Call Noel now on 07852407140 for help with gambling problems, whether you yourself are suffering or if you have a loved one caught up in the addiction.
For some people gambling is an activity that does not produce negative impacts on other aspects of their life. For others there is a greater susceptibility to addiction which can quickly lead to problem behaviour on gambling sites and eventually an inability to stop once they start. The phenomena of chasing losses for these people creates a downward spiral, with feelings of guilt and remorse following a losing spree as well as depression associated with the ‘low’ after the ‘high’.
There are many types of gamblers but problem gamblers typically fall into two categories: action and escape gamblers.
For escape gamblers the continuation of play is more important than winning the jackpot. They are seeking a retreat from their personally constructed reality and associated worries and, therefore, are attracted to the repetition of machine gambling such as video poker. This form of gambling offers low volatility but crucially it also offers greater potential for continued play. It is continuity of play that is the ultimate aim of escape gamblers. They are essentially playing for credit – credit that they can sit playing for longer and longer, whilst they retreat from their painful reality of everyday life. Machines become a form of fast acting tranquillisers for these kind of problem gamblers as they spend hour after hour playing their machine. In extreme cases they can ask people to hold the machine for them in order to replenish dwindling gambling funds.
Action gamblers, on the other hand, are essentially seeking the big win. They lose their money more quickly and go broke faster than escape gamblers. The buzz for them is the adrenaline of high staking and the prospect of huge winnings. They are not seeking the continued play that so attracts the escape gamblers. Their number of bets might be few but the impact of their strategy will be more immediate. They are more attracted to games that offer high volatility since their goal is not to stay in the game or on the machine, unlike escape gamblers, but to achieve the huge jackpot.
The personal cost of having a gambling problem typically involves suffering irritability, extreme moodiness, isolation, mental illness, absenteeism from work, neglect of family responsibilities and severe financial problems (bankruptcy).
Regular gamblers who don’t have a problem will bet moderately and within their budget or if they do experience problem behaviour they can impose a period of abstinence. Not so with action gamblers, who will take more and more risks. They become problem gamblers when they keep increasing the size of their wagers and experience greater preoccupation with their gambling. They also encounter a loss of control as their behaviour becomes more and more compulsive in chasing their loses in an increasingly desperate fashion. Neuroscience might help to explain this phenomenon. In short, neuroimaging results show alterations in prefrontal control circuit which may underlie vulnerability to gambling, as well as drug-related cues, and diminished cognitive control over craving, and negative emotions.
Escape gamblers almost always become problem gamblers as they are seeking a retreat from their own perception of reality. If asked about the house odds they will most likely tell you that they know the odds are not in their favour. They will invariably know they have a problem and are aware of the house edge. They know what they are doing and are aware of the adverse consequences but they simply can’t stop.
If you are unsure whether or not you may have a problem with gambling you can undertake a diagnostic assessment at the following website:
Gamblers Anonymous 20 questions – American version of the 12 step fellowship.
These screening tools do not differentiate between different modes of gambling but might offer a general overview on problem behaviour.
So you have a gambling problem?
If you know you have a problem and are aware that you need to do something about it then the most important thing to do is to stop and to try to stay stopped. Once your gambling has crossed the line into compulsive behaviour it is extremely difficult to control it. No matter which therapeutic intervention is adopted a period of abstinence is essential in order to assess options and to reassess decision making.
Some of the immediate things you can do help you stop gambling:
Self-exclusion
You can ban yourself from the bookmaker shops by taking a passport sized photo to the shop, or casino, and completing a self-exclusion form. Offering self-exclusion is a licensing requirement for each individual operator based in the UK. Of course, it is difficult to do this for all shops, especially if you live in an urban area with many bookmaking outlets, but banning yourself from your nearest, or your favourite ones, could be a helpful start. Some betting shops offer the option of sending a copy of your form to a few more branches of the same company, in the same area.
You can also request self-exclusion from UK based online operators. However, some internet gambling sites are based overseas and they will not be licenced under the terms of the Gambling Act and may have different policies on self-exclusion. of course there are many online operators so it is difficult to enforce a complete ban.
Blocking software
You can download blocking software for your computer that will block access to all gambling websites. The software is available to purchase in the commercial market but Betfilter offers a free 7 day trial so you can assess the effectiveness of their product before buying. Gamblock is another blocking software product.
The blocking software is normally by device. At the moment iphones do not have any proven blocking software. However, for smartphones, you can install parental control software to use as your main internet browser, and then deactivate the original browser. You would then need to ask someone you trust to set up a password for the new software, so you can’t change the settings yourself if you feel an urge to gamble. You can search for parental control software on Google.
Management of your money
You could ask a trusted friend or family member to manage your money for you. Remember ATM can stand for access to money. Without money there is no opportunity for gambling.
Your bank is unlikely to block your card from making gambling deposits. But one practical step you could take is to erase the special numbers from your bank charge cards (the three or four numbers required to make a valid transaction) so that they can’t be used online and by telephone.
If you would like to protect yourself further still, you may want to look at changing your bank card from a debit card to a basic bank card that you wouldn’t be able to use online. This is something you can speak to your bank about.
Avoid isolation
You could attend meetings of Gamblers Anonymous (GA) who run support groups based on the 12 Steps of Recovery developed from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). There is no need to pre-register in order to attend a meeting, you simply just turn up on the night. You can find your local meeting by using this link. There are no professionals or clinicians at these meetings, just people like yourself who are seeking to stop gambling and stay stopped. People share their recovery stories and you might be invited to speak and to tell your story but there is no need to speak if you don’t wish to. At your first meeting it might be useful to just listen to others recount how they dealt with their gambling problem.
Consider Counselling & Psychotherapy
Counselling is a safe and confidential space for you to discuss the impact of your gambling and to explore why it is you are doing it. The sessions would usually be once weekly, lasting just under one hour at a time, at the same time and place, with the same person, so that you can establish a trusting relationship with them. Counselling requires a commitment of time but will offer you the opportunity to explore your life choices in a safe, confidential and private space.
In therapy the therapist can be the detoxification agent for the gamblers toxic mentations. This means that the therapist can offer a vital impartial voice to the negative and often depressing thoughts that can threaten to dominate in recovery from addiction.
Noel Bell is a fully qualified and UKCP accredited psychotherapist based in Sydenham and at London Bridge. Noel has extensive experience of working with addicted clients with over 20 years experience of the 12 Steps of Recovery. Contact him now by calling 07852 407140
See also
Dealing with gambling urges
Support for family and friends
FOBTs and problem gambling treatment
How sex addiction aligns with problem gambling
Why FOBTs can be considered as the crack cocaine of gambling
Avoid rescuing problem gamblers
How to deal with gambling urges and identify your gambling triggers, common pitfalls of trading on Betfair and help for family and friends of the problem gambler.
