What is Problem Gambling?

What does it mean to have a gambling problem?

Most of us probably associate the term 'gambling problem' with the type of addiction that ends up taking over people's lives. But whilst it can mean that for a lot of people in the more serious cases, there are many ways you can experience problem gambling without it being a constant issue, or it having particularly damaging effects financially. The effects of feeling pressure to bet, the stress of waiting for a bet to come in, how you deal with losing – or indeed winning – can all be far from enjoyable, even just from one, small bet. Added to that, you may not be the only person who experiences the problem.

Be honest with yourself

Wondering if you have a gambling problem, or being nervous or embarrassed to talk openly about your gambling can in themselves be good indicators that your gambling has gotten out of hand. Another issue might be that the people you do discuss gambling with have similar habits to you, which might give you a unrealistic sense of what's 'normal'.

If gambling is something you do often, it’s worth asking yourself a few basic questions. You’re probably familiar with the industry's slogan ‘when the fun stops, stop’ – fundamental advice that’s always worth heeding. But to step this up slightly, one question that seems very simple on paper, but can be very hard to answer is: do I actually enjoy gambling?

Why do you bet?

There are many reasons to feel compelled to bet besides the sheer enjoyment of it, and the more knowledge you have of a certain sport, or experience with a certain game, the stronger it can feel like placing a bet at good odds is an irresistible opportunity to make some free cash.  It can beeven harder when you’re in an environment where betting is prevalent – a situation one former sports writer, who shared his story with us, found. You can read his story here.

For many sports fans in particular, habitual gambling is completely normal and often encouraged. A lot of respect or bragging rights can come with a win, and a willingness to take risks can even be worn as a badge of honour, regardless of losses. Meanwhile, those who live or work within a gambling culture, but who aren't so inclined towards gambling themselves, can sometimes perceive stigma against the idea of not being able to 'handle it' – whether or not the stigma is real.

These are some of the reasons gambling can involve a lot of bravado and peer pressure, and in turn can encourage denial over how you really feel about gambling, or what its effects on your life are. Even for those who want to stop gambling, there could be a fear that stopping would mean having to leave their friends or their career behind – but that doesn't mean you can't find help and support from outside that gambling culture.

To talk to someone in an environment where you know you can be honest without fear of being judged, there are many services you can reach out to. They include GamCare, BeGambleAware and Gamblers Anonymous amongst many others. The number for the National Gambling Helpline is 0808 8020 133.

Can you afford it?

Financial problems are perhaps the most commonly acknowledged and arguably the most dangerous aspect of gambling addiction, as they can mean the problem spirals out of control very quickly. Stories of people spending whole monthly pay packets in days, for years on end – let alone the huge debts that can be incurred – are all too common. But that’s not to say those who can technically afford their losses aren’t suffering too – we all have different incomes, and different amounts that we can comfortably afford to bet with.

Small loans from friends and family are commonplace, which can lead to frayed or lost relationships, and throwing money at bets as an emotional release or statement is something many gamblers have done when they’re upset or angry.

Learning to take the losses themselves is something most gamblers do over time, to some extent. Although that might outwardly feel like a sign of robust mental health, it could be encouraging denial of a problem, or taking a toll subconsciously. Even if a gambler really is alright with losing, there can also be a danger that parting with money becomes habitual enough to lose sight of its value. At this point it’s far easier to lose track of overall losses without seeing it as a problem, whether you’re betting £5 or £500 a week – and if your income is shared, means others could be suffering, even if you're not.

What are you missing?

One aspect of gambling addiction that can sometimes go under the radar is the amount of time and concentration it takes up. Even if you’re satisfied that you’re not spending too much money gambling, it can still be a problem if it’s distracting you from your day – from personal relationships, perhaps from work – and can in effect add to whatever other worries you might have at any given time. For instance, you might have staked less than a pound on an accumulator, but if it takes all day to run through, and goes close to the wire, that can amount to a lot of stress – particularly if that’s something you’re in the habit of.

Of course – there are strategies you can employ to help keep betting fun as well as safely – as you can find out in part four of our series.

The gambler’s mentality

One phenomenon that many of us experience, espeically as gambling becomes more regular, is that no matter how often you win or how much, it’s never enough. It’s that feeling of having had a win, and instead of elation, instantly or gradually feeling regret or frustration that you hadn’t won more, and can well illustrate when someone is expecting to win money from gambling – almost certainly to an unrealistic level – rather than enjoying the thrill of the chase. So if you’re thinking that gambling is more about the winning than the taking part, it’s worth questioning how much enjoyment you are really getting from it, versus how much stress. And if profit is your main aim, you might want to reassess your expectations and strategies, which we also discuss in part four.