Monday, May 18, 2009

Online Gambling Addiction - The Facts And Solutions

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Skyler Ace



Online gambling is great fun. Many people across the globe indulge in it and love to win. It is considered as a recreation and gambling enthusiasts love to take out time from their work and other activities to enjoy their favorite. Age group is no barrier. From adults to children, the old and teenagers love to sit conveniently at home and enjoy the excitement of playing casino online.

However, what most people are not aware about is the problem that's associated with gambling. There are several problems that can arise such as addiction; low self esteem, loss of money and a lot more.

One of the most common problems associated with online gambling is addiction. Yes, gambling can lead to addiction that can be categorized in to the following:

  • Pathological gambling

  • Compulsive gambling

  • Some people have a stigma attached to gambling resulting in to problems. However, it is very important to identify it as an emotional problem so as to over come the stigma.

    Yes, problem gambling or online gambling addiction is similar to any type of emotional problem. Hence, it is not advisable to ignore it hoping it to go away on its own.

    There are several symptoms of problem gambling that help you recognize addiction in an individual. Mentioned below are the symptoms you need to look for in an individual suffering from Online gambling addiction. These symptoms may not appear to be directly related to gambling in the beginning. However, as the problem tends to worsen, you would start to observe relation between these symptoms:

    Symptoms of Online gambling addiction:

  • Excessive borrowing

  • Secretive behavior

  • Bills going unpaid

  • Stealing

  • Selling off valued personal possessions to assist gambling.

  • Depression

  • Defensiveness about gambling

  • Excess time spent on gambling

  • Excess money spent on gambling

  • In case, you observe any of the above-mentioned symptoms it is important to seek professional advice before it is too late. Another crucial thing to do is to carefully note down certain unusual habits such as lying about hiding gambling habits, refusing to talk about gambling, frequent and obsessive thoughts related to gambling, preferring gambling as a favorite activity in social or family activities and excess hope of winning to change financial situation etc.

    In order to over come the problem of Online gambling addiction, it is necessary to understand it thoroughly. There are four phases of Online gambling addiction. People with this problem tend to go through these four phases. An individual starts gambling as a recreational activity then reach to a stage of problem gambling and finally to addiction to gambling. Each phase of problem gambling may last from a few months to years.

    The four phases of Internet gambling addiction:

    a) Winning phase:

    This phase usually begins from a huge win. Thereafter, it leads to a lot of excitement and optimism related to online gambling. People start believing that they possess a special talent and can win all the games further. This makes them spend a lot of time on gambling.

    b) Losing phase:

    Problem gambles tend to get preoccupied with online gambling. This leads to secret gambling, gambling alone and other problem such as gambling alone, skipping work, borrowing money, lying to family and a lot of defaults on debts. They also start playing even after continues loss in order to win back the lost money.

    c) Desperation phase:

    Online gambling addiction leads to losing all control over their gambling. People do feel guilty about their gambling behavior but are unable to do anything. This results in stealing and cheating for money.

    d) Hopeless phase:

    This is the fourth and final phase of problem gambling. Here, problem gamblers tend to hit the peak and stop caring about what people will say. They do not care about the consequences and may also end up abusing alcohol and drugs in order to numb the pain. Many people also tend to attempt suicide.

    Online gambling is fun and a great recreational sport only if not taken too seriously. One needs to understand the difference between fun and addiction.




    About the Author:
    This article was written by gambling pro Skyler Ace. Warning: Do Not Gamble Another Dollar Online Until You Read This. Free Consumer Awareness Guide Reveals The Seven Deadly Mistakes All Gamblers Make: http://www.jobsource20-23.com/casclok.html Also feel free to visit our gambling blog for tons of winning tips: http://onlinegambling23.blogspot.com/


    Read more of Skyler Ace's articles.

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