Understanding Compulsive Gambling
Compulsive gambling, also known as gambling disorder, is an addiction characterized by an individual's inability to resist the urge to gamble.
This persistent and uncontrollable gambling can have severe consequences, affecting various aspects of an individual's life, including their finances, relationships, and mental health.
Compulsive gambling is recognized as a mental health condition by the American Psychiatric Association and is categorized as a behavioral addiction.
Individuals with a gambling disorder often experience an overwhelming desire to gamble, leading to a pattern of repeated and ongoing betting that becomes increasingly difficult to control.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of a gambling disorder can vary from person to person, but some common indicators include:
- Preoccupation with gambling: The individual spends an excessive amount of time thinking about gambling, planning their next bet, or attempting to obtain money to gamble.
- Difficulty controlling gambling behavior: The individual has tried to cut back or stop gambling but has been unable to do so, leading to a pattern of repeated and unsuccessful efforts.
- Financial problems: The individual experiences significant financial losses, debt, and/or legal issues due to their gambling activities.
- Disruption of personal and professional life: The individual's gambling behavior interferes with their work, social, or family responsibilities, leading to strained relationships and decreased productivity.
- Withdrawal symptoms: When the individual is unable to gamble, they may experience physical or emotional symptoms, such as restlessness, irritability, or depression.
- Continued gambling despite negative consequences: The individual continues to gamble despite the clear negative impact on their life, relationships, and mental health.
Causes and Risk Factors
The development of a gambling disorder can be influenced by a variety of factors, including:
- Genetic factors: Research suggests that there may be biological predisposition to addictive behaviors, including gambling.
- Environmental factors: Factors such as easy access to gambling opportunities, peer influences, and cultural norms can contribute to the development of a gambling problem.
- Psychological factors: Underlying mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder, can increase an individual's vulnerability to developing a gambling disorder.
- Childhood experiences: Traumatic experiences or a history of family members with gambling problems can also increase the risk of developing a gambling disorder.
Seeking Help
Recognizing the need for help is an essential first step in addressing a gambling problem. Individuals with a gambling disorder may be reluctant to seek assistance due to shame, denial, or a desire to maintain control over their gambling behavior.
However, it is crucial to understand that gambling addiction is a treatable condition, and seeking professional help can significantly improve the individual's chances of achieving long-term recovery.
Additionally, many therapists, counselors, and addiction specialists, are trained to work with individuals with gambling disorders.
Treatment Options
There are several evidence-based treatment options available for individuals with a gambling disorder, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT focuses on identifying and challenging the negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to problem gambling, helping the individual develop healthier coping strategies.
- Behavioral therapy: Behavioral therapy aims to modify the individual's gambling behavior through techniques such as exposure therapy and contingency management.
- Medication: In some cases, medication may be prescribed to address underlying mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, which can co-occur with a gambling disorder.
- Support groups: Participation in support groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous, can provide individuals with a sense of community, peer support, and accountability during the recovery process.
The specific treatment plan will depend on the individual's unique needs, the severity of their gambling disorder, and any co-occurring mental health or substance abuse issues.
Rehabilitation and Recovery
The path to recovery from a gambling disorder often involves a combination of professional treatment, support from loved ones, and ongoing commitment to lifestyle changes.
Rehabilitation programs, such as inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment, can provide a structured and supportive environment for individuals to address the underlying issues contributing to their gambling problem.
The goal is to help the individual gain control over their gambling behavior, address any co-occurring mental health or substance abuse issues, and develop the skills and resources necessary for long-term recovery.
The Role of Family Members
Gambling disorders can have a significant impact on the individual's family members, who may experience a range of emotions, including frustration, worry, and even financial distress.
Family members can play a crucial role in the recovery process by providing emotional support, setting boundaries, and participating in family therapy.
Additionally, family members can learn coping techniques and access resources to address the impact of the gambling disorder on their own well-being.
Strategies for Recovery
Successful recovery from a gambling disorder often requires a multifaceted approach, including the following strategies:
- Developing a support network: Connecting with support groups, mental health professionals, and trusted friends and family members can provide the individual with the resources and accountability needed during the recovery process.
- Practicing healthy coping mechanisms: Finding alternative ways to manage stress, boredom, and negative emotions, such as through exercise, mindfulness, or hobbies, can reduce the urge to gamble.
- Avoiding triggers: Identifying and avoiding situations or environments that may trigger the desire to gamble can be an important part of the recovery process.
- Seeking ongoing treatment and support: Maintaining regular contact with a mental health professional and participating in support groups can help the individual stay on track with their recovery goals.
Maintaining Long-Term Recovery
Achieving long-term recovery from a gambling disorder requires a lifelong commitment to the recovery process.
Individuals in recovery may need to continue to engage in treatment, attend support group meetings, and implement strategies to manage triggers and prevent relapse.
Relapse Prevention
Relapse is a common challenge in the recovery process, and it is essential for individuals with a gambling disorder to develop strategies to prevent and manage relapse episodes.
This may include:
- Identifying and addressing underlying triggers: Recognizing the emotional, environmental, or social factors that may lead to a relapse can help the individual develop coping mechanisms to avoid or manage these triggers.
- Seeking professional support: Continued engagement with a mental health professional or participation in support groups can provide the individual with the tools and accountability needed to prevent relapse.
- Developing a relapse prevention plan: Creating a personalized plan that outlines specific steps to take in the event of a relapse can help the individual regain control and get back on track with their recovery.
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Meet Our Experts
Paruyr Shahbazyan
Paruyr Shahbazyan began his business career in 2000 as a private entrepreneur. Over thirteen years, he developed a deep understanding for business and leadership, laying a solid foundation for his professional journey.
In 2013, Paruyr stepped into the sports and betting industry as the founder and president of Bookmaker Rating. This online mass media platform, which he led until 2020, focused on providing in-depth analysis and insights in sports betting, earning a reputation for its quality content.
Continuing his innovative approach in 2022, Paruyr co-founded Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol. This venture showcases his dedication to integrating advanced technology in the evolving landscape of sports betting. Through these diverse experiences, Paruyr has continuously influenced and shaped the betting industry, driving new trends and setting high standards.
| Experience | Year |
| Engaged in private entrepreneurship | 2000-2013 |
| Founder and President at Bookmaker Rating, an online platform focused on sports and betting | 2013-2020 |
| Co-founder at Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol | 2022 |
"Innovation in sportsbetting comes from a deep understanding of both technology and the human element of sports."
- Paruyr Shahbazyan, Founder, RG
Principles and Ethics
Paruyr Shahbazyan's core beliefs lie in the power of informed decision-making and integrity in the betting industry. He understands that the foundation of successful betting is not just about odds and predictions, but also about the trust and reliability of the information provided. Paruyr advocates for a betting environment where transparency and knowledge are paramount, ensuring that bettors are well-equipped with accurate data and insights.
Strategic Vision
Paruyr's vision is to revolutionize the sports betting industry through the integration of technology. He sees the future of betting as a blend of traditional sports knowledge with innovative tech solutions, like decentralized protocols, to enhance user experience and fairness. His aim is to create platforms that are not only user-friendly but also uphold the highest standards of ethical betting, contributing to a more responsible and enjoyable betting culture.
Future Perspectives
Looking towards the future, Paruyr envisions a betting landscape that is more inclusive, technologically advanced, and globally connected. He anticipates a significant shift towards more decentralized and transparent betting systems, driven by blockchain technology. Paruyr is committed to being at the forefront of this change, continuously exploring new possibilities and innovations that can redefine what it means to engage in sports betting in a digital world. His focus is on building systems that prioritize user empowerment, fairness, and the global growth of the sports betting community.
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Sol has over 20 years of experience in writing for diverse industries including sports, gambling, regulation, technology, and startups. As the Editor-in-Chief at RG.org, Sol brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role, focusing on delivering transparent, evidence-based content grounded in thorough research. Sol's mission is to empower readers to enjoy gambling responsibly and make informed decisions, enhancing their overall experience through insightful and engaging content. Under Sol's leadership, RG.org prioritizes the highest standards of integrity and reliability, ensuring that all information provided is accurate and trustworthy. Sol's dedication to transparency and research-based writing helps create a responsible gambling environment where readers can truly benefit from the content. This commitment to excellence has positioned RG.org as a leading source of information in the gambling industry.
Experience:
- Over 20 years in writing and editing across multiple industries
- Former head of regional innovation at BMO Finanacial Group
- Senior Writer, Online Casino Reports
Cristina Varela Galan
Cristina used to work as a Psychology Assistant in the Bizkaia Pathological and Risky Gamblers Association. She was also part of a research team in Deusto University, specializing in pathological gambling area. While working there, she managed to develop her own project
“Exploring the association between emotional regulation, alexithymia, stressful life events and gambling in adolescent and young adult women”.
Nick Ashbourne
Nick has been fascinated with sports since he was first taken to a Toronto Maple Leafs game back in 1998, and he's written about them professionally since 2014.
Nick has covered baseball and hockey for outlets like The Athletic, Sportsnet, and Yahoo Sports, and his sports betting expertise has grown since its legalization in Ontario in 2022.
Between 2022 and 2023 he worked for a betting startup called NorthStar Bets, and in 2024 he contributed to Oddspedia before joining the Responsible Gambling team.
Sergey Demidov
Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.
Anna Kravtcova
Ph.D. in organizational psychology, an internationally certified psychologist (EuroPsy 2022, Cognitive behavioural therapy of mindfulness 2020, International Society for Emotional Intelligence 2017, Russian Psychological society 2014, American Psychological Association(Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologist) 2011), speaker of many international conferences (USA, Brazil, Portugal, Czech Republic, Russia, etc.). TEDx speaker.
Mark Medina
Mark Medina is a longtime NBA reporter that includes stints as a Lakers blogger with The Los Angeles Times (2010-12), Lakers beat writer with the Los Angeles Daily News (2012-17), Warriors beat writer with Bay Area News Group (2017-19) as well as an NBA reporter/columnist for USA Today (2019-21) and NBA.com (2021-23). Medina is also an NBA insider with Fox Sports Radio and frequent contributor to CBSLA's SportsCentralLA with Jim Hill and with Spectrum Sportsnet.
Daria Tuboltseva
Daria went to St. Petersburg State University and earned a bachelor of international journalism. Working as a sports journalist from 2014, from 2016 as a hockey journalist. Covered 5 World Championships, 2022 Winter Olympics, 2020 World Juniors, 6 Gagarin Cup Finals.
Owner of a telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth.
Integrative nutritionist specializing on sports nutritionology.
Paul M. Banks
Paul M. Banks is a professional Content Creator whose career has seen bylines in numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Yahoo, MSN, FOX Sports and Sports Illustrated.
Banks has made scores of guest appearances on live radio and television, featuring regularly on NTD News, WGN-TV, CCTV, ESPN Radio, the History Channel, SiriusXM and CBS Sports Radio.
He is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank.net, which has been featured and linked in hundreds of leading media outlets all across the world.
He has also authored two books, one of which, "No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in Sports Media," became an assigned textbook in journalism courses at State University New York-Oneonta.
Marco D'Amico
Marco D'Amico is a beat reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens and the NHL Draft, while also being a recurring guest on TSN690 and BPM Sports. His work primarily on NHL CBA breakdowns and prospect analysis, all while covering the Montreal Canadiens on a day-to-day basis.
Crissy Froyd
Crissy Froyd is a sports reporter of over 10 years who specializes in quarterback analysis at the high school, college and NFL level. She was mentored by Mike Leach and learned the Air Raid offense and quarterback evaluation largely under the legendary head coach. Froyd has appeared in and worked with multiple publications, including USA TODAY SMG, Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports and Saturday Down South. She also covers canine journalism for Showsight Magazine and resides in Wisconsin with her three dogs -- two German Shepherds named Faxon and Bo Nix, and one Siberian Husky named Stetson "Balto" Bennett.
Brendon R. Elliott
Brendon Elliott, a distinguished PGA Professional, is best known for his dedication to the growth and development of junior golf. With nearly three decades of experience, Elliott has been recognized multiple times as one of the best instructors, both regionally and nationally.
Elliott's crowning achievement was being named the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award Winner, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. He is the founder of Little Linksters, an award-winning youth golf academy and nonprofit that works with kids of all abilities to help them develop a passion for golf. His innovative teaching methods and love for the game have made significant impacts on students and the broader golfing community.
Additionally, Brendon, a Golf Writers Association of America member, has become a renowned freelance golf writer, further solidifying his position as a top professional in the industry.
Garrett Kerman
Garrett Kerman also goes by the name of The Fight Analyst. He is a writer and analyst who covers the world of combat sports. He's covered some of the biggest events in combat sports with interviews from some of the biggest names in the sport. Garrett has a vast knowledge of MMA, boxing, and even bare-knuckle fighting that he brings to the table in his content. Whether you're looking for exclusive content, fighter interviews, breaking news, or expert analysis Garrett Kerman has got you covered!
Simon Head
Simon is a sports journalist and MMA reporter with 25+ years' experience covering sports and 15+ years covering mixed martial arts as one of the UK's longest-tenured MMA journalists. He also has more than a decade of experience working in the betting and gaming industry.
He has provided coverage for a plethora of major sports outlets, including BBC Sport, USA Today, Daily Mirror and BT Sport, and has covered Olympic Games, World Cups, FA Cup Finals and UFC title fights during his career.
DJ Siddiqi
DJ Siddiqi is a sports reporter who focuses on football, basketball and pro wrestling. He has covered some of the biggest sporting events, including the NBA Finals and Wrestlemania and often interviews high-profile athletes on a weekly basis. Siddiqi has interviewed the likes of Dan Marino, Emmitt Smith, Shaquille O'Neal, Tony Hawk and Giannis Antetokounmpo. His previous experience includes working as a lead NBA writer at CBS Sports and 247 Sports in addition to working as a beat reporter covering the NFL and the Denver Broncos at Bleacher Report. Follow Siddiqi for exclusive one-on-one interviews and analysis on key topics in sports
Alex Kennedy
Alex Kennedy is an NBA reporter, editor and podcaster. He has covered the NBA for the last 19 years, writing for ESPN, HoopsHype, USA TODAY Sports, Bleacher Report, and Basketball News among others. As the Chief Content Officer at Basketball News, he built and managed the staff, which consisted of journalists and former NBA players. His Twitter account is featured in NBA 2K each year.
Mike Rosenberg
Mike made the decision to dive headfirst into the booming world of sports betting fresh out of college. Back in the day, when 1-800 pick lines and sports pagers were all the rage, he couldn't resist the allure, having grown up idolizing sports legends like Sweetness, MJ, and Slammin Sammy. Mike dedicated his early years to the industry, tirelessly analyzing games, writing articles with free picks, and selling his expertise on reputable handicapping sites. Unlike many others, Mike was known for his integrity and only released one Game of the Year per sport, per season. His hard work and unwavering commitment paid off, earning him a devoted following and propelling his career to new heights. Then came the explosion of Daily Fantasy Sports. Believe it or not, companies like DraftKings and FanDuel used to pay Mike's company to increase their brand exposure. Now, those same industry giants don't even bother responding to his emails. While Mike appreciates the convenience of being able to place legal bets in his own backyard, he can't help but feel disheartened by what has become of the industry. People are being led astray, falsely believing that a mere $5 wager on a 20-team same-game-parlay will be their ticket to financial security. If there’s one thing Mike learned from making book back in the day, it’s that parlays are a bookie’s best friend. A bankroll is the only leg you have to stand on in the battle with the books, and Mike’s here to offer up advice on how to protect it.
Nikhil Narain
Nikhil Narain is a die-hard cricket romantic, published author, and has worked for some of the leading digital websites and broadcasters in India and overseas. An alumnus of the London School of Economics, Nikhil's forte is using data and numbers creatively to weave interesting stories and revolutionize the way cricket statistics are generated and analyzed.
Erik Uebelacker
Erik Uebelacker is a legal reporter for Courthouse News Service, where he covers high-profile trials in New York City. In his spare time, he likes to write about people punching each other in the face.
James Murphy
With 24 years of experience (SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, ESPN Boston, NESN, NHL.com, etc.) covering the Bruins, the NHL, NCAA and junior hockey, and more, Jimmy Murphy’s hockey black book is filled with Hall of Famers, current players, coaches, management, scouts and a wide array of hockey media personalities that have lived in and around this great game. For 22 of his 24 years as a hockey and sports reporter, Murphy covered the Bruins on a daily basis, including their victorious 2011 Stanley Cup run and their runs to the 2013 and 2019 Finals. Murphy is currently a co-host, along with Pierre McGuire, on The Eye Test Podcast.
Jim Biringer
Having 10 years of experience (SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, Rod Pedersen Show, Raw Mike Richards Show, and more) covering the Devils, the NHL along with College Football, the NFL, and the tennis circuit Jim Biringer has wealth of sports knowledge. As one of Jim's hockey coaches put it he is a "student of the game." During his time as a sports reporter, Biringer has covered some of the biggest events including most recently the 2024 Stanley Cup Final along with several NHL Drafts. He is also the host of the Full Press Hockey Podcast and Final Word on Hockey plus Around Campus - The College Football Podcast.
