Gambling addiction: causes and symptoms of gambling addiction

The gambling it is one of the most common addictions in the western world. But what exactly do we know about pathological gambling? Are we forewarned by this growing form of psychological disorder?

Gambling addiction or gambling: a form of addiction without drugs

Neither gambling nor its associated problems are something new in our society. The game for pleasure, leisure or profit objectives are present from our most primitive essays. As old as the game is pathological gambling; The latter is understood as the loss of control over games of chance in which bets are made, such as slot machines, bingo halls, casinos or coupons, sports bets and games of a private nature.

Fernandez-Montalvo and López-Goñi (2012) describe the pathological player as emotionally dependent on the game, with loss of control and its corresponding negative impact on their daily life. This dependence may be generated by the false expectation of winning to recover what was lost; cognitive distortion or wrong thinking that

keep the game spiral. Lies and concealment of the game is another great observable feature in this disorder.

Being the game a normalized social behavior, in the pathological player or compulsive gambler increases both in frequency of episodes (normally daily) and fortune bet (mainly economic); involved in games of chance, destroying your family and work life. Indeed, the word gambling comes from the Latin ludus, 'game', and from the Greek patheia, 'suffering' or 'affection'; that is to say "pathological gambling" (Capetillo-Ventura, Jalil-Pérez, 2014).

Pathological gambling is a relatively common disorder, as it is roughly estimated that 5% of adults experience gambling problems (A.P.A, 1980). Epidemiological data indicate that four out of every five adults (78.4%) have gambled at least once in their life. 27.1% have bet more than 100 times; and 10.1% more than 1000 (Kesseler et al., 2008). Pathological gambling has been studied mainly in men, since approximately two thirds of people with this disorder are men (A.P.A., 2002). However, until 1980, pathological gambling was not recognized as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Society (A.P.A.), in the DSM-III (Potenza, 2008; Albiach, 2006; Fernandez-Montalvo and López-Goñi, 2012).

So it is a relatively new disorder in the field of research compared to substance use disorders (Carragher & McWilliams, 2010). In addition to its recognition, it may be one of the most studied disorders in recent decades (Fernandez-Montalvo and López-Goñi, 2012).

Slot machine: the game that has ruined the most lives

The slot machinesIt is par excellence the most played game of chance in Spain. This is due, according to Fernández-Montalvo and Echeburúa (1997) to:

1. The Widespread of slot machines.
2. The possibility of bet little money Y earn a lot in proportion to the stake.
3. The short interval between the bet and the result.
4. Manipulate the machine personally generating a false sense of control.
5. The striking elements of noise and lights that they generate psychophysiological alteration.

The course of the gambling tends to become chronic, so it is difficult for it to remit, that is, for the person to stop playing, if not with psychological intervention (Fernández-Montalvo and López-Goñi, 2012). As in other non-substance addiction disorders (food, internet, work), the person has the false belief of controlling their problem, and being able to quit without the need for help.

Gambling: a look into the future

It is possible that the growing interest in this problem is due to an increase in gamblers; the seriousness of the problems derived from gambling problems; and its expansion to new technologies through the internet thus generating a greater accessibility. Regarding this last point, it is worth highlighting the multiple online games that appear every day, both via PC (for example: through famous flashy Facebook minigames) as well as via game console (new and yet incomplete games with dlc or content downloadable). We still do not know to what extent the player's investments will increase to obtain the 'dlc or improvements' in these types of games, but we do count on the gaming industries investing time in generating in their customers the need to pay to obtain those ‘Improvements’.

Nor should we forget the games called 'games of chance'Which are also available online. The novelty here is that these games are available to minors, unlike years ago, where they were not there was this type of game-payment and during the game more payments (previously you paid your full game a single time). Could this be a new precedent to gambling in the coming years? Young people who normalize payment to play. Could slot machine technology improve dramatically and people continue to add to gambling? And, can people end up seeing 'normal' that other people gamble or invest in their games a bulk of their economy, as has been happening with excessive use of the telephone mobile?

As we can see, it is not only a question of money, but of time invested in it. It is a matter of stopping your daily tasks, stopping taking care of your partner, friends, work or other fundamental aspects to prioritize the game in your life.

The Department of Health indicates that 95% of adolescents older than 15 years of the Valencian Community has a mobile phone with Internet, thus favoring the addictive behavior associated with gambling. Tomás (2014) explains in this regard: «there is a fact that we would like to denounce from the Valencian Institute of Gambling - the first specialized in the matter in Spain-. It seems very serious to us that minors are allowed to gamble in bars where there are gambling machines. We know that the situation exists and it cannot be consented ». An increasing number of adolescents come to treatment for gambling problems (Fernández-Montalvo and López-Goñi, 2012), is reason enough to promote good use and control of new technologies as intervention effective.

Testimony of a gambler

In a report by EiTB, the valuable testimony of José Manuel was provided, a Spaniard who suffered from gambling addiction and who explains to us how he experienced gambling in his own flesh and how he managed to disengage. Here we leave you the video.