Internet betting and gambling sites are a multi-billion dollar industry that will not be going away anytime soon. But why all the concern? Well, researchers believe that Internet gambling is even more addictive than traditional casino gambling. An article in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, stated: “The availability of Internet gambling may draw individuals who seek out isolated and anonymous contexts for their gambling behaviors.”  Further, Internet gambling can be associated with a high risk of addiction because of the easy access — even teenagers and children can access online casinos and betting sites. And it is considered fact that people under 25 are more likely to become addicted to gambling.

In general, if you think about it, why should any child oir even teenager, be spending any time at all on gambling websites. So they should really be blocked from accessing them in the first place. But if they do have access, and you believe something may be wrong, in the same way that you would seek treatment for an alcohol or drug problem, you need to seek treatment for a potential gambling problem. Of course the same thing goes for adults as well. There is no lack of stories of people losing their savings, homes, jobs, families over debts accumulated from online gambling.

If you suspect a loved one has a compulsive gambling problem, you should read up on recognizing the signs and symptoms of gambling addiction and ways to handle the problem in your home. Of course, any behavior that is causing problems or disrupting a person’s ability to lead a normal and healthy life, should be attended to, even if there is not an official diagnosis of an addiction.

 

Open Book: Elsewhere, by Richard Russo

Filed under: symptoms of gambling addiction

Russo's mother, Jean, divorced from a husband who had some bad habits, chiefly gambling, lived with her son in a flat they rented from her parents. She had a good job with the General Electric Company in Schenectady, but was chronically short of money …
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Meeting speakers favour slots

Filed under: symptoms of gambling addiction

As slot machines fuel the problem of gambling addiction, providing responsible gambling information and voluntary self exclusion are like treating the symptoms while preventing them in the first place makes more sense, he said. But one Terrace resident …
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.4 million funds disaster center

Filed under: symptoms of gambling addiction

Post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse also are common post-disaster symptoms, Houston said. The grant is the … Within a few months, Ozark Center began seeing spikes in domestic violence, gambling and substance use. Mieseler said her …
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