Overview

Compulsive gambling, also known as gambling disorder, refers to the irresistible urge to continue gambling, regardless of the negative impact it has on one's life. It involves risking something of value in the hope of gaining something of even greater worth.

Similar to drugs or alcohol, gambling can trigger the brain's reward system, leading to addiction. Individuals with compulsive gambling problems may find themselves constantly chasing bets, depleting their savings, and accumulating debts. They might hide their behavior and resort to theft or fraud to fuel their addiction.

Compulsive gambling is a severe condition that can wreak havoc on lives. Although challenging, professional treatment has helped many people overcome their struggles with compulsive gambling.

Recognizing the Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of compulsive gambling (gambling disorder) can include:

• Being preoccupied with gambling, such as constantly planning gambling activities and seeking ways to obtain more gambling money
• Requiring increasing amounts of money to achieve the same thrill from gambling
• Attempting to control, cut back, or quit gambling without success
• Feeling restless or irritable when attempting to cut down on gambling
• Gambling to escape problems or cope with feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or depression
• Chasing losses by gambling more to recoup money
• Lying to conceal the extent of one's gambling from family and others
• Compromising important relationships, work, education, or job opportunities due to gambling
• Seeking financial assistance from others due to gambling-related money troubles

While most casual gamblers stop when they lose or set limits on their losses, those with a compulsive gambling problem feel compelled to continue playing to recover their losses, leading to a destructive pattern over time. Some individuals may resort to theft or fraud to fund their gambling.

Although periods of remission are possible, untreated compulsive gambling often leads to persistent struggles.

Seeking Help

If family members, friends, or co-workers have expressed concerns about your gambling behavior, it's essential to consider their worries. Denial is a common aspect of compulsive or addictive behavior, making it challenging to recognize the problem on your own.

Causes and Risk Factors

The exact causes of compulsive gambling remain unclear. Like many disorders, it likely results from a combination of biological, genetic, and environmental factors.

Factors associated with compulsive gambling:

• Mental health issues: Substance misuse problems, personality disorders, depression, or anxiety
• Age: More common in younger and middle-aged individuals, but it can also affect older adults
• Sex: More prevalent in men, while women tend to start later in life and may become addicted more quickly
• Family or friend influence: Having a gambling problem within the family or peer group increases the risk
• Medications: Certain drugs used for Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome may lead to compulsive behaviors, including gambling
• Personality characteristics: Being highly competitive, impulsive, restless, or easily bored may elevate the risk of compulsive gambling

Possible Complications

Compulsive gambling can result in profound and long-lasting consequences, such as:

• Relationship problems
• Financial issues, including bankruptcy
• Legal troubles or imprisonment
• Poor work performance or job loss
• Declining overall health
• Suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, or completed suicide

Preventing Compulsive Gambling

While there's no guaranteed way to prevent gambling problems, targeted educational programs for individuals and groups at higher risk may be beneficial.

If you have risk factors for compulsive gambling, consider avoiding all forms of gambling, as well as people and places associated with gambling. Seeking treatment at the first sign of a problem can help prevent the situation from worsening.