How To Stop Gambling - Overcoming Gambling Addiction

Gambling can be fun, enriching, and sometimes even profitable. Still, the thrill of the gamble can lead to addiction. This is particularly true for a gambler with an addictive personality or who has had the thrill of gambling success. Problem gamblers can chase the excitement of a big win to their detriment.

Here, we will discuss gambling addiction and help you learn how to stop gambling. We’ll also discuss how to support a person with a gambling addiction, the signs and symptoms of excessive gambling, and more. Let’s start by breaking down what gambling addiction is and give a basic understanding of how to address a gambling problem.

What Is Gambling Addiction and How To Deal With Problem Gambling

Gambling addiction can be a slippery slope for many who gamble. This is particularly true when someone may have some skill in a winnable game such as online betting or poker. 

The line between a professional or profitable gambler and a person with a gambling addiction can be thin. 

This is even true for casual gamblers in most gambling games, even though making a profit is impossible with a large-enough sample size. The urge to gamble can be irrational, and it doesn’t matter that the logical mind knows the gamble will be lost.

A few factors can define problem gambling. These can include:

• An urge to gamble at larger and larger stakes
• Dissatisfaction without gambling
• Being preoccupied with gambling
• Chasing losses by spending money you can't afford to lose

Gambling addiction can also affect relationships. The urge to gamble can dominate a person's life, lead to financial distress, and cause many interpersonal problems.

Like any other addiction, it takes work to overcome a gambling problem. The first step when looking not to gamble is for the gambler to acknowledge their addiction.

From there, the gambler must get to the root of the craving to keep gambling to the point that gambling has affected one's life. Of course, ultimately, one must stop gambling or learn to develop healthy gambling behavior. Still, to do so, a person will benefit from finding the root behavioral issue causing the unhealthy craving to gamble.

Related: Gambling Addiction Help Guide from Lines

Signs and Symptoms To Understand You Need To Get Help

Once again, the line between problem gambling and a healthy relationship with gambling activities can be thin. It can be challenging even to know that you have a gambling addiction. Most who gamble do it for a fun hobby, knowing they will likely lose money in the long run. 

They put aside money to gamble that they feel comfortable losing. The idea is that this is an entertainment budget and no different from going to the movies or a ballgame. 

The problem is that this amount of money is subjective. As the desire to gamble and the resources put into it grows, gambling may go from a healthy pastime to a dangerous addiction.

On top of it, skilled gamblers might play a game they can win, such as online betting or poker. In this case, a gambler may even demonstrate a profit over a long period. Still, regardless of the type of gambling and whether you are successful or not, gambling addiction can develop.

Success can lead an individual to believe it is a lucrative activity or even a profession. You might see gambling as just a day at work. In this belief, developing a gambling addiction can be easy.

Let's look at some common signs and symptoms demonstrating that you may have a gambling addiction.

• An ongoing need to gamble and raise the stakes
• Trying to stop gambling and finding it difficult or impossible
• Feeling like you need to gamble whenever you are not
• Chasing your gambling losses by playing more to get even
• Thinking about gambling urges when engaged in everyday life
• Gambling as a means to manage depression and anxiety
• Ruining personal and professional relationships to gamble
• Lying to a friend or family member about your gambling
• Requiring financial support to make up for what you’ve bet

If you find yourself experiencing any of these problems, it may be time to learn how to stop gambling. It is essential to realize that although gambling addiction is not equivalent to substance abuse, it shares many of the same characteristics. Gambling can also damage your life in similar ways. 

If you are unsure, it may be wise to consult with someone you know, as they may be able to see how you gamble in a more objective light. Professional help may also be necessary, especially if you don’t have a solid support group among friends and family.

Strategies To Cope With a Gambling Problem

RECOGNIZE THE COMPULSIVE GAMBLING ISSUE

Like other addictions, such as substance abuse disorders, step one is to realize that you have a gambling disorder. It can be harder to do this regarding how you gamble, but you'll want to consider various factors. These include:

• To what extent your life is dominated by your desire to gamble
• How gambling affects your finances
• Whether your relationships are affected by compulsive gambling

FIND HELP DEALING WITH GAMBLING

While we can get a lot of assistance from friends and family, reading about the topic, and soul searching, joining a formal support group like Gamblers Anonymous can be helpful in addiction recovery. This way, you will get advice from others in recovery from gambling addiction. Not to mention commiserate with others who are struggling to avoid gambling.

One of the most challenging factors making it hard to cope with gambling addiction is the feeling that no one understands the urge to gamble. Turning to a 12-step support group through a Gamblers Anonymous meeting can be very helpful. 

You may also want to seek help by calling the National Council on Problem Gambling hotline. They will be able to help you to find gambling addiction treatment resources to assist you with your issues associated with gambling.

STOP THE URGE TO GAMBLE AND BET

Like with any addiction, particular things trigger the urge to gamble. A great example is that it may be helpful for an alcoholic to avoid relapse by steering clear of bars and clubs or past drinking buddies. 

The same is true of gambling addiction; one might want to avoid gambling triggers like going to a casino or being near one. A gambler might even avoid watching sports if the desire to bet on sports is a gambling trigger. You might opt not to watch professional poker if that gets the juices to gamble flowing.

ANALYZE YOUR CRAVING TO GAMBLE

While it can be painful, it is crucial when dealing with any addiction to analyze the feeling that comes as it is occurring. How does it feel to crave the desire to gamble, whether online betting or going to a physical casino? In behavioral addictions, it is important to address the brain’s reward system and why it can lead to gambling.

While experiencing the desire to gamble, the most important thing is not to give in to it if quitting gambling is your goal. Still, studying these urges to gamble as they occur is also wise.

Considering exactly how you feel when pressed to gamble, you may find that the craving passes before you know it. Then, you’ll realize that you've learned something to help you cope when urged to gamble going forward.

FIND A HOBBY OUTSIDE THE CASINO

If you are doing something else that you enjoy or value, like watching a movie or going to the gym, you will be far less likely to experience the temptation to gamble. Not only will you not think about it because you are doing something else, you will also be reminded of the benefits of avoiding gambling activities since you replace the sweat of the gamble with healthier habits.

You will need to address for yourself what exactly you enjoy or value most in life, but some examples include:

• Physical exercise/health and wellness (running, tennis)
• Getting out into nature (hiking, scuba diving, etc.)
• Meditation and other mindfulness exercises (deep breathing)
• Spending time with your family and friends
• Charitable activities like volunteering
• Pursuing artistic endeavors like music and visual art
• Traveling to new places you've always wanted to visit
• Starting a new business endeavor

The list goes on and depends on the gambler in question. There may be important things you've been putting off for a while that you have neglected to gamble instead. 

Perhaps there could also be new activities you are interested in. Taking care of these life needs can improve self-esteem and be a great form of self-help. 

Many of us are looking for a way to stop gambling and save money. One of the main consequences of gambling is the strain on one's finances. Consider the money you will save (and the debt you may avoid putting on credit cards) if you don’t gamble and how you can spend it on fun activities other than gambling online.

ASSESS THE ALTERNATIVE

Let's face it; there is a reason you wanted not to gamble in the first place. Perhaps you have been in a suboptimal financial position based on how you gamble or can see it going in that direction. Maybe your relationships are suffering due to gambling addiction. 

Aspects of your life that matter to you more than your urge to gamble may have been put on the back burner due to the addiction. When you feel a craving to gamble, consider that the addiction will result in these negative life consequences moving forward.

Still, forgive yourself for what has occurred in the past. This can help you end pathological gambling, regain control of your life, and prevent relapse.

VOLUNTARY SELF-EXCLUSION TO STOP ADDICTION

Many casinos and sportsbooks, as well as daily fantasy sports sites, have an option for you to voluntarily self-exclude yourself from the ability to gamble and bet for whatever amount of time you wish. You can also limit the amount you can gamble, although this is not advisable if you’ve made the decision to quit. 

Of course, a person with a severe gambling addiction can find another place to gamble. Still, a decent start for people with gambling addiction issues is to self-exclude themselves from the entities through which they gamble.

SEEK PROFESSIONAL GAMBLING ADDICTION TREATMENT

Doing your research and self-help is extremely important if you gamble problematically. Equally so is seeking the support of friends, family, and support groups. 

Still, there is no substitute when addicted to gambling for mental health professionals. To seek professional help through cognitive behavioral therapy can be helpful for just about anyone, regardless of whether they suffer from an addiction. 

If you are a compulsive gambler, seeking treatment options via a licensed therapist is wise. This can help treat gambling addiction and understand why you desire to gamble in an unhealthy manner.

Self-Help for Problem Gamblers

Some who gamble may be unable to afford a therapist or feel uncomfortable seeking professional help. This can be all the more true if it involves rehab through inpatient care. Others may be wary of 12-step programs and other support groups or reticent to get help through a helpline. 

While all of these resources can help an individual dealing with gambling addiction, we ultimately need to find the answers in ourselves for lasting change. Let's look at ways a gambler can help themselves stop the addiction.

• Consume info on gambling addiction and addiction in general
• Use mindfulness practices to understand the need to gamble
• Seek info on psychology to help understand why you gamble
• Use physical exercise as a means to elevate your mood
• Do the things that matter to you most as often as possible
• Avoid things that cause you to feel stress and anxiety
• Eat healthy and attempt to live a balanced lifestyle

These are just a few options for those who gamble to their detriment. Ultimately, a person must consume information to help understand the addiction and its psychological reasons. 

It is also essential to understand that the enjoyment of gambling and its addictive nature comes from the risk-reward rollercoaster it induces. You experience a mood decrease upon losing, fear of loss and hope for winning before the results, and a huge mood boost when you win. This is why the urge to gamble can be so pervasive; it can be hard to stop once you start gambling.

This is similar to what addicts of all kinds experience. The craving for the substance or the experience causes pain. When the desired experience happens, it causes pleasure.

This creates an ongoing cycle without balance. It is essential to try to live a more even-keeled lifestyle. Try to keep your mood relatively stable through mindfulness practices, exercise, healthy eating, avoiding stress and anxiety, and doing things you enjoy and value. 

You will have less of a need for those frequent spikes in mood that happen when you gamble. Ultimately, while sweating out a bet is fun, some individuals may benefit from avoiding the imbalances that occur when they engage in gambling.

Where a Gambler Can Get Help

It is wise to seek personalized help from a licensed therapist if you have the resources. Therapy can assist you in understanding why you have the unhealthy urge to gamble. 

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a standard option for many problem gamblers, as it will help you to understand and change your feelings toward gambling. You may also benefit from relationship therapy, assuming that how you gamble has affected your marriage or other relationships.

Some who suffer from gambling addiction also have other addictions that play into the cycle. Alcohol and drugs are typical examples, as gambling without them may often be safer. 

Mood-altering substances may lower inhibitions, leading to a more significant potential to gamble. Many therapists can help with multiple forms of addiction. This treats the entire situation to help you understand strategies to overcome the problem, which sometimes takes many forms.

On top of it, gambling addiction can go hand in hand with disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, and others. A psychiatrist may be able to prescribe you medication to help you treat the core issue that may be leading to your problem gambling. Many problem gamblers have experienced lasting change and changed the course of the rest of their lives by seeking the products and services of licensed professionals.

If you are having trouble controlling your gambling, professional help may be the way. Still, another option is joining a support group such as Gamblers Anonymous. 

GA is a 12-step support group using a similar framework as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. It has a proven track record of helping those who gamble to control the problem. 

You may also want to call the National Council on Problem Gambling hotline. Agents can direct you to other support groups and similar options to help you not gamble. You can speak to someone via a 24-hour hotline to point you to the right place based on your situation.

How To Help Someone Find a Way To Stop Gambling

The problem gambler often recognizes the issue with how they gamble and seeks to solve it. Friends and family members of those with gambling addiction often find themselves needing to assist the gambler. 

This can be because the individual does not acknowledge that they have a problem with how they gamble. In some instances, they do realize it but need additional help in managing their desire to gamble from those they know and love. Let’s look at some tips for you if you are close to a person with a problem with how they gamble.

HOW A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER CAN HELP

It is imperative to remain non-judgmental or accusatory as the first step. This can quickly push away a person suffering from addiction. 

It may only make it worse as they will turn to this compulsive behavior as they feel misunderstood and shunned. They may also lose sight of their loved ones being more important than their desire to gamble due to feeling rejected.

Ultimately, while we may love the person struggling not to gamble, most of us are not professionals. Treading lightly and offering support through kindness and love is a solid idea to nudge the individual not to gamble. All while recommending professional help through therapy, support groups, and support hotlines. 

It is also wise to watch for suicidal behavior and have a suicide hotline ready. Suicidal thoughts can be frequent among those who gamble problematically.

One common way a spouse or other family member might assist a problem gambler is to take control of their finances. Of course, this must be done when the person requests it and shouldn't be suggested in a manner that comes across as demeaning. 

Yet, it can be the best option in many cases since the person simply can't access funds to gamble. Frequently, this inability to gamble can be the first step to overcoming the habit. It may prevent severe financial ramifications from occurring before the person can control their gambling on their own.

Helpline and Support Group Options

We have discussed support options for gambling addiction, including the most prominent support groupGamblers Anonymous. For a complete list of every imaginable option for support, including hotlines and many different organizations dedicated to the subject, please see this list available at theNational Council on Problem Gambling. The NCPG is the top U.S. organization helping to support those with a gambling addiction, and has compiled the most comprehensive support options to help you not gamble.

Overview

When addressing any type of addiction, it is essential to come at it with an understanding that many of us face these issues. We must move forward from the past without shame and guilt. 

These feelings will only compound the issue and cause a person to feel hopeless. They will then likely turn to the addiction that got them there in the first place. 

For those suffering from gambling addiction and their family members, focusing on the positive and how to move forward with a healthy life without gambling is best, although it may not be easy. Still, nothing worth doing is, and taking the first steps not to gamble is the most important thing.

As covered here, we recommend seeking professional help from therapy, support groups, and other resources. Doing your research and personal self-discovery is just as important, in addition to changing your habits. 

Through a combination of helpful strategies we've outlined, it is possible to live a healthy and happy life without gambling.

FAQs

HOW DO I STOP THE URGE TO GAMBLE?

There are many strategies to help avoid gambling. These include therapy, support groups, and seeking help through a support hotline. You can also use mindfulness, avoid gambling triggers, and find alternative activities.

WHAT CAN I REPLACE GAMBLING WITH?

Healthy options to replace gambling include physical exercise, artistic activities like music and visual art, spending time with friends and family, and embarking on new projects. 

IS GAMBLING A MENTAL ILLNESS?

Gambling disorder is considered a mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association. Gambling in and of itself is not a mental illness, but gambling addiction can be.

HOW CAN I STOP GAMBLING AND SAVE MONEY?

Recognize that you would like to stop and analyze how you can reduce cravings for gambling. There are many self-help strategies, and you can seek professional assistance.