GAMBLING ADDICTION

People with gambling addiction suffer from the compulsive urge to play gambling. They often lose all their assets in slot machines, casinos or betting. Play becomes serious, because the consequences of gambling addiction can be dramatic. Gambling addiction is a disease that can usually not be overcome without professional help.

Description

Gambling addicts often spend many hours a day in front of slot machines, in casinos or at online poker. They lose not only their money, but also their family and friends. Dependence is fatal for those affected, even if it is not bound to a particular substance, such as cocaine or alcohol addiction. For even with the behavioral addictions, to which the addiction to gambling belongs, the person concerned loses control and has to play again and again out of an inner compulsion. The consequences are high debts, the loss of social contacts. If they neglect their jobs to play, or even embezzle them money to finance their addiction, they also risk losing their jobs.

Other mental disorders

In addition to gambling addiction, other mental disorders (comorbidity) are very often encountered. Sufferers often suffer from personality, anxiety and depressive disorders as well as drug addiction at the same time. More than half of all gambling addicts are addicted to alcohol. Addicts also often have a disturbed self-esteem, experience panic states and anxiety.

How many people suffer from gambling addiction?

In some countries like Germany, it is estimated that between 100,000 and 170,000 people are morbid (pathological) players. This is reported by the German Centre for Addiction. However, there may be a high level of obscurity: those affected are usually only recorded when they seek help.

Gambling and betting addiction is mainly observed in men. But there are also women who are addicted to gambling. In principle, gambling addiction occurs in young people as well as adults and the elderly.

Symptoms

Gambling addiction usually develops in a slow process often over several years. First of all, those affected play for pleasure and the extent is limited. After about two years, the phase of excessive play begins. The player loses control of his behavior and plays out of an inner compulsion. Then it usually takes a few more years for the person concerned to realize that he needs help. According to this, experts divide gambling addiction into corresponding phases: the positive initial stage, the habituation stage and the stage of addiction. Specific signs appear at each stage.

Addiction potential of the games

The addictive potential of the games is based on the way the games are structured and their availability. The gameplay of most games is fast and thus creates a certain kick. The games also create illusion that the player can control them and maintain control. If the player loses, the result is often close and leads to try again. Instead of real money, substitutes are often played, such as points. The relation to the real value of money is lost in this way.

Addiction is also supported by the fact that there are many opportunities to play. With the gambling offers on the Internet, gambling has become accessible to everyone anyway. With the exception of Schleswig-Holstein, gambling on the Internet is prohibited in Germany. But it is also no problem for German players to gamble on the Internet via foreign countries. Sports betting and online poker are particularly popular. Visit 918kiss if you are looking for online casino services.