METHODS REQUIRED FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF GAMBLING ADDICTION

THE CONCEPT OF GAMBLING

Gambling in ordinary terms is the staking or risking of money or other valuables for something else, that is usually more valuable that what is being used as the collateral, the outcome for such act or bet is not certain. It is an illegal agreement between two or more people to pull their valuables together in an event of winning or losing, based on the agreed criteria, terms and conditions. It could also be regarded as being legal if the terms and conditions are clearly permitted by the law, and it will then be termed as gaming.

Gaming in this context is an agreement that offers a medium for legal gambling activity to the public. There are a number of the types of gambling that are usually considered to be legal in the ordinary sense of it, some of them are casino games, keno, bingo, video poker, pachinko, card games, coin toss, shell game, dice based games amongst others, as the agreements may permit.

CAUSES OF GAMBLING ADDICTION

However, as much as these games are being played for money, they could also be played for fun. In the case where they are played for money there is a very high probability that they will become addictive due to the fact that it is a win or lose event.

Whenever people are in desperate need of money especially when they are of the opinion of gaining back all that they have lost, there is a high tendency of engaging in gambling, and such an addiction can only be consciously controlled when the person reaches out and explains to someone who can help, or making a conscious and deliberate effort to stop.

Basically gamblers who are desperate for money do not always come close to profit or break-even, they keep losing with the hope of winning in the future.

SYMPTOMS OF GAMBLING ADDICTION

There are general signs and symptoms of gambling addiction that could serve as a method of identifying gambling addiction, they are listed as follows:

1. When there is a feeling or impression that gambling has to be secretive
2. When gambling is leading to anxiety, depression and also suicidal thoughts
3. Having issues with controlling one’s gambling habit
4. It could lead to other addictions like alcohol, drug, and other substance addictions
5. Sleep deprivation, weight loss, deep thoughts, pale skin etc.

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