Playing casino games at https://icecasino.com/hu, Syndicate Casino, Vulkan Vegas Casino, and many other brands can be quite an exciting and rewarding experience. But it’s usually not the case, at least most of the time. There are individuals who, over time, have developed problems as a result of playing casino games and engaging in other gambling activities. The difference between players who enjoy gambling as a pastime and those who fall victim to problematic gambling has nothing to do with their mental strengths. Rather, it has to do with many other external factors. Most of these factors can easily be associated with other additive practices such as abusing drugs and alcohol.
As a friend or person close to someone who is suffering from the effects of gambling, it’s only natural that you get concerned when you see someone develop some of these traits. If you are here because you believe someone you know or is close to you might be developing gambling problems, here are a few common signs you should look out for in the individuals.
Unable to Stop Gambling
The person is constantly talking about betting and gambling. They’ll constantly talk about their past experiences, especially instances where they won big. Every time they catch a break, they are on their smartphone or laptop, trying to place a quick bet in the hope of winning big. This is regardless of how many times they lose or promise to quit. Technological advancements give these individuals quick and fast access to online gambling services. This makes it very difficult for these individuals to quit even when they are willing and putting in effort.
Lying About Their Gambling Behaviors
Individuals who are addicted to gambling tend to lie a lot about their gambling behaviors. Since they can easily access their favorite casino game, they’ll try to play them when nobody is looking at them. Occasionally, they’ll play these games in their demo modes when everyone sees them, just to hide that they are gambling. However, it’s only fun, thrilling, and rewarding when real money is involved. So, they’ll amp up the fun by putting money on the line. To make sure no one finds out about their little secret, you’ll occasionally find them with separate bank accounts, and other payment methods for their gambling accounts. Some even pay other people to open accounts on their behalf.
Dysfunction in Their Day-To-Day Lives
A person struggling to cope with gambling behaviors will experience difficulties at work, have trouble maintaining relationships, or even give up their favorite pastime activities just to gamble. Having chronic financial problems could also be an indicator of problematic gambling. Financial problems could be, but not limited to:
- Ask for money from friends and family members just to go and gamble;
- Failure to meet their financial obligations, such as paying day-to-day bills;
- Diverting money from essential services to have enough bankroll to gamble with;
- Failure to pay back money borrowed because it was lost while gambling.
Gambling Despite Its Negative Effects
Despite the mounting negative effects associated with gambling, individuals who are addicted can’t stop the urge to continue with the practice. They strongly believe playing casino games can help them get out of a financial hole and will continue to do this, believing they’ll land that ‘big win’ that is just right around the corner. Unfortunately, this is never the case; they only find themselves in a more dire state.
To identify such a person, they tend to be withdrawn from activities you used to participate in together. They’ll always come up with flimsy reasons why they can’t participate in certain activities, but it’s mostly because of financial or emotional trouble. They are afraid if they hang out with close friends and family members, they will be able to see through their problems.
They Get Agitated and Defensive When Asked About Gambling
You will agree that whenever someone gets defensive when accused of having a problem, there’s a high chance there is some truth behind the accusation. This is applicable when it comes to people with gambling addiction. If you notice someone gets very defensive or evasive when asked about their playing activity, the best approach is not to attack or shame them. In fact, advising them on the ills of gambling won’t help solve the problem – they probably know this. The best thing to do is ask them to seek professional help. They are more likely to get help from someone who is trained to handle such cases on a day-to-day basis, as such people know the best approach to take.
