Regaining Financial Security After Gambling Addiction

Now that you’re in recovery for gambling addiction, you can begin to rebuild your life. A big part of that will undoubtedly involve repairing the financial nightmare that resulted from your compulsive gambling. Just the stress of trying to deal with creditors, mountains of piled up debt, and the insecurity of not knowing if you’ll be able to financially independent again can take a huge toll. Don’t let it. You can regain your financial strength, security and confidence in your ability to take care of your financial obligations. But you do need help. … Continue Reading

Medication May Prove Effective Treatment Method for Pathological Gamblers

For those individuals who struggle with a gambling problem, medication may provide some relief. According to researchers at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP), medication could be used to decrease urges and increase inhibitions for pathological gamblers.

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Georgia Concerned About Link between Gambling and Drug Addiction

Weeks before a controversial new law on casinos takes effect in Georgia, health workers in the capital, Tbilisi, say they have uncovered a worrying link between gambling and drug addiction.

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Two Studies Examine Effects of Altering Features on Video Lottery Terminals on Erroneous Beliefs and Gambling Behavior

Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) are electronic gaming machines that give players the option to participate in an assortment of games at a convenient location. Gamblers may choose between various attractions, including roulette and card games. VLTs are legal in many American states and Canadian provinces. Recent studies have shown that the lights, sounds, and ability to easily switch from game to game on VLTs may indicate why disordered gamblers prefer VLTs to other forms of gambling.

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Gambling Legislation Lags: Technology Moves at a Tough Speed to Match

Though technology often moves at a pace much faster than legislation, science is often challenged to keep up with legislation. Often, bills are passed without scientific research performed on the subject of the policy, and legislation is approved based on public opinion. In 2006 the United States Senate voted to make Internet gambling illegal. It passed the Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, based on anecdotal evidence and public opinion to support the passing of the legislation. A recent article in The WAGER examined the recent research available to support such legislative decisions.

Current research yields several studies giving information about the prevalence of Internet gambling and disordered Internet gambling. Of 11 empirical studies found on the subject, five provide estimates for the prevalence of Internet gambling. The WAGER also looked at published reports from the four US national surveys that investigated the prevalence of gambling and gambling-related problems, with one study yielding information on rates of Internet gambling. There were also four additional studies found with prevalence rates for internet gambling using a PsycInfo search. In total, ten studies were used to determine prevalence rates in Internet gambling.

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How the Brain Makes a Bet

You’re making plans for a casual game of racquetball with a friend. You’re looking forward to the challenge, until his taunting competitiveness gives way to a friendly wager. He bets you that you won’t win, and loser will give the victor his watch. You believe that you and your friend are pretty equally matched. How will you decide whether to give in to his mocking and take the bet? It all depends on how great his watch is.

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Families Encouraged to Seek Help for Problem Gamblers

Gambling is a pastime that many find to be fun and rewarding, while others find it to be a crutch they cannot escape. Often perceived as a harmless activity, gambling is becoming a growing problem for potentially hundreds of thousands of individuals throughout the world.

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Study Examines the Influence of Emotion on Decision Making Among Disordered Gamblers

You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who disagrees that driving while under the influence of alcohol is not only illegal, it is also life-threatening. Scientists have now identified another DUI – Deciding Under the Influence…of Emotion.

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Gambling Addiction Relapse – Steps to Take Now

So you’ve fallen off the wagon, so to speak, and gone back to gambling. This isn’t the end of the world, although it feels like a major setback. Experts in treating gambling addiction say that relapse is common – but you can learn valuable lessons from it and come out stronger on the other side.

Learn to Identify Triggers

When relapse occurs, it’s due to some type of trigger or stimuli that you react to. These stimuli may be places where you always went to gamble, or people you associated with during gambling. It could be the emotional state of mind you were in or the thoughts you had at the time that triggers your repetition of ritualistic gambling behavior patterns. You need to identify these relapse triggers and the accompanying intense emotions they create before you can do anything about them. … Continue Reading

How To Find A Gambling Addiction Treatment Center

Treatment for gambling addiction is not simply a matter of substituting the word “gambling” for “alcohol” or “drug” addiction and doing an Internet search. While gambling addiction is a type of impulse-control disorder, and the classic addiction definition definitely applies, the gambling addict needs specialized counseling and therapy to overcome the compulsion to gamble. A treatment center or facility that specializes in only drugs and/or alcohol will not suffice. So, how do you find a gambling addiction treatment center?

In the U.S. there are a few gambling addiction treatment centers that are devoted exclusively to helping the compulsive gambler. They are hard to find, however. The good news is that there are addiction treatment centers and facilities that also have what is called a gambling track, or a treatment program specifically designed to address gambling addiction.

For immediate help or to find a gambling treatment center near you, contact the National Council on Problem Gambling’s 24-hour, confidential helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Types of Treatment Programs

Residential treatment programs provide 24-hour, 7 day a week, general and specialized non-hospital interdisciplinary services. Clients reside at the facility and receive services from personnel trained to deliver specialized treatment for behavioral health disorders and other related problems. Such residential treatment programs may be in freestanding, non-hospital-based buildings or in a hospital wing. In addition, residential treatment programs may include domestic violence treatment homes, non-hospital addiction treatment centers, intermediate care facilities, psychiatric treatment centers, and other non-medical settings.
Inpatient treatment programs provide treatment similar to residential, but in a hospital setting. According to Behavioral Health Care Programs, CARF, 2002, inpatient programs have as a key component the close coordination of other service providers and organizations. Participants in inpatient treatment programs are involved in daily therapeutic activities. The treatment goal is to provide a protective environment including medical stabilization, support, treatment for addictive or psychiatric disorders, and supervision.

Inpatient and Residential Treatment Facility List

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) lists a number of facilities offering inpatient or residential treatment for gambling. The facilities listed have voluntarily applied to be listed on the site, but there may also be other eligible facilities which are not listed. Inclusion in the listing is not an implied endorsement by the NCPG.

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