Compulsive Gambling

 It is important to discuss the definition of addiction in order to understand how Problem Gambling can be addictive. An addiction is defined as a need and use of a habit forming substance causing a disruption and confliction within a person’s life.

 Problem Gambling is labeled as a “process addiction” in which the need is to engage in a particular activity, such as gambling, rather than a substance. In a chemical addiction the need or compulsion is to ingest a substance, such as alcohol, in order to gain the euphoric effects altering the way you think and act. However in a process addiction, the need is to engage in a particular activity seeking similar euphoric effects triggered by extraneous stimuli.

With alcoholism there are tell tale signs of addiction and even use. You can smell alcohol; you can see changes in their appearance among other things. With substance abuse, for example marijuana, you can smell it and see glossy blood-shot eyes. One distinct difference between compulsive gambling and alcoholism or substance addiction is you can’t smell the loss of money nor can you see the loss of money. You can, however, see that the abuser is preoccupied with engaging in risky activities, nervous, or even crying but you can also attribute these behaviors to other occurrences such as losing a loved one, missing a deadline at work, etc.

Gambling addiction is silent. Usually people don’t know if a person has a gambling problem until it’s too late.

Another important point to make is that there is no substance ingested when gambling, unless the addict has a co-occurring disorder; which is what makes compulsive or problem gambling a “process addiction.” To the compulsive gambler it’s the “living on the edge” that makes them high. Often times gamblers will “chase the win” or make a big deal of describing their winnings, but they will never remember how much they have lost.  However, like all other addictions, the warning signs are almost the same: always asking for money, hanging out with a different group of people, stealing in order to maintain their addiction, a preoccupation with risky behaviors, and the list goes on.

     Compulsive gambling is still very new to New York State treatment providers but not to New York State. Gambling has affected many homes and individuals, even those who are not the gamblers themselves. Currently one million New Yorkers have or are at risk of compulsive/problem gambling. According to the 2009 Herkimer County’s Teen Assessment Project (TAP) survey, two thirds of Herkimer County’s youth have reported gambling within the last year.

Gambling addiction, while different does share some similarities to other addictions. As with addictions, it is possible to “kick the habit” and completely reform. It isn’t uncommon to see an alcoholic become a drug and substance abuse counselor or even a well-to-do business man or woman. Successfully going through treatment for drugs or any substance can be a way out for any addict. However, when you leave treatment for compulsive gambling, your gambling debt follows you. The $150,000 debt that a gambler may have brought with them into treatment will be there when they get out and, unfortunately, the easiest way to make money, in most people’s opinion, is to gamble.

At any point, the gambler thinks they are going to win. What they don’t understand is that the odds are astronomical! According to the National Weather Service[1], “1 in 5,000 people will be struck by lightning once in their lives”. 1 in 10,000 people will die in a car accident[2], and your chances of winning the New York State Mega Millions Jackpot are approximately 175,000,000 to 1[3]. Truly, these odds put a face to the slogan “a dollar and a dream”.

Most people would agree that the desired effect of smoking marijuana is to get high. The desired effect of drinking alcohol is to get drunk. And the desired effect of gambling is to win. Equally true is that if one ingests enough alcohol they will get drunk and the same effect could be said with marijuana. But with gambling, you can gamble and gamble, and continue to gamble and never win. What happens when one doesn’t get that euphoric feeling they desired from alcohol? They will drink more until they get what they set out to do. With gambling you keep gambling and gambling until the desired effect is achieved, and by the time the desired effect is achieved, who knows how much money you lost.

 Usually with gambling you can tell someone is up to something but may not know that the person has a gambling addiction.  Here are some questions you could ask yourself if you feel someone you know and love has a gambling problem.

Adults

• Do you or a loved one ever gamble longer than originally planned?
• Do you hide the rent/mortgage or food money because your spouse, partner or other family member gambles it away?
• Do you or a loved one gamble to escape worry, boredom or trouble?
• Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations cause you or a loved one to gamble?

 Adolescents

• Exaggerated display of money or other material possessions
• Unaccountable explanation for new items of value in possession
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Change of personality or behavior

Co-Workers

• Does the employee always seem to be the person who starts and/or runs the office pools (e.g. sports, lottery, and births)?
• Does the employee encourage co-workers to bet in office pools and/or bet more money?
• Does the employee’s use of company money seem suspicious or inappropriate?
• Does the employee talk or worry about money problems, or experience money difficulties, resulting in requests for cash advances or loans (i.e. borrowing) from fellow employees and/or employer?

If you find that someone you know and love may be having a drug, alcohol or a gambling problem call the NYS Hope Line at:

1-877-8-HOPE-NY

For prevention services and Problem/Compulsive Gambling trainings in Herkimer County, contact:

Herkimer County Prevention Council

A program of Catholic Charities

[1] www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/medical.htm
[2] National Traffic Safety Admin, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, www.nhtsa.gov/FARS
[3] Lotto Strategies,  www.lottostrategies.com

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