Gambling Addiction And Responsible Gaming

Written by: Sadonna Price, OUSC Expert in Online Casinos and Poker

December 20, 2023

What has been identified as a modern-day illness is actually a condition that has existed for as long as its cause has been practiced among the human race. Nevertheless, gambling addiction was recently officially identified as a disorder reflecting the unhealthy workings of the patient’s thought process.

Since then, medical practitioners, therapists, and addicts themselves have been constantly working to inform as many as possible on the causes, effects, and proper preventive measures to ultimately reduce its expansion.

Playing Responsibly and Gambling Addiction

Addiction to gambling and gaming activities is known to be an actual disorder, a medical condition like any other form of addiction. This is practically compulsive gambling, coming from the fact that such gamblers are unable to control their inner impulse to engage in such activities. Once people suffering from this mental disease sense the urge to gamble, there is nothing to stop them from achieving their goals.

As frightening and absolute as it sounds, that is the reality of problem gambling. In order to maximize public awareness and the ability to cope with such conditions in their early stages, people need to be informed every step of the way.

Different Types of Gambling Addiction

Considering that you understand the concept of the condition that is problem gambling, i.e. gambling addiction, it is easy to note its constituent aspects – cause, signs, and effects, differing across the illness’ variants.

One way of differing between gambling addictions is to focus on the specific game they target – slots, poker, blackjack, or even lottery and bingo. While the lottery and bingo are still considered simple entertainment rather than gambling, they can be just as destructive when out of control.

Another type of gambling addiction is related to the addict’s financial demise. The appeal of fast and easy cash often appears to be the optimal solution to such issues, and despite most games’ payout potential, the risk and inconsistency factors ultimately get the better of the players.

Gambling addiction is also present in its purest form, as a source of a high, an adrenaline rush, or a feeling of empowerment. Research has shown that there are great similarities between the effects of drugs and those of gambling on the brain. Both provoke activity in most overlapping areas. Thus, many consider the state of gambling as true satisfaction rather than the process of winning or losing, which has resulted in yet a third form of addiction – a natural high.

Gambling Addiction – Statistics and Facts

Prior to reviewing the statistical data regarding gambling addiction and its detrimental effects on people’s lives, it is good to be aware of its roots. So far, researchers and experts on the topic have been able to construct a Compulsive Gambler Personality.

The purpose of such a personality model is to help people in their surroundings determine the problem faster and respond correspondingly to reach optimal results. As illustrated above, there are multiple types of addiction, which leads to just as many different variants of the Compulsive Gambler Personality. Nevertheless, for practical purposes, medicine has been able to identify four predominant personality types with key traits, and a number of accompanying ones.

These are predominantly described as disorganized and unstable on an emotional level, especially due to illustrating schizotypal personality features and constant change of attitude. Most often, this type of Problem Gambling Personality is recognized for added alcohol or substance abuse, all from a rather early stage in life.

Alcohol and substance abuse is further noted in the second type of personality. Nevertheless, they don’t indicate any attitude or involvement in activities, aiming mostly to isolate themselves from social engagements in general.

The focus of this type of addictive personality is the reward, the cash prize, and there are practically no means they wouldn’t resort to in order to obtain it. Thus, such people can be said to feature a strong drive for positive, victorious sensations and wild impulses.

No psychological or pathological symptoms have been identified in these personalities. Instead, type 4 gamblers may be some of the most socially-functional individuals you know.

Gambling Statistics in the USA

Across the different types of personalities most susceptible to such gambling disorders, the US has been able to draw up verifiable statistics on the issue. The country has only recently made a more liberal approach to iGaming, but the land-based industry has a long and established tradition that has taken its toll throughout the years.

Nowadays, researchers and statisticians have estimated that about 2.6% of the total population in the US is facing some kind of gambling addiction issue. In numbers, this adds up to about 10 million people –both adults and minors– resulting in a massive economic tax burden of up to $73 million calculated for 2016.

Once online gambling was introduced as a legal practice across various states, the effects gained further intensity. Gambling became available via diverse devices. PCs and laptops took the lead portion of the industry’s traffic with over 40%. The rest is almost equally spread out between smartphone and tablet online gamblers.

To break down the matter even further, statisticians looked at gambling habits and problems across a number of additional factors.

• By State

  For example, when analyzing the situation on a state-by-state level, it was discovered that compulsive gambling was most present in Nevada, particularly in the vicinity of Las Vegas.

• By Gender

  A different factor –sex– taken as the basis of problem gambling statistics illustrated higher rates in males versus females. Nevertheless, with the new technology and increased accessibility, this demographic is bound to undergo certain changes.

Compulsive Gambling

In order to properly understand the condition known as compulsive gambling, it is crucial that people are aware of the main causes, symptoms, and resulting effects. With it being a growing menace to everyday social life, it is crucial that everyone is able to identify problem gambling in themselves or someone in their closest surrounding and help accordingly.

There is no saying what the exact cause of gambling addiction is, much like any other addictive condition people tend to develop. Still, some instigators seem to prompt a kind of an existing urge to gamble, also known as risk factors.

Addicts of all kinds usually develop different strategies to keep others out of the loop. At first, both parties may be unaware of the presence of a problem, but once it surfaces, there are numerous signs and symptoms that indicate a gambling addiction, including.

Problem Gambling – Effects, Myths & Misconceptions

Gambling can have a variety of destructive results on people’s overall lifestyles, depending on their daily habits and surroundings, as well as their social, financial, and marital status.

Nevertheless, among the most common effects, gamblers are bound to experience financial and relationship troubles – bankruptcy or divorce. Along the same lines, loss of work and social efficiency resulting in unemployment and isolation is another common effect, as well as poor physical and mental health.

Despite such signs and effects, there are still multiple myths and misconceptions connected to problem gambling. These often prevent the healing process and can actually make the situation worse.

• They are gambling addicts, so they must be lazy and unintelligent.

  Gambling has been a common vice throughout its existence and can influence the lives of people of all backgrounds, statuses, and IQs.

• Real addicts are only those who gamble every day.

  Gambling addicts don’t need to gamble daily to be diagnosed with the condition. Most of them actually tend to wait for the opportune time and circumstances.

• We should help gamblers clear their gambling debts.

  Recognizing that they have debts is a step towards healing, but gamblers shouldn’t get instant help to clear them. This would encourage them to continue with the same pattern, ultimately only making matters worse.

How To Get Help For Gambling Addiction

People can often find themselves challenged when someone close to them suffers from gambling addiction. This condition is much harder to cure than the common cold and requires a specific approach to get started with the healing process.

Gambling Addiction Treatment

The help of a loved one is undeniably potent, but professional treatments are bound to be the most effective. With addiction being recognized as a real medical condition, medical institutions have been set up all over the USA, providing assistance wherever necessary.

These establishments include various addiction centers across the country’s territory, including:

• Gamblers Anonymous
• Gambling Addiction Hotlines
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Some non-profit medical help organizations, the likes of Help Guide, also offer online assistance, with a fully equipped website and available support.

Gambling Addiction Help – US Hotlines And Meetings

Gamblers Anonymous has helpful meetings all across the country in the USA. There are three types of meetings to choose from, depending on what your particular needs are.

• Closed Meeting: People with a gambling problem and/or those who think they may have one who wants to stop gambling can attend and participate in this type of meeting.
• Modified Closed Meeting: It’s the same as a “closed meeting,” but members can vote to accept certain other people who may attend, such as health professionals, guests of first-time members, and people with other addictions who need to go to a meeting.
• Open Meeting: Relatives, family, significant others, and friends of the gambler can join and observe the meeting.

Responsible Gaming

The concept known as Responsible Gaming is found in the entertainment industry, specifically at casinos and similar gambling content providers. These operators, both online and land-based, in the spirit of the concept of maintaining industry fairness, need to comply with certain provisions. What is more, separate gambling organizations put together events and promote the idea even further in order to raise awareness of the need for such standards to be upheld. These organizations include:

• European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA)
• American Gaming Association (AGA)

For the United States, the American Gaming Association tends to organize a Responsible Gaming Education Week. Here, participants are presented with a set of parameters dictating the proper approach to the matter, specifically:

• The AGA Code of Conduct
• Responsible Gaming Regulations and Statutes

While it is a broad and debatable topic, online casinos and operators need to comply with legal regulative. In the USA, betting sites need to comply with the gambling laws for each state. This includes the legal gambling age of their player community, unbiased software and platform, and reliable payment options. As for compulsive gambling, a specific set of preventive measures – deposit and withdrawal limits, account management and suspension, etc. – are further authorized by management.

All in all, even the most stringent restrictions are for the good of the industry and everyone involved. It is only by successfully preventing and remedying problem gambling that the online gaming industry is able to operate optimally, providing an entertaining and rewarding player experience.

Final Thoughts

Gambling and online gameplay are supposed to be fun. It is not intended to be a source of income or a way to escape reality. Only people 18 years of age or older should gamble, and this is a legal requirement at all reputable online casinos.

However, if you feel that you, or someone close to you, have a problem, make sure to find help. Keep an eye out for the warning signs and take the necessary steps –as advised here– to ensure gaming doesn’t become a hindrance in your life.

OUSC is here to help you find the best online casino sites in a responsible way. If you feel you might have a problem – or could develop one – there are resources available to help you.

We recommend the following:

• Gamblers Anonymous
• National Council on Problem Gambling
• Gambling Therapy