How to Overcome an Online Gambling Addiction

Online Gambling is the use of computers or mobile devices to place bets on games, sports, horse races, and other events. It is a $9.5 billion industry in the United States and it continues to grow. Despite its popularity, online gambling can lead to significant harms including financial strain, emotional distress, and social isolation. Those who are addicted to gambling may also experience decline in work or academic performance, health problems, and legal issues.

Like other addictions, gambling-related problems can disrupt relationships. They can also cause people to miss important events and activities that they enjoy. They can also cause people to feel withdrawal when they try to stop.

The main risk factors and protective factors for online gambling are related to a person’s psychological, social, and environmental circumstances. To investigate these factors, a literature search of the academic databases PubMed and PsychInfo was conducted using the keywords “online, gambling, risk factor, protective factor, predictor.”

It is possible to overcome an addiction to online gambling. Treatment options include therapies and support groups. With therapy, a person can learn to identify and change harmful thought patterns, as well as develop healthy coping mechanisms. These strategies can help a person maintain long-term recovery from gambling-related addictions. A person can find these services at a mental health provider or through an online assessment tool such as the one offered by GamCare. Alternatively, an individual can seek out self-help resources such as the Gamblers Anonymous website.