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Compulsive Gambling

“Fred Marino knows from personal experience what can happen to Internet gamblers if they can't control themselves. ‘With a click of a mouse, you can lose your house,' says the Californian. And he did.”

(Knapp, Don, Marino, Mark, and Salvatore, Steve)

Internet gambling helps create compulsive gamblers and facilitates the proliferation of such habits. For most people, it is difficult to set a limit and stick to it when playing at a casino. This is even more difficult for those who play online and can even less likely tell how much money they have spent. Because of this, many internet gamblers say to themselves, “I will play one more, and then stop.” Unfortunately, this becomes a habitual statement that sparks no action. People feel that there is no harm in this because it is only a little bit of money and it can turn into much more. However, not being able to stop on demand may be a sign of compulsive gambling. With such easy access to online games of chance and the quick results of these games, it is not surprising that internet gambling breeds so many pathological gamblers.

For those who are already compulsive gamblers, online games are most dangerous. In the privacy of their own homes, compulsive gamblers will not feel as much of the scrutiny and the pressure that society puts on them. What this means is that these compulsive gamblers will be allowed to worsen their condition without distractions. Internet gambling sites give pathological gamblers the opportunity to gamble for as much money as they want and for as long of a time period as they want. This should obviously be an issue of great concern for the sake of our society. Learn more about the effects of internet gambling on society by reading about the criminal behavior associated with online gaming.

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Are you a compulsive internet gambler?

Do you need to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement?

Are you preoccupied with gambling (thinking about the next bet, anticipating your next online session)?

Have you lied to friends and family members to conceal extent of your online gambling?

Do you feel restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop online gambling?

Have you made repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop online gambling?

Do you use gambling as a way of escaping from problems or relieve feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or depression?

Have you jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of online gambling?

Have you committed illegal acts such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement to finance online activities?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be a compulsive internet gambler. In order to fight the condition for those who are compulsive gamblers and in order for other gamblers not to become compulsive, conservativity is key. It is important to set a time limit and a loss limit when gambling in order to make sure that it does not get out of hand. Gambling must always be considered as just another activity. This way, players will be more likely to balance their habits and their lives more wisely. Finally, it is crucial for gamblers to not play when they are frustrated or stressed out, as doing so may result in spending more than planned and poorer decisionmaking in general. For more information on how to avoid becoming a compulsive gambler, please visit www.responsiblegambling.com.

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