Gambling Addiction - Possible Causes

If you have a gambling addiction then you may be wondering how you became so addicted. How did this happen to you? How did you find yourself so deeply entranced in such an addiction? You certainly didn't intend to have this gambling addiction. Exploring the causes may help you quit.

There are many causes that may have led you to succumb to a gambling addiction. Some are apparent but some are not so apparent. The causes that are easiest to see include unhappiness and your dissatisfaction with life. Also, you may have experienced a negative event that triggered your gambling addiction. The non--apparent causes of your addiction include type A personality and negative thoughts that are buried in your subconscious mind.

Let's first explore the apparent causes of your gambling addiction. If you are unhappy and dissatisfied with your life then you will tend to seek something outside of yourself to help you feel happy. This can be the point when you turn to an addiction such as gambling. You are looking for that instant fix to become happy and satisfied. Unfortunately, this instant fix is not long--lasting. It is what it is -- instant! You need to find other things that will bring you happiness. You need to learn to enjoy the small things in life. Find things to look forward to other than gambling.

Another apparent cause for your gambling addiction may be connected to a negative event in your life. This event may have triggered your addiction. It may have been the loss of job, loss of a partner or loss of material things, Your grief over your loss could be the trigger. It is important to seek out counseling, or read an excellent self-help book, to deal with your loss in order to let go of it. Letting go will allow you to grow and live for the future.

Now let's explore the non--apparent causes of your gambling addiction. You may have a type "A" personality. It is this type of personality that drives you to continue gambling. You want to win. You think that if you gamble enough you will figure out the key to winning. You think you may have unlocked the secret to winning the slots, the trick to betting on the horses or you've developed the best poker face for Texas Hold'em. You're sure that you have control over your gambling addiction. Isn't it all just a game anyhow? At this point you must remember that gambling is what it is -- a gamble. There is no sure-fire way to win.

Another non-apparent cause for your gambling addiction may be negative messages that are buried deep within your subconscious mind. For example, when you were young you may have been told that playing cards was a taboo; that if you played cards you would grow up to have a gambling addiction. You may have also been told that if you bought even one lotto ticket you would become a gambler. If these negative messages were relayed to you on a regular basis then they would be rooted in your subconscious mind, and you will have lived your life accordingly. The best way to eliminate these negative messages is through hypnosis/hypnotherapy. A Hypnotherapist can bring out these negative messages and rectify them.

In exploring the causes of your gambling addiction I hope you can find your way out. You CAN overcome this addiction! You CAN win! I did.

Written by Cynthia Romero, author of the Smile More Today and Tomorrow website.

Is Responsible Gambling Possible?

Most people gamble for the fun and excitement of that big win, or to test their mettle against worthy opponents in games of skill, but gambling is about money and there is always the risk of taking the game too far.

Ensuring a conscientious and entertaining gambling environment is both the casinos'/poker rooms' and the players' responsibility.

Players need to play at casinos or poker rooms with the highest degree of trustworthiness, transparency and legitimacy. It is also important for players to bear the following in mind at all times during their play:

o Gambling should be entertaining and not seen as a means to making money.

o Keep track of the amount of money you spend and only gamble what you can afford to lose. Do not chase your losses.

o Keep track of the amount of time you spend gambling.

Does your casino or poker room have a responsible gaming policy?

While most people gamble for enjoyment, gambling can create various social and economic problems and very possibly cause harm to some individuals. These problems can range from over-spending to pathological gambling addiction.

Make sure that the casino you choose is committed to creating a responsible gaming environment, and has therefore gone to great lengths to implement and maintain the responsible gaming requirements of the international online gaming industry watchdog - eCOGRA (e-Commerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance). This certification is for the benefit of both players and the casinos or poker rooms themselves.

What does the eCOGRA Seal of Approval mean for you?

To receive the eCOGRA seal casinos or poker rooms must undergo stringent inspections of everything from customer service centers to accounting systems and from responsive complaint procedures to financial guarantees.

The award of the seal confirms that the casino or poker room has met eCOGRA's strict admission criteria, and signifies that that they have shown absolute commitment to fair and honest gaming, superior player support, and prompt payouts. As a player, this seal of approval can provide you with total peace of mind when enjoying your favorite online games.

With eCOGRA you also have free access to a dedicated third-party dispute resolution service. You can request eCOGRA's assistance in resolving disputes with any casino displaying their seal. Simply fill in a brief form on their web site at http://www.ecogra.org/disputes.

Gambling problem?

Should you require any assistance or advice on gambling problems, please contact one of the organizations listed below:

USA

National Council on Problem Gambling 1-800-522-4700

Hot Line Number for Northern California 1-800-287-8670

Hot Line Number for Greater L.A. Central 310-478-2121

Hot Line Number for Palm Springs 760-325-2808

Hot Line Number for Greater San Diego 1-866-239-2911

Gam-Anon, International Service Office 718-352-1671

Compulsive Gambling Institute 1-800-GAMBLER

Council of Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey 1-800-GAMBLER

or 1-800-426-2537

Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling 1-800-426-4555

Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling 1-800-34-NOBET

NICOS Chinese Health Coalition Problem Gambling 1-888-968-7888

(Mandarin and Cantonese)

UK

Gamblers Anonymous 08700-50-88-80

Canada

British Columbia Partnership for Responsible Gambling 1-888-795-6111

Aden Matthews is an online poker expert and has been playing in online tournaments for 5 years now. He shares his knowledge of poker and the industry with readers on a Texas Hold'em blog and also endorses a good poker tips and strategies site called Vegas Poker [http://www.vegaspoker.com].

Is It Possible To Stop Gambling And Gambling Problems By Tapering Off

Compulsive gambling is an illness that affects many people every day. In my work as a therapist I dealt with compulsive gambling and other problem behavior and watched as my clients tried different methods of controlling their gambling behavior. Some people would try to stop gambling by slowly tapering off and allowing themselves a little less gambling each week. Others used the "cold turkey" method and quit completely.

I also saw my clients use similar methods to try to control other unwanted behavior like overeating, smoking, nail biting, etc. After watching hundreds of people try to stop problem gambling and control their gambling problems, I have come to the conclusion that the best way to do it is by complete and immediate cessation. In other words, stop immediately and do not gamble at all.

There are obvious psychological reasons for this approach, but also some physiological ones as well. Psychologically speaking, trying to limit a problem behavior and ration it out is a losing battle because part of your psyche becomes the parent and the other, usually the subconscious, becomes the child. Your subconscious is actually quite powerful and controls some of your bodily functions, memory, and other important parts of your life. Pitting the conscious mind against the subconscious almost always results in the subconscious winning.

Another component of that struggle is that it is very tiring and drags out the inevitable. While problem gambling is an addiction you will have for life, just how much time and effort do you want to devote to that problem each day? Tapering off means you will still be dealing with it, thinking about it, measuring it and trying to limit it each day.

Most of my clients wanted to get over it and get on with their lives. We found the best way to do that was by reprogramming their subconscious minds with Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and guided meditations that helped them to relieve the desire to gamble and also to relieve the stress caused by other areas of their lives.

Physiologically speaking, gambling is a behavior and therefore, each time that you gamble or even fantasize about gambling, synaptic loops are formed and reinforced in your brain. So even gambling less and limiting your gamble is stimulating those loops and making them stronger. When you think about limiting gambling you are still forming loops and strengthening them, so while you may think you are controlling the gambling, you are really reinforcing it and making it stronger so that when your subconscious is ready to make a power play, it will have a strong tool to use against your conscious mind.

If you are really serious about stopping gambling, the best method for dealing with compulsive gambling, then I suggest guided meditations, a good support group like Gamblers Anonymous, and complete cessation.

I offer my guided meditations for gambling problems online and they may be listened to or downloaded at gambling problems relief. I may also be contacted by email there to answer questions free of charge.

Wil Langford, R. Hy., is a 54 yr. old. Clinical Hypnotherapist, Integrated Energy Therapist, and teacher. He is the author of, "Your Loved Ones, Your Self; finding and Raising the Family Within." With hundreds of hours of clinical work, Wil is an expert on finding the keys to change unwanted behavior. His guided meditations for relaxation and habit control have helped many people to find happiness and change their lives for the better.

He is an expert on human consciousness and the author of Parts Consciousness Therapy.