Prevention of Gambling Addiction

For many, gambling is a pleasant recreational activity, whether it be slot machines, black jack, poker, ponies or even lottery tickets. However, for others, it can be problematic and even addictive. Much like drugs and alcohol, gambling is a progressive addiction and can lead to increasing difficulties with family, work, friends and finances. The American Psychiatric Association considers pathological gambling to be a mental health problem under the category of impulse control disorders. A variety of factors increase your risk of becoming a problem gambler, such as genetics, family history, social exposure and recent life changes.
Bring only the amount of money that you can afford to gamble. Meeting your basic needs is a must prior to engaging in this hobby. Do not make multiple trips to the ATM while at the casino or track and do not reinvest your winnings in additional gambling activities. Never seek credit card advances to continue playing and do not borrow from others with the idea you will win enough to pay them back.
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Decide on a limit for the amount of time to spend gambling, then stick to it. Think about the casino environment. You'll notice an absence of clocks and windows. The strategy is to keep the customer focused on the gaming activities rather than the time that has elapsed. Do not drink excessively, as alcohol use lowers your inhibitions, making it easier to continue spending time and money.
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Do not forsake other important responsibilities or commitments in order to gamble. If your hobby is just that, you will not play hookie from work, school, church or turn down a family activity to test lady luck. This includes anything from running out on your lunch hour to calling in sick for the entire day. Make sure you have other positive social and recreational activities that you participate in. Gambling should not be your only source of entertainment.
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Do not use gambling to cope with uncomfortable emotions, such as anxiety, grief or anger. For some people gambling becomes an escape to numb these issues. However, this escape is a temporary solution which leads to bigger problems and can trigger the cycle of addiction.
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Watch out for warning signs that your hobby is becoming a habit. These include frequent thoughts about gambling, dishonesty with others about the amount of time spent gambling, plus symptoms of tolerance (when more gambling risk is required to get the same feeling of excitement). If you start with quarter slots and have worked your way up to dollar bets, you could be heading towards a financial and psychological problem.