Frequently Asked Questions
What is gambling?
What is the difference between social gambling and problem gambling?
What is compulsive gambling?
What is pathological gambling?
What is the difference between compulsive gambling, pathological gambling and gambling addiction ?
What is the difference between a pathological, compulsive, addicted, degenerate, habitual, or inveterate gambler?
Why does someone become a compulsive gambler and not some other kind of addict?
How can you tell if someone is a compulsive gambler? Isn't it a "hidden" illness?
Can a compulsive gambler ever gamble normally again?
Why can't a compulsive gambler simply use will power to stop gambling?
What is the first thing a gambler should do to stop gambling?
What kind of help is available?
Can't I just take a pill to stop?
What exactly is Gamblers Anonymous?
Can Gamblers Anonymous give me a loan to pay my bills?
I gamble only in binges. Is that compulsive gambling and do I need GA?
Is it OK for a gambler to participate in an office betting pool?
My casino host is always calling me to gamble. What can I do?
My bookie calls me to bet on the next game or harasses me for the money I lost.
Do you have a listing of GA meetings in my area?
My mother plays bingo. That isn’t real gambling, is it?
My church has weekly bingo nights. That’s OK, isn’t it?
What can a family member do to help?
Why should I do anything? Isn’t it the gambler’s problem?
What are GamAnon and GamATeen?
Is there a place that specializes in treating compulsive gambling?
Q: What is gambling?
Gambling is defined as an activity, based on chance, in which the goal is to earn a reward. Gambling can be done with money, items of value, or for services. The most addictive reward system is one where the interval and amount of reward are random.
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Q: What is pathological gambling?
The American Psychiatric Association has defined Pathological Gambling as a psychiatric disorder, categorized under Impulse Control Disorders. Gamblers Anonymous considers it a disease.
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Q: What is the difference between Social Gambling and Problem Gambling?
Social gamblers do so solely for entertainment, such as going to the casino with friends, buying a lottery ticket, or playing poker with the boys every Thursday night with money they can afford to lose. Social gamblers have control over their gambling and will not let it interfere with their job, family life or health.
Problem gamblers may be right at the edge or have briefly crossed over into compulsive gambling. They have gotten too involved with gambling, recognize the potential danger and now view it as a waste of time and money. They decide to reduce or stop gambling.
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Q: What is the difference between Pathological Gambling, Compulsive Gambling, and Gambling Addiction?
There is no difference in the actual activity, only in the wording. Pathological Gambling is the formal term used by the American Psychiatric Association and clinicians since 1980 when it was included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It is now considered a psychological addiction, therefore the term Gambling Addiction is a term frequently used by mental health professionals. Compulsive Gambling is the everyday term used by most people, including professionals. Prior to this, until the early 1900s, the more common term was “Habitual Gambling.”
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Q: What is compulsive gambling?
It is a behavioral problem that has become a mental illness. The gambling becomes chronic and progressive. There are increases in frequency, amount wagered and overall time spent gambling and thinking about gambling. As gambling increases so do the losses and the gambler “chases” these losses in a desperate effort to recoup this money. The gambling begins to affect all aspects of a person’s life. Debts can lead to financial ruin and guilt can lead to poor communication creating a chaotic family life. Poor work or grades, physical and mental health problems and criminal acts ultimately lead to legal charges, treatment, or even death. Like many illnesses, there is no evidence to date that it can be “cured”, but it can be controlled for a lifetime.
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Q: What is the difference between a pathological, compulsive, addicted, degenerate, habitual, or inveterate gambler?
“Habitual” and “Inveterate” are old-time terms and out of use. “Degenerate” gambler is a term used by bookies and loan sharks. “Pathological” is a professional term, while “compulsive” and “addicted” are laymen’s terms in current usage.
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Q: What are some of the characteristics of a compulsive gambler?
They tend to be likeable, intelligent, competitive, hard working and self-confident in external matters. Conversely, they can also be overly controlling, have poor coping skills, avoid emotional discomforts and be distant in interpersonal relationships. They tend be lonely, get bored and frustrated easily, suffer from low self-esteem and have underlying depression, anxiety, anger and guilt are part of their troubled existence.
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Q: Why does someone become a compulsive gambler and not some other kind of addict?
Compulsive gamblers grow up in troubled, abusive homes in which there are strong emphases on money. They learn early in childhood that money solves problems and lack of money creates their problems. They are introduced to gambling and find that winning money gains them attention and approval; losing is unacceptable to their competitive nature. They start “chasing” their losses, only to lose more.
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Q: How can you tell if someone is a compulsive gambler? Isn’t it a “hidden” illness?
The actual gambling may be hidden, like making a phone call to a bookie or it may be out in the open but the gambler then lies about it. The signs become obvious over time. The person talks about gambling or seems to have money troubles. Work and school problems abound. S/he may interact differently with friends, family and colleagues or avoided them completely. They may seem physically sick or depressed. In essence, everything about the person seems to be different.
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Q: Can a compulsive gambler ever gamble normally again?
No. The first bet to a compulsive gambler is like the first drink to an alcoholic. A “slip” or one-time wagering may lead to the same old destructive pattern as before, but quickly becomes worse. However, this does not mean that a single “slip” must lead to total relapse if the tools learned at Williamsville Wellness are applied.
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Q: Why can’t a gambler simply use will power to stop gambling?
The gambler wants to stop, but can’t. It isn’t a matter of will power. The gambler lacks the ability to stop. The mind does not function properly with regards to gambling, which is why it is considered a psychiatric disorder.
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Q: What is the first thing a gambler should do to stop gambling?
The first step is to stop self-deception and to admit that gambling has become the problem and not the solution. Then ask for help.
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Q: What kind of help is available?
Try Gamblers Anonymous first. If that isn’t enough, see a professional therapist.
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Q: Can’t I just take a pill to stop?
No, there is no pill to stop gambling. But professional counseling and Gamblers Anonymous can help change the need to gamble. Medication for underlying disorders such as depression or anxiety may be appropriate and helpful.
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Q: What exactly is Gamblers Anonymous?
Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who try to help each other in their desire to stop gambling. They follow a 12-Step program based on certain spiritual principles that was modeled after the very successful Alcoholics Anonymous program. GA is supported by members of the group. The meetings are confidential.
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Q: Can Gamblers Anonymous give me a loan to pay my bills?
No, but it can help you by holding a financial pressure relief group with you and your family to make some sense out of your debts and income. They believe that the gambler should pay bills and make restitution rather than filing for bankruptcy.
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Q: I gamble only in binges. Is that compulsive gambling and do I need GA?
If you are a compulsive gambler, Yes. Some compulsive gamblers bet every day, others only every three months or only during football season. Binge gambling often gives the false sense of being in control.
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Q: Is it OK for a gambler to participate in an office betting pool?
It is OK for the social gambler but not for the compulsive gambler.
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Q: My casino host is always calling me to gamble. What can I do?
Many casinos have a self-exclusion policy in which the gambler agrees not to enter the casino and the casino agrees to stop all offers to gamble, such as sending literature or offering complementary gifts. In some states these self-exclusion policies are mandated by state law. Violation results in the casino pressing charges for trespassing. These policies have had mixed results.
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Q: My bookie calls me to bet on the next game or harasses me for the money I lost.
Tell the bookie you are a compulsive gambler, in treatment or attending GA. The bookie might object if you owe him money, but the bookie also knows that he could go to jail for being a bookmaker. Many times the gambler and the bookie work out some kind of agreement.
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Q: Do you have a listing of GA meetings in my area?
Yes, check out the Gamblers Anonymous link www.ISOgamblersAnonymous.org.
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Q: My mother plays bingo. That isn’t real gambling, is it?
Yes, it is gambling and it can lead to compulsive gambling. Bets on games of chance rather than skill, are gambling. This includes buying lottery tickets, playing the slots, betting on horses, or day trading.
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Q: My church has weekly bingo nights. That’s OK, isn’t it?
Most states have legalized gambling or allow one-day gambling as charitable fund raisers, so it’s OK from a legal standpoint. But gambling, regardless of the form, is OK for social gamblers, not compulsive gamblers.
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Q:What can a family member do to help?
First, protect the family. Don’t verbally or physically abuse the children. Help them understand that compulsive gambling is an illness, one that leads to very unacceptable behaviors. Then make it very difficult for the gambler to have access to money. Take names off joint accounts. Don’t leave money lying around or easily accessible. Don’t pay gambler’s debts, no matter what story (lie) you’re given. Don’t cover up for the gambler; these are all ways to avoid being an enabler. Ask family and friends to help you, not the gambler. Be supportive to the gambler, without enabling them. Outbursts or threats don’t work. Find out about GA and professional help that are available.
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Q:Why should I do anything? Isn’t it the gambler’s problem?
No. The gambler is suffering from the mental illness, but the gambler’s behavior affects many others, including family, friends, colleagues and even strangers. Compulsive gamblers in desperate straits will lie and steal. Their actions create turmoil in the family, and can lead to utilities being shut off, losing the house, or even going to prison.
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Q: What are GamAnon and GamATeen?
These groups are similar to GA, but for family members, friends, colleague and teems.
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Q: Is there a place that specializes in treating compulsive gambling?
Yes, Williamsville Wellness is a residential treatment program located near Richmond, Virginia. Its professional counselors are experienced in treating compulsive gambler and family members.
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