Gambling Addiction Facts

Gambling can be an exciting activity for many, but, for some, it can cause significant interference in everyday life. For these gamblers the excitement becomes an addiction that slowly loses the initial excitement and leaves in its place myriad physical, psychological, social and financial dilemmas for the problem gambler. Understanding some of the basic facts of gambling addiction, however, is the beginning of a sensible and lifelong effort to refrain from this potentially devastating compulsive behavior.

Female Tendencies

• The Good Gambling Guide reports that female problem gamblers are older (about 45 years of age), and generally gamble alone or where heavy experience or skill is not required (slot machines).

Male Tendencies

• The Good Gambling Guide reports that male problem gamblers develop their addiction earlier in life (about 35 years of age), and generally choose competitive table games in efforts to beat the house (blackjack).

Female Causes

• According to The Good Gambling Guide, female problem gamblers develop the addiction as a result of poor mental health (anxiety, depression, hopelessness, loneliness) or the desire to escape from unhappy situations (job frustration, shattered marriages, broken relationships).

Male Causes

• According to The Good Gambling Guide, male problem gamblers develop the addiction as a result of insecurities or low self-esteem. They choose gambling to improve their feelings about themselves but are often overwhelmed by myriad new problems they have created as a result (financial losses, debt problems, lies, broken relationships).

Economic Tendencies

• The National Institute of Mental Health reports that approximately 4.2 million Americans suffer from gambling addiction and that 60 percent of these addicts make less than $25,000 annually.

Addiction Phases

• The Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery identifies three phases of gambling addiction: 1) Winning Phase -- multiple wins give an unreasonable optimism that trend will continue; 2) Losing Phase -- the addict withdraws from relationships, gambles alone, chases losses, borrows money; and 3) Desperation Phase -- increased time spent gambling, feelings of guilt or blame on others, alienation, psychological problems, possible substance abuse or illegal activity.