Gambling addiction

It is a well-known fact that gambling can be a source of addiction. According to neurological studies, such processes are similar to addiction, which is why they have been called the cause of mental disorders.

Around the world, some countries with legalised gambling have implemented a system of self-exclusion of players, whereby people who are addicted to a particular type of gaming are suspended if they see a threat to their continued well-being. This is an example of one way to combat excessive gambling addiction.

The solution to gambling addiction lies in dispelling the myths about gambling and considering the psychological processes that can cause a gambling addiction to begin.

A passion for casinos – an obsession with gambling

Gambling addiction is a person’s addiction to taking part in gambling, and different types of gambling can be classified as such. Most often, players do not win. However, they do not stop because they believe deeply in their winnings. There is a scientific explanation for this phenomenon.

On the one hand, the reason for gambling is the thrill of risk-taking. On the other hand, people find it a way of escapism, escaping into an alternate reality. In addition, players experience an increase in feelings and emotions in the atmosphere of people and sounds.

Another reason is controversial, but it is that gambling is glamorous. The media often deliberately gives gambling a stylish, seductive and popular image. People see movie characters having fun on casino nights. Thus, a misconception of gambling is formed in the middle class. Recently, by creating special services to detect gambling addiction, operators have been gradually addressing this problem.

Another reason is sociality. For people, gambling is part of the national culture, which is particularly characteristic of Westerners. Thus, a person who played cards with their parents as a child is much more likely to become addicted to casino games, as the desire to experience gambling in adulthood may arise.

Why a gambling addiction develops

ArenaCasino helps people with gambling addiction by offering restrictions and providing general statistics on gambling behaviour. They have described a number of psychological reasons for this phenomenon.

Factors contributing to the development of gambling addiction:

• Partial ‘reinforcement’. Most players do not expect to win with every bet, so even when faced with losses, they continue to hope for a future win or ‘reinforcement’.
• The phenomenon of availability. Jackpot winnings receive publicity, so people form a misconception of winning, believing themselves to be unique and lucky.
• Player delusion. People have the misconception that past events affect future events, even though they do not happen consistently. So, players don’t stop playing, believing that they are just a short time away from winning.
• Fear of loss. Players experience the pain of losing a certain amount of money more acutely than the joy of winning the same amount of money. It is this pain that keeps them from stopping, which is why some players keep betting large sums.
• The illusion of control. More often than not, it is impossible to predict the outcome of a game, but some players do a certain ritual before they start, believing that this will increase their chances of winning. People invest more when they think the outcome is in their control, which is how this effect is created.
• Being in a good mood increases the desire to gamble. According to recent research, things that boost mood increase the desire to take risks.
• Changing expectations because of winning. According to research, the more committed a person is to a particular cause, the more they expect to succeed.
• Action of herd instinct. When individual cases of winning the lottery or the jackpot gain publicity, people take part in mass ticket purchases or start gambling, as some of them do not want to be removed from the mass movement.

What are the dangers of casino addiction?

Contrary to the fact that gambling does not have a clear sequence, gamblers are confident that they can create a win-win system. This kind of system needs to be controlled so that gambling does not ruin lives, but is a part of life. Otherwise, it is possible to lose everything just by succumbing to gambling.