The problem of gambling addiction is no longer confined only to casinos -- the Internet has exploded with growth.
You can literally gamble wherever you want to as long as you have access to an internet connection. Now that you can gamble from almost anywhere in the world at any time of the day, gambling addiction has taken a true hold on millions around the world.
According to the Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), Keith Whyte, “Arkansas suffers from a greater prevalence of gambling problems than the national average and has more severe problems due to the lack of state services.”
Arkansas has never conducted a study to assess the problem of gambling in our state, but it’s estimated that about 2 percent of Arkansas, or 48,000 people have a gambling problem.
Here are some of the common signs of a gambling addiction:
1. Looking for Reasons/Making Excuses to Gamble
Does it seem like someone you know constantly finds a reason or an excuse to gamble? Despite never seeming to win anything, someone with a gambling addiction will always find some reason to try their luck again. Each time they “hit” (or win some money), no matter how small the sum, they grasp onto that feeling. Keep in mind that friends or loved ones who want to hit the tables at the casino every weekend or spend dozens of hours at their computer betting against people far and wide can be a red flag.
2. Experiencing difficulties with controlling their gambling.
If someone you love seems to have a compulsive “need” to gamble, your loved one likely struggles with a gambling addiction. They may continue gambling despite their spouse, parent, child, or friend suggesting they cut back or stop. For those deep in their gambling addiction, it doesn’t matter who asks them to stop. It seems impossible.
3. Continuing to gamble despite not having enough money for it.
A gambling addiction is an incredibly expensive habit to maintain. No matter how quick or high they seem to stack their chips, the piles tend to drop even faster. Once they run out of their own money, they might borrow from friends or family or take out cash advances on a credit card. Gambling addiction can spiral out of control before the person realizes it when they start betting money they do not have.
4. Trying to be secretive about their gambling
Once your loved one begins hiding their gambling or lying to you about it, the problem has truly taken them hostage. The dishonesty begins once they dig themselves into a hole they feel they cannot escape. Whether it’s lying about how much money they spent or about whether they were even gambling in the first place, dishonesty is a massive red flag.
5. Gambling to the point of worrying their friends and family.
When you start to worry about your loved one’s potential gambling addiction, it is difficult to avoid the problem any longer. As denial and dishonesty continue to grow, friends and family like yourself become increasingly worried. Unless you can intervene in the problem gambler’s life, they may gamble themselves into complete and total bankruptcy.
How do I help someone with a gambling addiction?
Simply asking someone with a gambling addiction to quit isn’t possible -- it’s just not that simple -- but you can follow some of these methods as you work to help your loved one beat their addiction.
-Don’t enable them. An individual with a gambling addiction will show extreme creativity with the stories they come to you with as to why they need you to help them financially, but giving them money only enables them. One of the ways to help an individual with an addiction to gambling is to force them to deal with the consequences of their actions, which means not helping them financially no matter how much they ask you to. "Loans" to family and friends often become debts never repaid.
-Encouraging your loved one to go through counseling is a great idea and will help them accomplish the goal of ending the gambling cycle.
-Encourage your loved one to attend anonymous meetings for gamblers consistently in order to increase their chances of ridding themselves of this addiction.
For more information about other effective methods to help a gambling addict, visit gamblingrecovery.org.
