Understanding Compulsive Gambling

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Copyright © 2009 Skyler Ace


People gamble for many reasons. Some do it for the pure thrill and fun of it, and others just because they're feeling lucky, and many do it out of habit. There are some people who gamble as a way to relax, socialize or just escape from everyday lives. Whatever the reason may be, gambling becomes a problem when it is done in excess. In fact, people often don't realize that it's become an addiction, until they are in so deep and affects normal life.

An uncontrollable urge to continue gambling, irrespective of the consequences it has on your life is known as compulsive gambling. Compulsive gambling is an extremely serious condition and can cause vast destruction.

The internet is filled with sites dedicated to the art of gambling, but not all of them are built to encourage gambling. There are sites that are built to help gamblers who have come to realize they have developed a problem - they have become an addict of the profession.

Gambling anonymous is just one of many forums that are springing up to help people who have become obsessed with gambling (also called compulsive gambling). With the relative ease by which online gambling can be begun, and the wide variety of options the internet presents, stumbling on sites promoting gambling is very easy. Even easier is finding a niche in the vast gambling world that will appeal to the individual.

As an art, gambling has always had high addictive properties. It is why people are advised to decide on a betting limit, before they begin and urged to resist from borrowing or chasing their losses. But despite the warnings most people fall prey to these mistakes and over time, develop a slow pattern that soon spirals into the destructive spin of compulsive gambling. Compulsive gamblers are people who have allowed the art to take over, thus their lives resulting in far reaching social and psychological effects.

How Do You Know If You Are A Compulsive Gambler?

There are many ways of determining if a person is a compulsive gambler. Gamblers anonymous, offers the following questions to help in deciding if a person is suffering from compulsive gambling. They will usually answer yes, to any 7 of the following.

1. Does gambling cause you to skip work?

2. Is your home life a mess due to gambling?

3. Is your reputation spoiled due to gambling?

4. Do you ever regret gambling after you've done so?

5. Are you gambling in the hope of ending your financial troubles?

6. Is your efficiency or ambition affected due to gambling?

7. Do you lose time from work due to gambling?

8. After you lose a game, do you have this need that you must return to try and win back what you lost?

9. After winning, do you want to go back and try and win some more?

10. Do you keep gambling till you don't have any money left?

11. Do you borrow so that you can gamble?

12. Do you sell stuff so that you have money to gamble?

13. Have you considered doing something illegal so that you have money to gamble?

14. Do you spend sleepless nights thinking about gambling?

15. Do you think twice about spending money on other things besides gambling?

16. Do you often gamble more than you planned to?

17. Are you gambling to forget your troubles?

Compulsive gamblers like alcoholics are in need of help. If untreated, the effects are far reaching. They become distant and detach themselves from their families. It is difficult for them to break the habit on their own. If you have a friend or relative who is suffering, it is prudent to get them help.

Compulsive gambling can be treated, and one just needs to have the right approach and direction. As mentioned earlier, there are many websites, blogs, online forums that have great trips and suggestions on how to get out of it. If this doesn't help, one can always seek professional assistance. Always know, that you have plenty of options, so do not give up and find out ways that can help you kick you off your habit of gambling, for good!




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/


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