Is Your Gambling Driven by Play, Relief, or Dependency?

When reflecting on your gambling habits and questioning whether they may be a problem, a good starting point is to notice if you’re spending increasing amounts of money or time on gambling. It’s also important to examine the reasons behind why you gamble. Disordered gambling may begin with a single big win or gradually take over your life. It’s important to reflect on whether you gamble for excitement, as an escape, or if it has developed into an addiction that feels beyond your control.

Did you know that problem gambling is a progressive disorder with multiple stages? Learn more here.

For many people, gambling starts out as a fun, entertaining activity or a way to get out and socialize. The challenge and competition can create an exciting rush, often driving the desire to gamble more and more. Usually, those who gamble for the excitement and can set limits with money and time and stick to them don’t develop problems.

Sometimes, a single big win can completely change the way a person gambles they begin to believe, “If I won once, I can win again,” and continue playing, often only losing money. Or it can be a life trauma or personal loss that leads to problematic gambling. This is where gambling shifts from the excitement or “winning phase” into something more serious—the “losing phase,” where the gambler starts chasing losses.

As losses build up, the drive to recapture that first big win can push gambling behavior further out of control. As the gambling drive continues to increase, the individual will hit the final stage or desperation stage where the he or she becomes overwhelmed. There are extreme emotional, financial, and family/relational problems associated with gambling addiction. Criminal behavior may occur, with possible legal consequences.

Ask yourself, “can I stop on my own, or do I need help?” For many, the urge has already become so strong that it’s no longer just a game, but an addiction. If this feels familiar, reach out for support. Call or text our 24/7, Confidential, and Multilingual 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine to start a discussion than many have described as “life changing.” It’s never too late – or too early – to reach out for help.

“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

— J.K. Rowling

The Path to Problem Gambling Recovery Can Be Right Around the Corner: 888-ADMIT-IT

Ask yourself—what is the real payoff of your gambling? Do you believe that one dollar and a big win could change your life? Do you think that single dollar could make you a millionaire and erase all the problems that have come from the negative consequences of your gambling?

This is where escape gambling becomes greater than gambling for entertainment, because it isn’t fun anymore. It has taken over your life and all your thoughts are about your past gamble and how to arrange the next gamble.

If you are starting to think you may have a problem gambling now, what need did gambling fulfill for you in the beginning? Does this reason still hold true for you today? How has your gambling changed?

Escape gambling often begins as a way to unwind from work or family stress. But as the addiction deepens and the negative consequences grow, it shifts into gambling to escape the overwhelming feelings that come from mounting losses and problems. How do you climb out of the hole that has been dug?

Only you can decide where you are with your gambling and if it has become a problem. Do you need help with support or education about disordered gambling? Do you need to tell the truth to someone to get it out in the open and ask them for help? Can you stop and walk away without help? The path to recovery can be right around the corner and in Florida, the first step is even closer: call or text the 24/7, Confidential, and Multilingual 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine today.

September is Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM)

Even for those who are not experiencing problems, knowing the steps to responsible gambling and the differences from problem gambling is key. Each September, Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM) brings together advocates, operators, and communities to promote gambling literacy and consumer education. Led nationally by the American Gaming Association and supported in the Sunshine State by the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG), this year’s theme—Play Smart from the Start—encourages anyone who chooses to gamble to understand the risks, set personal limits, and make informed choices from day one.

Learn more, see the differences between responsible gambling and problem gambling, and create your own Play Smart Plan for free on our RGEM Microsite!