problem gambling
Betting beyond control
Problem gambling is a pattern of gambling behavior that causes significant harm to the gambler or those around them—financial ruin, damaged relationships, job loss, or psychological distress.
Unlike casual gambling, problem gambling involves inability to control the urge to gamble despite negative consequences: His problem gambling cost him his marriage and his savings.
The term encompasses a spectrum from harmful gambling habits to full gambling addiction.
Narrow elongated openings
- pokerHearth implement for coals
- rouletteSpinning wheel wager
- blackjackCard game to twenty-one
- sports bettingWagering on athletic contests
casino · lottery · scratch cards · bingo · horse racing · video poker · keno · craps
Unable to stop oneself
- chasing lossesGambling more after losing
- impulse controlRegulating sudden urges
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
- cravingPowerful urge to have
relapse · withdrawal · denial · tolerance · escalation · preoccupation · loss of control · lying
Money owed another
- bankruptcyLegal status when insolvent
- financial ruinComplete loss of wealth
- foreclosureLender seizes mortgaged property
- loan sharksIllegal high-interest lenders
job loss · divorce · family breakdown · isolation · shame · guilt · suicide · fraud
Professional guidance for problems
- cognitive-behavioral therapyTreatment restructuring harmful thought patterns
- support groupsGatherings for shared struggles
- self-exclusionVoluntary personal prohibition
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
intervention · rehabilitation · hotline · sponsor · abstinence · relapse prevention · outpatient · residential treatment
Reward-linked neural messenger
- reward systemMechanism reinforcing desired behaviors
- illusion of controlOverestimating one's influence
- sunk cost fallacyHonoring spent resources irrationally
- magical thinkingBelieving thoughts affect unrelated events
superstition · risk-taking · escapism · boredom · thrill-seeking · emotional regulation · trauma · comorbidity
slots
Narrow elongated openings
sports betting · casino · lottery · scratch cards · bingo · horse racing · video poker · keno · craps · baccarat
compulsive
Unable to stop oneself
- chasing lossesGambling more after losing
- impulse controlRegulating sudden urges
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
craving · relapse · withdrawal · denial · tolerance · escalation · preoccupation · loss of control · lying · borrowing
debt
Money owed another
- bankruptcyLegal status when insolvent
- financial ruinComplete loss of wealth
- foreclosureLender seizes mortgaged property
loan sharks · job loss · divorce · family breakdown · isolation · shame · guilt · suicide · fraud · embezzlement
counseling
Professional guidance for problems
- cognitive-behavioral therapyTreatment restructuring harmful thought patterns
- support groupsGatherings for shared struggles
- self-exclusionVoluntary personal prohibition
recovery · intervention · rehabilitation · hotline · sponsor · abstinence · relapse prevention · outpatient · residential treatment · financial counseling
dopamine
Reward-linked neural messenger
- reward systemMechanism reinforcing desired behaviors
- illusion of controlOverestimating one's influence
- sunk cost fallacyHonoring spent resources irrationally
magical thinking · superstition · risk-taking · escapism · boredom · thrill-seeking · emotional regulation · trauma · comorbidity · anxiety
- gamblingcasinos, casino, bets, betting, wager
- gambling psychologyloss aversion, illusion of control, chasing losses, near miss, sunk cost fallacy
- gambling addictionchasing losses, casino addiction, poker addiction, self-exclusion, debt spiral
- gambling regulationgaming license, licensing fees, regulatory body, compliance checks, responsible gaming
- gambling crimesillegal casino, match fixing, race fixing, point shaving, numbers racket
problem gamblingself-control
Ability to restrain impulses
impulse control · financial responsibility · mental wellness
problem, gamble, problems, problematic, gambling, gambler, gambled, gamblers, gambles