A visit to the casino, playing for a few coins, enjoying the slot, or betting on the winner in a soccer prediction game. Almost everyone has made a bet or had fun gambling, even if you think it’s a simple game of slot at s188wins. For some people, however, the hope of winning triggers a kick that never lets them go.
Risk factors and protective factors
More gambling addicts are male. Addiction affects young people particularly often. This can also be due to the respective life situation: Those who do not have a regular daily routine, for example, because they are unemployed, work independently or because the course does not provide a fixed structure, become addicted to gambling more easily.
What can protect against gambling addiction:
- A regular working life
- Good relation to one’s own body, for example through sport
- Firm partnership and stable family situation with close contacts
- Reliable circle of friends with joint social activities
- Strong value system, for example through religion or certain philosophy
Three stages of gambling addiction
There is a pleasure-oriented winning phase in which casual gamers gamble with friends, are hooked on by successes, and possibly win a larger sum.
If they continue to play, however, sooner or later the losing phase sets in. After all, games of chance are designed in such a way that the provider is better off in the long run. Despite the setbacks, the player cannot stop and experiences a loss of control.
The addict begins to lie, borrow money, go into debt, withdraw, and tend to play alone. Anxiety, panic attacks, and depression can occur. In between, he may also briefly reach the winning phase through a streak of luck.
Finally, there is a desperation phase when the player has used up all of the easy-to-find funds. Nevertheless, his mind revolves around playing day and night. He has become a stranger to his surroundings. Sometimes addicts try to steal money so that they can continue to gamble.
Typical behavior of gambling addicts
The WHO criteria for gambling addiction sound relatively sober: Continuous gambling and continued gambling despite severe negative consequences. The consequences include, for example, impoverishment and family breakdown. How did it come to this?
The addicts put even more money in and, for example, push the “risk ladder” right up to the top of the machine. You play longer and longer or you use three slot machines at the same time. The ringing of the machines haunted her to sleep. The dreams continue.
Attempts to stop gambling often fail after a short time. When they can’t gamble, addicts get nervous and in a bad mood quickly. The players develop a “chasing behavior”: they try to regain lost money by continuing to play with higher stakes. They flee from everyday problems in their “play world”, other hobbies no longer interest them. They neglect their social contacts and their job. It is not uncommon for the workplace to endanger this.
What loved ones should do
How quickly relatives notice an emerging gambling addiction depends, among other things, on how close the contact with the addict is. It also depends on how well he hides the addiction. The family often notices unspecific signs at first
If a relative notices the addiction, he will usually achieve little with reproaches and moral sermons, The relatives should try to gain the trust of those affected and to build the best possible relationship with them. If the addict cannot regain his or her self-control despite support, psychotherapy may help.
