Gambling
Five Characteristics of Compulsive Gamblers
(Adapted From Handbook on Counseling Youth by Josh McDowell)
A. They Are
Often Troubled To Begin With.
People who gamble compulsively are often troubled to begin with, and
gambling provides an escape. Gambling often acts as an anesthetic for a person
who has problems with school, work, friendships, family or self-esteem. The
person who is failing in other areas can gain a sense of accomplishment from
winning a bet. The person with no friends will have no trouble finding them in
the gambling world. The person who has severe family problems may find a
temporary oasis of escape in gambling – and a sense of having control over
something. A person who has no sense of self-worth occasionally finds his or
her ego boosted by the “accomplishment” of a win.
B. They Often
Display Addictive Behavior Already.
People who gamble compulsively often have an addictive behavior already.
Alcoholism and drug addiction are heavily tied to the gambling syndrome. People
who gamble compulsively share common addictive traits, which are easily
identifiable:
1. Their answer to any conflict, problem, or pain is “escape.”
2. They feel the need for something in their lives that they can
“absolutely control.”
3. They are egocentric and cannot delay gratification.
4. They are impulsive, seldom thinking before acting.
5. They see life in black-and-white terms; they have a “winner or loser”
mentality.
6. “Denial” is their most cherished defense when confronted.
C. They Tend To
Be Depressed.
People who gamble compulsively tend to be depressed. Researchers are
currently not certain whether the depression is a cause or a symptom, but most
agree that a correlation exists between depression and compulsive gambling.
D. They Tend To
Be Predisposed to “Sociopathy.”
People who gamble compulsively tend to have a predisposition toward
“sociopathy.” A sociopath is a person who does not profit from trial and error,
lacks personal and group loyalty, shows poor judgment and responsibility,
rationalizes inappropriate behavior, and has a mind that will not tell him or
her when he or she is wrong.
E. They Are
Usually Thrill/Action Seekers.
People who gamble compulsively are usually “action” or “thrill” seekers.
These people crave an adrenaline high. Normal daily life is boring to them.
Their significance in life is found through primitive physical stimulation.
The Effects of Gambling Addiction
Examining the effects of compulsive gambling is best accomplished by
looking at how compulsive gambling develops. The typical progression comprises
three recognizable phases: the winning phase, the losing phase, and the
desperation phase.
A. The Winning Phase: The Search for Action or Escape
Gambling is fun, exciting and enjoyable. The gambler wants the excitement
more than anything else. “Winning” – even at a game of chance – is attractive,
and most gamblers see their wins as a reflection of their own abilities. The
risk only adds to the excitement. Gambling also provides an escape, allowing
them to forget or avoid “real life.”
B. The Losing
Phase: The Chase
Continued gambling ultimately brings increased losses, which threaten
self-esteem. To salvage his or her self-esteem, to get back lost money and to
hide losses, the gambler must find ways to get more money. As a result gambling
can push the gambler to extremes: to cover large losses, the gambler may “start
to borrow money from their loved ones, then steal money and jewelry from them,
and then start to break into houses and cars,” says Edward Looney, executive
director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc. The gambler
may also resort to:
1. Getting advances from loved one’s credit cards.
2. Dealing drugs.
3. Becoming bookies themselves.
4. Robbing and stealing.
5. Haunting pawn shops.
6. Working overtime hours at a job.
C. The
Desperation Phase: Panic and the End of the Line
Desperation develops as the gambler becomes obsessed with getting even and
paying off debts. Now betting with borrowed or stolen money, however, and often
losing money intended to pay off debts, the gambler digs an ever-deepening hole
and IOUs begin to mount. At this point gambling takes over his or her life and
he or she will tend to exhibit the following symptoms.
1. Losing time from school or work. Their quality of work suffers.
2. More lying.
3. Alienation from family and friends.
4. Blaming others.
5. Strong guilt and anger.
6. Panic/anxiety.
7. Increased drug or alcohol use.
8. Increased borrowing and increased level of stealing.
9. Emotional breakdown.
10. Hopelessness and depression.
11. Suicidal thoughts or gestures.
12. Problems with the law.
The person’s gambling is out of control when it reflects three of the
following ten criteria for compulsive gambling:
1. Frequent preoccupation with gambling or obtaining money to gamble.
2. Loss of control (via repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut down or stop
gambling).
3. Tolerance (once wagering is done for large amounts of money, bets at
smaller amounts fail
to produce the desired excitement).
4. Withdrawal (including restlessness and irritability, cravings and
psychological signs).
5. Returning another day in order to get even (“chasing” one’s losses).
6. Gambling as a means of escaping from problems or intolerable feelings.
7. Lying to family and others about the extent of gambling.
8. Jeopardizing relationships, education or career in order to pursue the
activity.
9. Engaging in illegal activities in order to finance gambling or pay
gambling-related debts.
10. Reliance on others or institutions to relieve a financial situation
produced by gambling.
The Biblical Perspective of Gambling
The Bible does not specifically address the subject of gambling, nor does
it call gambling a sin or explicitly forbid its practice. However, gambling
does involve several biblical issues.
A. The Bible
explicitly condemns greed.
Gambling is predicated upon the love of money and the desire for more,
which the Bible clearly identifies as “a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim.
B. Gambling is
Contrary to the Biblical Work Ethic.
God intended honest wages to be gained through honest work (Luke 10:7; Ex.
20:9; Eph.
C. Gambling is
Destructive and Addictive.
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many
foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction (1 Tim.
6:9). Nowhere is the truth of Paul’s words to Timothy more evident than in the
foolish and harmful desires that often plunge compulsive gamblers into
hopelessness, depression, and suicidal thoughts or gestures.
D. The Bible
Prescribes an Alternative to Gambling.
God has already blessed the Christian with “every spiritual blessing in
Christ,” and has lavished “the riches of God’s grace” on him or her (Eph. 1:3,
7). Whatever the person’s motivation in turning to gambling – escape, control,
a “high” – God can “meet all [those] needs according to his glorious riches in
Christ Jesus” (Phil.
E. The Bible
Commands a Compassionate but Firm Approach to the Compulsive Gambler.
Christians are called to bear one another’s burdens and to gently restore
those who have stumbled and are struggling. (see Gal.
6:1-2) Though a person who has fallen into compulsive gambling may require a
firm response, he or she must still be treated lovingly and compassionately.
The Response to the Problem of Gambling Addiction
Listen.
When dealing with a gambler, the first goal is to get the facts in order
to determine the level of his or her problem. Asking the following questions
(seven yes answers qualify one as a compulsive gambler) might do this:
1. Do you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2. Does gambling ever make your home life unhappy?
3. Does gambling affect your reputation?
4. Do you ever feel remorse after gambling?
5. Do you ever gamble to get money with which to pay
debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
6. Does gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7. After losing do you feel you must return as soon as possible and win
back your losses?
8. After a win do you have a strong urge to return and win more?
9. Do you often gamble until your last dollar is gone?
10. Do you often borrow money to gamble?
11. Do you ever sell anything in order to gamble?
12. Are you reluctant to spend “gambling money” for normal purchases?
13. Does gambling make you careless of the welfare of your family, friends
or self?
14. Do you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
15. Do you ever gamble to escape worry or trouble?
16. Do you ever commit, or consider committing, an illegal act to finance
gambling?
17. Does gambling cause you to have difficulty sleeping or functioning at
school?
18. Do arguments, disappointments, or frustrations create within you an
urge to gamble?
19. Do you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours
of gambling?
20. Do you ever consider self-destruction as a result of your gambling?
Empathize.
As the helper you may literally be the gambler’s lifeline. Suicide may
indeed be an option for a gambler who is in the desperation phase (the level at
which help is most often sought). The gambler at this point has likely bottomed
out and is reaching out for help, not condemnation. Do not sermonize; instead,
empathize to the point where you can build a bridge of trust. After all, the
gambler will have to trust you in order to agree to involve loved ones and
legal authorities if necessary.
Affirm.
A compulsive gambler needs several things if he or she ever hopes to
escape addiction. Love, grace, and patience should be the caring person’s
starting point, since the lack of these in his or her life may be the deeper
underlying cause of the gambling. Give praise for the gambler’s courage to face
the problem and ask for help. Always let the gambler know that by admitting the
problem, he or she has taken the most difficult step. Offer encouragement and
affirmation at every sign of progress.
Direct.
The caring counselor must be gentle to the gambler yet firm with the
addiction. Being directive involves several specific phases:
Break through the gambler’s denial system. If he or she refuses to answer
honestly or is resistant, offer calm but consistent evidence, sticking as much
as possible to a nonthreatening questioning style. Present specific examples
(“What happened to the money from the sale of the car?”) rather than general
accusations (“You’re out of control!”). Sensitively but firmly share
information regarding the effects of gambling.
Lead the person to confession and repentance of sin, and help him or her
receive and acknowledge God’s love and forgiveness. Impress upon the gambler
that there is grace and strength in a relationship with God through Jesus
Christ. Guide him or her to establish a daily habit of prayer and fellowship
with God, which will both meet the inner needs he or she formerly sought to
meet through gambling and supply strength against temptation.
As early as possible, the gambler’s loved ones must become involved.
Though sometimes they are reluctant to face the truth of a loved one’s problem,
their cooperation and support will be central to effective treatment and
recovery.
Help the gambler and his or her family to consider professional
counseling, support groups, and other forms of treatment.
Enlist.
If the gambler has admitted that a problem exists and is willing to seek
help, the concerned parent, spouse, pastor, youth worker or teacher must allow
him or her to be instrumental in planning each successive step. Resist the
temptation to do the thinking and the work for him or her; enlist the gambler’s
active participation in devising and implementing a plan for help and recovery.
Refer.
Most cases of compulsive gambling will have to be referred to licensed
compulsive gambling counselors, which most gambling states must provide by law.
Your job, however, is crucial in convincing the struggling gambler that he or
she needs help, particularly professional help. If you
determine that your gambler does not meet the criteria for compulsive gambling,
you may handle the situation with education or information on the dangers and
myths of gambling. If the gambler you are helping will not go to a treatment
facility or counselor, you might be able to refer him or her to your local
Gamblers Anonymous program. In all cases, referral must be accomplished with
parental permission (in the case of a minor) and preferably with family
support. Unless you are an expert on gambling or gambling addiction, be
prepared to enlist the help of several agencies in the areas of treatment,
information, education, and support.
Treatment Programs for Compulsive Gamblers
St. Luke’s/
800-BETS-OFF
Gambling
RICCA