THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS
Most people gamble for fun. They are realistic about the fact that the odds are stacked against them and are willing to loose a little bit of money for entertainment. Not so with the problem gambler, who through faulty cognitions and mistaken beliefs, carry on gambling as they are convinced that they have a system to beat the odds.
With the rise of the internet, there has been a shift from the traditional casino gambling to online gambling. For a problem gamble this means that the restrictions of gambling only being available in a location, no longer applies. Problem gamblers now have access to gambling 27/7 in any location, work, home etc, as long as they have a smartphone.
The adverse consequence for problem gamblers is financial. One of the faulty cognition’s a problem gambler has, is winning back losses. Thus more severe the financial consequences are, the problem gamble solution to the problem is to win back the losses which results in even more financial damage. Furthermore, to make matters worse, the financial problems are concealed from family and loved ones until such time where assets are being repossessed. Money is the fuel for gambling addiction, if there is no access to money, there can be no gambling. The compulsion to gamble is so powerful that problem gamblers will cross their own moral boundaries, and resort to stealing, committing fraud and putting their loved ones financial stability at risk. This is often done with the belief that this will be the “big win” to solve all problems. However even if the big win comes this will not result in abstinence from gambling.
Problem gamblers show the same impaired control over gambling, as addicts and alcoholic display over substance (see more about addiction). Impaired control driven by faulty cognitions and mistaken beliefs, trap problem gamblers in destructive cycle of addiction.
Counseling for problem gamblers will consist of:
- Dismantling denial system
- Raise motivation to hand over all access to money to loved ones.
- Challenging faulty cognitions and mistaken belief.
- Work on a pay back plan.
SHARING IS CARING
