Just take a chance - you might win big!
Gambling addiction and the lure of easy money is powerful. What if you could spend a single dollar and win millions in the lottery? You start out buying one ticket, then another and another - but you never win anything substantial.
You might win twenty dollars and use it to buy more tickets. Once you get the gambling bug, it’s a short step from buying a lottery ticket at the convenience store to pulling a chair up to the slot machines in a casino.
With so many online gambling sites, it’s easy for anyone to gamble even those who are underage, and teenage gambling addictions are growing. The sites say you have to be over 18 or 21, but who’s checking the IDs?
Teens are three times more likely to get addicted to gambling than adults. Some rack up thousands of dollars in gambling debt before they’re even old enough to get a driver’s license!
Gambling is a hidden addiction because it’s more likely to be done in secret than on a night out to a casino with friends. As the addiction increases, gambling interferes with work, social, mental and physical aspects of your life.
Up to 4% of Americans have a gambling addiction. If you find that you crave the thrill of risking money and hoping to win big, then you’re an action gambler. But if you’re more likely to gamble when you’re upset or in some type of life crisis, then you’re an escapist gambler. Women are more likely to be escapist gamblers while men are usually action gamblers.
If you realize that you’re driven to gamble and it’s taking over your life, then you need to get help. You can’t beat this on your own. Gambling is an addiction as powerful as drugs or food. Here are some tips to help you break the addiction to gambling:
1. Tell your spouse, significant other, parent or someone close to you. Ask for their support as you confront your problem.
2. Reduce your access to money. Cut up your credit and debit cards. Carry only small amounts of cash in your wallet.
3. Change your path. Stay away from places that are triggers to gamble.
4. Stay away from people who encourage you to gamble. If necessary, change your cell phone number or email address so that they can’t contact you.
Contact the nearest Gambler’s Anonymous group. You and your family members need to attend this group to know what to expect. And find an experienced counselor who can work one-on-one with you.
Check out my friends blogs with gabling addiction postings:
Into My Second Year Gambling Free
More of my story - Gambler's Anonymous
Dr. McNeilly looks into new ways to treat gambling addiction
Senior gambling addiction , NYC Independent Media Center, 4/25/07 …
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3 responses so far ↓
1 SunDrop // Apr 23, 2008 at
Wow! I am honestly shocked to hear that there are so many teenagers with serious gambling addiction and debts.
I guess I also didn't realize how easy it would be for them to gamble online. If people are going to allow their children to have access to bank accounts then they need to monitor them more closely I suppose. The same could be said for their internet use in general.
I feel sorry for innocent children who are not equipped to make these grown-up decisions and their parents let them down by not protecting them.
I have to say that I love part of what you state in "step 4". I've tried to tell my friends and family for years. If you are serious… the first thing you do is lose everyone's number and get yourself a new one too.
2 tongyun // Jun 30, 2008 at
I never realized that there were that many teens addicted to gambling. However, with all the sites out there on the Internet, I'm not surprised. Easy access to whatever a person is addicted to just makes matters worse and in this case the Internet doesn't help. Of course Internet filters can always be installed to lock down access to such sites.
3 peg // Jul 12, 2008 at
I've started a list of resources for compulsive gamblers in recovery (or anyone seeking information about recovery or addiction).
The list is located at http://compulsivegamblers.gotop100.com/
I think your site would be a great addition to the list.
Thanks,
Peg
pegs last blog post..I gambled.
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