Gambling Addiction #3

Causes

The behavior frequently develops from occasional gambling to habitual gambling and then, the urge to gamble becomes so great that the tension can only be relieved by more gambling. Hence, a pattern of addiction emerges. Players begin to player higher stakes and take larger risks. They may begin to ignore friends and family and neglect other responsibilities. The 'exact' cause is actually unknown and it's not definite if some people are more predisposed to the behavior than others. In any case, it's important to recognize the problem as early as possible to be in a better position to correct it before more serious consequences occur.

Treatment and sources for Help

Fortunately, there are ways to treat the problem and organizations exist which are designed to inform and help anyone suffering from gambling addiction. Gambler's Anonymous is probably the most recognizable organization dealing with problem and is a good place to start. Online casinos as well (at least, the reputable ones) usually include links on their sites to other sources of information on problem gambling and support policies and initiatives designed to combat it. Visit our 'gambling organizations' category on the left for a short list of other organizations that may offer more information. Also, you may want to check out some of the books we have listed on our site which deal with 'gambling addiction' and ways to fight it.