The 6 types of Gambling: causes and symptoms

Gambling or gambling addiction is considered a mental disorder that shows symptoms similar to substance addictions, such as dependence, tolerance and withdrawal.

The mode of operation of the different games favors and facilitates the dependency and growing need for more hours of play, a progressive increase that It starts out unimportant but ends up affecting the functionality of the subject, every area of ​​his life, even friendships and relationships being affected. relatives.

In this way, there are different types of gambling disorders that have similar symptoms, since it is the same disorder, but the characteristics of the games that cause them are different. In this article we will talk about gambling. How is this mental disorder defined, what prevalence does it show, why do games create addiction and what types of gambling disorders are the most common.

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What is pathological gambling?

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM 5) classifies Gambling or gambling addiction within the chapter of other addictive disorders not related to substances. Pathological gambling, also known as pathological gambling, is described as

persistent maladaptive gambling behavior that results in impairment and clinically significant stress in the affected individual.

Thus, the DSM 5 considers that pathological gambling is a type of addiction also showing symptoms of tolerance, dependence and withdrawal, as happens with substances, drugs. Apart from the definition already mentioned, the Diagnostic Manual considers it necessary to show 4 symptoms during a period of 12 months. The symptoms are related to risk behaviors, lack of responsibility, loss of control regarding addictive behavior, deception and preoccupation with gambling. Depending on the number of symptoms they show, we can assess a different degree of severity.

The DSM 5 points out that between 0.2% and 0.3% of the general population have a diagnosis of pathological gambling. Regarding the profile of patients with pathological gambling, it is more frequent in men and in younger ages, adolescents and university students. It has also been observed that the type of game that older people prefer are bingo and slot machines, while young subjects show greater variety.

Why is gambling addictive?

There are different variables that influence the ease for a subject to become addicted, some that refer to specific characteristics of each person such as personality or biological conditions such as an alteration of arousal. On the other hand, there are other factors that can also influence and do not depend so much on each person, such as advertising or game offers.

Once the gambling behavior has started, there may be variables that help maintain this behavior and make it easier for it to lead to addiction. The characteristic functioning of the game consists of the succession of negative and positive reinforcement intermittently, thus in sometimes we win (we will have reinforcement) and on others we do not win (we will not have reinforcement), this succession being variable and unpredictable.

In addition, cognitive distortions also appear that make it difficult for the subject to think rationally. Some of these distortions are: illusion of control, the player believes that he can control the result; flexible attribution, attributes success to internal factors and failure to external factors; or absolute frequency, they only take into account the gains, not the losses.

We will be able to observe three phases during the development of gambling addiction. At first, profits can be produced, although it will not take long for the second phase to appear, which involves losses. Faced with this falling situation, individuals who suffer from addiction do not choose to give up, but believe that if they continue playing they will be able to recover the losses, thus entering a vicious circle that will end up affecting every area of ​​life of the individual, not only economic, but also work, family and Social.

What types of gambling exist?

As we have mentioned in the previous section, not all gamblers will show a preference for the same type of game. This distinction of preferences gives us the possibility of differences between types of compulsive gambling, each with its own characteristics. Below we will mention the most common.

1. gambling addiction to slot machines

One of the most frequent types is slot machine gambling, as we have seen, it is common in older subjects. Its high frequency is due to the ease with which we find these machines, they are not only in gambling places but also in bars where the subject goes to drink something. The game mode, short games that do not require us to think, favors a high addiction, since the subject easily loses the control showing the irrational belief that the next game he will surely win, since he thinks he cannot lose that many games in a row.

Although the money played in each game is little, in the end, the total money lost is much higher than the money won, thus affecting the economy of the subject. As we have said, cognitive distortions do not allow them to be aware of these losses, of the situation in which they find themselves.

2. Role-playing gambling

Role-playing gambling, unlike the previous one, is more common in the younger population, since It is normally played through computers, technology that is currently used with high frequency in subjects of younger age. This type of gambling is characterized by an addiction to games where the subject plays a role, is a character, in a game where other users also participate.

In this case, the problem may not be so much the loss of money, which may also be keep in mind since these games may have payment options, but more an excessive dedication of weather. The individual spends much of the day, if not all, immersed in the world of the game, affecting its functionality and even affecting basic needs such as eating or sleeping.

3. gambling addiction to sports betting

Gambling related to sports betting brings together two dangerous variables, the game and the sport. We know that sport itself can already generate addiction or unconditional following. In this way, if we combine sports with betting, the combination can be fatal and often lead to addiction. The way of playing can be done physically or online, the latter being the most common alternative and the most dangerous since it makes it easier to subject to being able to do it anywhere and being directly linked to your bank account you may not be aware of the money you are losing.

There are many sports, with games being held almost every day of the week., therefore the speed and constancy of the game facilitates addiction. Likewise, sports betting also generates a type of cognitive distortion, the so-called illusory control, the individual believes that his knowledge of the sport really allows him to control the result, but in reality this is random.

4. gambling addiction

Games of chance are the same that we find in casinos. The environment of these game centers makes it easy for the subject to continue playing, the dark place, with many lights, surrounded by games, conducive to players losing control of time and spending hours Playing.

This place that we could consider as paradise or rather hell for gamblers offers all kinds of games, from slots, bingo, dice, roulette or blackjack. These types of games, characteristic for being governed by chance, give the individual a feeling of control, letting him have small triumphs to mask the continuous and inevitable defeats.

5. Microtransaction gambling

Gambling related to microtransactions is also related to new technologies, especially with the games that we download on our mobile phones, which they ask us for small payments to be able to achieve some objectives or goals. We see here again the strategy of requiring minimum payments so that the subject downplays the importance of these money losses and thus be able to add up the cost figure little by little.

In the end, these small payments are the most dangerous since the subject trusts and loses awareness of the total sum of money that he is losing, becoming completely addicted to the game without being able to stop to spend.

6. Video game gambling

Video game gambling can also be influenced by another type of addiction that has appeared more recently, such as technology, when ordering, consoles or mobile phones. The options, games, that current technology offers us are the perfect claim to attract many people of all ages. The wide range of games to choose from means that everyone can find one they like. Also, they are already designed to require a continuity in the game.

In other words, we can consider that video games show the precise characteristics to gradually become more important in the lives of the subjects, who spend more time playing and end up neglecting other activities, ultimately affecting all areas of his life.