and bets increase with time, to achieve the desired results;
- Irritation when no access to games. The person is irritated or restless if they cannot play games (for example, if they are offline and can’t connect to the site);
- Failed control. There were several repeated but unsuccessful attempts to cut on gambling or control it;
- Chasing losses. The person chases their losses - after losing money, they go back and play even more to at least “break even”;
- Concealing gambling. The person hides their punting habits, the size of deposits, and size of losses, from significant others in their lives;
- Borrowing cash to play. The person seeks financial help from others to finance their playing;
- Making gambling a priority. Gambling becomes a priority among other daily activities.
Almost each of these symptoms can vary in depth and impact.
How to Avoid Compulsive Gambling and Play It Safe
In case you still want to play casino games or make bets from time to time, check out the following recommendations:
- Play at reliable, reputable, well-known, and properly certified casinos, whether online or offline. While gambling is a business and its goal for the operator is to make money, the best operators always take care of their customers and take measures to prevent addictive gambling.
- Only make bets with the sums you are ready to lose. Not that casinos are only about losing. They are not, but let’s be honest - losing is inevitable at some point. Even professional card players lose from time to time, regardless of their skills. So, make yourself a separate e-wallet or card with funds you can afford to lose betting, and when these funds are over, stop playing.
- Avoid playing when you are drunk, high, or depressed. Being depressed or being drunk/high means chanced brain chemistry, and triggering your brain even more with gambling can unlock the chemical chain to powerful addiction development.
- Don’t chase wins if you have already won. One win is enough. Even if you believe it is your lucky day, in reality, you can lose all the money won if you continue betting. So, drop playing if you lose repeatedly, and if you win - stop playing as well.
- Unsubscribe from the casinos’ marketing newsletters, and avoid exclusive promotion deals where possible. Keep in mind that, in reality, the fewer bonuses and promotions you use, the more chances you have to win real money. This is because dealing with the bonuses’ terms and conditions demands way more gambling activity than when you bet only with your own funds.
- Use responsible gambling tools. Set deposit limits, bets limits, and/or losses limits. Remember to bet only with the money you can afford to lose, and keep the activity fun and exciting instead of piling on your hopelessness.
Gambling Addiction Resources for Canada
In case you or your loved ones need counseling and assistance, please check out the following resources available in Canada:
- Alberta Health Services. Call 1-866-332-2322
- British Columbia Partnership for Responsible Gambling. Call 1-888-795-6111
- Addictions Foundation in Manitoba. Call 1-855-662-6605
- New Brunswick Health. Call 1-800-461-1234
- Newfoundland Labrador Health and Community Services. Call 1-877-999-7589
- Northwest Territories Health and Social Services. Call 1-800-661-0844
- Nova Scotia Problem Gambling Help Line. Call 1-888-347-8888
- Nunavut Health and Social Services. Call 1-800-265-3333
- ConnexOntario. Call 1-866-531-2600
- Health PEI Gambling Addiction Services. Call 1-855-255-4255
- Quebec Gambling: Help and Referral. Call 1-800-461-0140
- Saskatchewan Health — Gambling. Call 1-306-787-7239
- Yukon Health and Social Services. Call 1-800-661-0408
Global Gambling Addiction Resources
Global resources on education and assistance with compulsive gambling include:
- Gamblers Anonymous
- Problem Gambling
- The National Council on Problem Gambling
- Befriends Worldwide - suicide prevention organization
Gambling is fun and should be pursued as fun. With these resources, playing games and making bets can be pursued without harming one’s health and life.
FAQ
If I can afford my gambling, can I face negative issues?
Uncontrolled gambling causes not only financial issues but may ruin your relationships or your health. So do not consider the financial factor as the most crucial one.
I play casino games from time to time, but when I do, I can’t stop. Is that addiction?
This looks like binge gambling. You may not feel much interest in playing most of the time, but your episodes of uncontrolled gambling can become more frequent. If they do, you are facing the risk of serious addiction.
Do only weak and irresponsible people develop a gambling addiction?
Many factors contribute to the development of addiction. If the main cause is a biological predisposition or brain chemistry disorder like depression, the power of will or responsibility has little to do with managing addiction.
Do only adults suffer from gambling addiction?
Children and teenagers are as vulnerable to mental health disorders as adults are. Moreover, with time, and technological development, more and more children and teens get exposed to gambling activities, so the risks increase.
Can I help an addicted loved one by paying their debts or providing for them if they lose a job?
This is one of the worst ways to manage the situation. If the compulsive punter feels his problems are managed by someone else, they are not likely to change their unhealthy behavior. If you are not sure what steps to take, get counseling with a therapist.
With years of experience in online gambling, he's dedicated to helping players find reliable casinos. He created CasinosHunter to provide honest assessments. Like hunting good prey, it requires knowledge and patience to find safe and rewarding Canadian casinos and Mike ensures that Canadian players have this opportunity.