The services of interactive bookmakers have become as accessible as possible over the past decade. Registering on the website or in the mobile app of a bookmaker and starting to play takes only a few minutes. This significantly improves convenience for sports betting enthusiasts.
But such accessibility has its downside. For many people, gambling addiction to sports betting becomes a serious problem, one that is not easy to overcome. Let’s analyze the different aspects of gambling addiction and how to avoid it.
What is gambling addiction or ludomania?
Ludomania, gambling addiction, betting dependence is a pathological compulsion to gamble for money, classified by medicine as a non-chemical addiction. In other words, it’s not merely an abnormal psychological condition or an emotional dependence.
The particular danger of this disorder lies in the fact that its signs, symptoms, and stages are often not adequately recognized by the person suffering from it. Meanwhile, close ones usually notice the characteristics of gambling addiction too late.
Signs of gambling addiction
The most common symptoms and signs of ludomania include:
- gradual yet increasing detachment from family, relatives, colleagues, and friends;
- a sharp narrowing of interests, focusing solely on one activity – sports betting;
- inability to limit the gaming process in terms of time or money;
- constant thoughts about bets, sports events, betting strategies even while performing other daily or professional activities;
- nervousness, aggression, depression, panic attacks when unable to place a bet;
- the previous symptoms lead to insomnia, loss of focus in various areas of life, physical pain symptoms, and more.
Stages of the disorder
To understand how to overcome betting addiction, it’s crucial to know the stages of the disease’s development:
- Euphoria – the winning stage. This refers not so much to financial but psychological winnings. The person feels pleasure and happiness from the game, excitement, and the process of watching sports events.
- Loss stage. The enjoyment effect from the game decreases, but emotional dependence intensifies. Financial problems accumulate, and social isolation grows.
- Disappointment. The realization comes that making money from betting is impossible. Yet the addiction has already reached a point where quitting is no longer an option.
- Despair and hopelessness. Consciously, everything seems clear and one should stop gambling. But subconsciously, the addict seeks to return to the first stage – to feel the euphoria and joy of placing a bet again, as in the beginning.
The problem for a gambling addict is that the first two stages pass unnoticed, while by the third and fourth stages, the addiction is already formed. This means quitting on one’s own becomes impossible.
How to know when it’s time to stop?
This is the most important question — one that’s often asked too late. Some answer it radically — you shouldn’t play in bookmakers at all. But that’s nonsense; otherwise, we’d have to give up countless other activities that bring pleasure and enjoyment.
However, it’s truly worth reflecting on your predisposition to gambling addiction before starting to play. Just test yourself by placing small bets or playing on free platforms. If you notice you’re getting overly involved, overly emotional, or euphoric after a win, stop immediately. Forbid yourself from visiting any betting sites.
Obviously, doing so is very difficult. But for a potential gambling addict, it’s the only way to avoid disaster. At the second, and especially the third stage of the disease, acting rationally is nearly impossible.
Causes of gambling addiction
There’s no single opinion among researchers on this. It’s generally believed that various factors contribute to the development of ludomania:
- behavioral patterns in the family or social environment – parents, relatives, or friends frequently play cards or other gambling games, or are emotionally invested in sports clubs and teams;
- reinforced cyclical psychodynamics – rapid habituation to regular activities and inability to break the “vicious circle”;
- reduced cognitive abilities – dominance of emotions and euphoric sensations over logic and self-reflection;
- dreams of quick wealth – why make an effort for education and career if one can earn fast and easily.
Important to understand! Let’s summarize the causes, symptoms, and stages of gambling addiction. Every gambling addict believes they are in unique circumstances and that luck will favor them eventually. This is a fundamental error. Gambling addiction is a studied and classified disease, meaning it progresses in a relatively standard pattern for everyone. Don’t ascribe uniqueness to yourself and don’t think you’ll be “smarter than the rest.”
Treatment of gambling addiction
Recognizing the previous point leads to the basic understanding of how to recover from gambling addiction. If it’s a medical issue, seek professional help. Often, it’s relatives or close ones who have to take that step. But without professional intervention, recovery is generally impossible. Methods, approaches, and treatment plans are developed by a specialist (psychologist, psychotherapist, psychiatrist).
What can gambling addiction from betting lead to?
The consequences of gambling addiction can be devastating for the individual.
Here are the most common outcomes:
- a person becomes psychologically distant from family and friends, withdrawn, and unsociable;
- work performance deteriorates due to an inability to perform professional duties;
- financial problems arise, debts accumulate – the family and loved ones suffer;
- due to nervousness and lack of self-control, aggression and violence may occur toward those who try to point out the problem;
- emergence of depression, suicidal thoughts, and complete social isolation.
The problem affects not only the gambler. Close ones, relatives, and the family also suffer. Moreover, the consequences can be both obvious, such as debts and poverty, and hidden. The latter includes the fact that a gambler’s child subconsciously absorbs the behavioral pattern of the parent, with a high likelihood of reproducing it in the future.
Why is betting more dangerous than regular slot machines or roulette?
Each of us tends to attribute excessive rationality and reason to ourselves. We think we can control emotions and subconscious impulses through logic and knowledge. That’s not true.
That’s exactly why sports betting is more dangerous. Slot machines are pure lottery, where outcomes depend on luck — it’s easier to accept a loss. In betting, there’s an analytical component tied to sports events. The bettor believes that it’s not chance but their knowledge that determines success. Overestimating the latter and denying the former is a profound mistake.
What rules should be followed when betting on sports
Most bookmakers include a “Responsible Gaming” section. It outlines several principles and recommendations:
- never gamble with money needed for other necessities – family, business, leisure, medical care, etc.;
- limit the time allocated to betting;
- don’t bet on every sports event in a row;
- set a maximum money limit per day, week, or month;
- never access betting services under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
All of this sounds fine, but visitors rarely read the responsible gaming principles before registering with a bookmaker. Therefore, our main recommendation is:
