Pathological gambling is a socio-sanitary problem that has been increasing in the last decade. Surveys indicate that the prevalence of pathological gambling ranges from 2 to 5%. Unfortunately there is a lot of ignorance. Pathological gambling is highly stigmatized, which is why a series of misconceptions about it still prevail in public opinion, which are aimed at minimizing the problem or trying to justify its presence.<h2>Most Common Myths About Gambling Addiction</h2>Let's look at the most popular misconceptions associated with pathological gamblers.<h3>Gambling Is A Vice And The Gambler Is Vicious</h3>Vice is a moral category; gambling addiction is a mental disorder.<h3>Gambling Is Not Addictive</h3>All behaviors of potentially addictive drugs begin to be controlled by positive reinforcers (the aspect pleasurable of the behavior itself), but end up being so due to reinforcers negative (the relief of discomfort). In these cases the subject shows a strong psychological dependence on the game, acts eagerly and impulsively and loses interest in any other type of previous rewarding activities, without being able to control oneself despite the negative consequences experienced.<h3>The Gambler Seeks The Problem, Should Control It, Provokes Its Disease</h3>Nobody who starts playing games of chance wants to end up stealing his/her family, isolate himself/herself, believe his/her own lies and ultimately go to treatment. The very phases of pathological gambling explain the escalation to addiction. The person with a gambling addiction weighs the benefits of immediate gratification, but does not consider the possible long-term negative consequences.<h3>Pathologic Gamblers Gamble Every Day</h3>What determines addiction is not how much a person gambles; some problem gamblers can only play once a month. Rather it is the mental, physical and relational effects that suggest an addiction.<h3>Gambling Is Only A Problem When The Money Runs Out</h3>The amount gained or lost does not determine addiction. Some players can get into enough debt that the financial consequences start to affect their lives, but this is not always the case. Some players can win a lot of money and lose it all the following week.<h3>Gambling Is Just A Financial Problem</h3>Gambling is an emotional problem with financial consequences. Even if the player's debts are paid, he will still be a person with an uncontrolled compulsion.<h3>Only Irresponsible People Have Gambling Problems</h3>Gambling problems affect people of all intelligence levels, from all backgrounds. Hitherto responsible and strong-willed individuals are just as likely as anyone else to develop a gambling addiction.<h3>Gambling Is Hereditary Or The Product Of Some Type Of Mental Illness Or Weakness</h3>The behaviors of betting or playing games of chance are learned from family and social models that consider the game of chance a valid resource to get rich or solve economic problems. This is also promoted by today's society, which prevails fast money.<h2>Gamble Responsibly</h2>At Responsible Gambling, we believe in the idea that gambling can and should be a fun hobby. To keep it that way, no matter which form of gambling (sports-betting, poker etc) you prefer, you should always approach the game responsibly. Set yourself the financial and time limits and never exceed them, stick with legal gambling platforms and always use the responsible gambling tools they provide. Stay safe!

Read and learn about the most common misconceptions about those suffering from gambling issues.

Misconceptions About Pathological Gamblers

Gambling has some characteristics that distinguish it from other ludic activities and that are essential to understand how it works. First of all, it usually consists of a betting activity. That is, if the objectives are met, money is obtained, but if the desired goals are not reached, it is lost. Secondly, the result obtained (win or lose) does not depend on the skill of the player, nor on the strategies carried out. Despite this, one of the most characteristic problems of gambling addiction is precisely the fact that players express cognitive biases about the probability of obtaining long-term profits with this activity.<h2>What Are Cognitive Biases?</h2>Cognitive bias refers to a systematic (that is, nonrandom and, thus, predictable) deviation from rationality in judgment or decision-making.<h2>How Do Cognitive Biases Act In People With Gambling Addiction?</h2>Due to the presence of cognitive biases, people may think that gambling can be a source of income, with which to meet the cost of living. While gambling, as a consequence of cognitive biases, people can reach irrational conclusions about the probabilities of predicting an activity controlled by chance. Thus, cognitive biases act as developers and maintainers of pathological gambling behavior.<h2>Types Of Cognitive Biases In The Gambling Behavior</h2>There are numerous cognitive distortions related to gambling behavior. Here are some of the most important.<ul><li>Illusion of Control: This belief that the outcome of the game depends more on personal performance than chance. For example, the player would think that pressing the buttons of the slot machines would be controlling the game when in reality it does not depend on it. Also thoughts like "I wouldn't relapse with a coupon, nor with slot machines, I would only relapse with something that makes me feel like I'm not a chimpanzee."</li><li>Prediction of results: This belief is based on thinking that the result of the game can be predicted. This ability is related to magical thinking. For example: "I could play online in many bookmakers, but I don't trust the software... there are rigging and weird things... I'm not interested. I only trust online poker”.</li><li>Thinking of Luck as responsible for the results: In this case, it is considered that "luck" is the determining factor of the results of the game. The players and players have the belief that luck will make them win in the game.</li><li>Post hoc explanations bias: The player tries to explain the reasons why he or she has lost in the game and tries with these explanations to interpret what will happen in the next plays. For example: "I was trying to prove that you could make money with bets but then I lost everything again."</li><li>Locus of control: This belief is based on the tendency to attribute successes to one's own abilities (for example, "being a good player") and failures to external factors (for example, losing streak). For example: “The first game of poker that I have played I have won, because I have great numerical skills. The second game that I have played I have lost because I was very tired and I have not received good cards”</li><li>&nbsp;I almost won: The gambler when he loses speculates on the fact that he has almost won. For example, “In sports betting, the person bets that the result of the match will be 3-2. Finally, the result is 2-2, the person will fantasize that he has been close to obtaining the result and that he has almost won the bet.</li><li>Superstitious thought: Associate events that are not related. For example, "every time I go to play I wear my green shirt, because green is the color of money and with that shirt I once got the best prize so far".</li><li>Device personification: Occurs when the device is attributed to human qualities. For example, talking to the device and saying things like "Come on, I know you're smart, be good and win my prize."</li><li>Fixation on absolute frequencies: This bias is related to the belief that you always win instead of considering the total amount of money invested and the times you have lost.</li></ul><h2>Tips To Deal With Cognitive Biases</h2>Here are some strategies for dealing with cognitive biases:<h3>Increase Awareness</h3>The first step in dealing with cognitive biases is to be aware of them. By understanding the common biases that can affect decision-making, you can begin to recognize when they are influencing your thoughts and actions.<h3>Seek Multiple Perspectives</h3>To avoid being swayed by confirmation bias, seek out different perspectives and opinions on a given topic.<h3>Use Structured Decision-Making Processes</h3>Formal processes such as decision matrixes and cost-benefit analysis can help to reduce the influence of cognitive biases in decision-making.<h3>Take Time To Think</h3>Avoid making hasty decisions. Take the time to consider all the options and implications before making a decision.<h3>Avoid Emotional Reasoning</h3>Emotions can cloud judgment. Try to separate the facts from the emotions and make decisions based on logical reasoning.<h3>Get A Second Opinion</h3>Consult with others to get a different perspective and to avoid the overconfidence bias.<h3>Reflect On Your Decision</h3>After a decision has been made, take the time to reflect on it and consider whether it was based on rational thinking or was influenced by cognitive biases.<h2>Conclusion</h2>It is important to note that cognitive biases are a natural part of the human mind and it is unrealistic to think that you can completely eliminate them from your decision-making process. But, if you find that cognitive biases are having a significant impact on your life, seek professional help, such as a therapist or counselor. Thus, by being aware of these biases and implementing strategies to mitigate their effects, you can make more informed and rational decisions.&nbsp;<h2>References</h2><ol><li>Blanco, F. (2017). Cognitive bias.&nbsp;Encyclopedia of animal cognition and behavior,&nbsp;1(6).</li><li>Cocker, P. J., &amp; Winstanley, C. A. (2015). Irrational beliefs, biases and gambling: exploring the role of animal models in elucidating vulnerabilities for the development of pathological gambling.&nbsp;Behavioural brain research,&nbsp;279, 259-273.</li><li>Tang, C. S. K., &amp; Wu, A. (2012). Gambling-related cognitive biases and pathological gambling among youths, young adults, and mature adults in Chinese societies.&nbsp;Journal of Gambling Studies,&nbsp;28(1), 139-154.</li></ol>

Lots of people express cognitive biases about the probability of obtaining long-term profits with this activity. Read this article to learn about it.

Cognitive Biases And Gambling Addiction

Gambling can have both positive and negative effects on health. For some people, gambling can be a source of enjoyment, where people can experience a break from daily life, and also can act as a socializing tool where people can come together. All this can have a positive impact on the mental health of the people.&nbsp;However, it is important to note that these positive effects of gambling are only applicable when gambling is done responsibly and in moderation.&nbsp; Unfortunately, gambling can also lead to health problems, particularly if it becomes an addiction. Gambling addiction can have serious negative effects on mental and physical health. Here are some of the potential physical and mental health problems that may be caused by gambling addiction.<h3>Stress</h3>Gambling addiction can cause stress in some individuals. The financial and emotional consequences of gambling can lead to feelings of anxiety and worry. In addition, the unpredictability of gambling outcomes can cause stress for some people.<h3>Depression</h3>Gambling addiction can lead to depression in some individuals. The financial and emotional consequences of gambling can cause feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and helplessness. In addition, the isolation and social problems that can result from gambling addiction can contribute to the development of depression.<h3>Sleeping Disorders</h3>Gambling addiction can lead to certain sleeping disorders.<ul><li>Difficulty falling asleep because of anxiety and stress, which can make it difficult for some people to fall asleep.</li><li>Difficulty staying asleep, some people with gambling addiction may have racing thoughts or worries that keep them awake at night.</li><li>Oversleeping, pathological gamblers can lead with changes in their routine, which can result in oversleeping.</li><li>Poor sleep quality, gambling&nbsp; addiction can lead to poor sleep quality, as individuals may not get the restful, restorative sleep they need.</li></ul><h3>Weight Gain Or Loss</h3>Gambling addiction can lead to weight gain or weight loss in some individuals. Some people with gambling addiction may eat more or less due to stress or changes in their routine. This can lead to weight gain or weight loss.<h3>Headaches</h3>Gambling addiction can lead to headaches in some individuals. Headaches can be a common symptom of stress, and gambling addiction can cause stress due to the financial and emotional consequences it can have.<h3>Heart And Cardiovascular Problems</h3>Gambling addiction can increase the risk of developing heart problems in some individuals. The stress and anxiety associated with gambling addiction can contribute to the development of heart disease and other cardiovascular problems.<h3>Substance Abuse</h3>Some people with gambling addiction may turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with the stress and negative emotions associated with gambling. This can lead to substance abuse problems, which can have a negative impact on health.<h2>Stay Sharp</h2>It is important to be aware of the potential mental and physical health risks gambling has and to seek help if you are experiencing negative consequences. There are many resources available to help people with a gambling addiction, including therapy, support groups, and medication. These resources can help people address the underlying causes of their mental health problems and improve their overall health.

Read and learn about the possible health issues that may be caused by gambling

Can Gambling Cause Health Problems?

Gambling disorder consists of persistent and recurrent gambling behavior despite the negative consequences it has on all aspects of the person's life, including personal, relational, vocational, and financial difficulties.<h2>Who’s At Risk?</h2>The family exerts a powerful influence on people's lives, what happens to one member immediately affects the other members, and vice versa. As in other addictive behaviors, the impact of pathological gambling goes beyond the affected patient. On occasions, when relatives find out that one of the family members is affected by pathological gambling, relatives may experience shock and changes in their outlook on life, which may lead to a period of stress in which they cannot process everything that is happening to them. The repercussions derived from having a gambler in the family vary depending on the type of relationship established with the affected person. In this sense, the greatest impact is suffered by the closest family: the player's partner and children, normally. These consequences are so important that, in some cases, the family – mainly the couple – may find themselves even more psychologically and physically affected than the gambler himself. For many gamblers, coming to light of the problem supposes a sensation of certain liberation, after years of constant lies about the game, of hiding from the family the debts and the various associated problems. At that moment, the family suddenly finds itself with a problem that, in many cases, they did not know about or attributed to other causes: problems at work, alcohol consumption, significant debts, etc. In fact, it is common for the family to show a greater degree of concern and nervousness about the problem in the first consultations than the player, who is more concerned, at that initial therapeutic moment, with relativizing or minimizing the extent of his/her addiction.<h2>Science Behind The Subject</h2>The scientific literature and psychotherapeutic practice identify three phases that families go through when they encounter a family member affected by pathological gambling:In the first stage, the denial phase, the family refuses to acknowledge the problem, believing that there is no danger and that it is the continuation of what it has always been. Ignorance of the problem can be maintained for years as long as it has low levels of interference. At a later stage, the stress phase, the family ends up realizing the seriousness of the problem; but they continue to accept the justifications of the gambler, even feeling guilty for the acts carried out by the affected family member. Generally, the family tries to help the gambler by providing economic resources or means to solve their financial problems, under the gambler's promise to immediately stop gambling. This effort to help the gambler is usually in vain since gambling behavior is facilitated, which significantly aggravates the family situation, which feels frustrated and desperate, thereby increasing the rejection of the gambler. Finally, in the third phase, the exhaustion phase, the family becomes exasperated, suffering from insomnia, loss of appetite, and excessive use of medications.<h2>Conclusion</h2>After the notification of pathological gambling suffered by a family member, the family tends to be overwhelmed, they do not know very well what to do, where to go, how to act. The best thing is to put themselves in the hands of professionals, consult their health centers of reference, where they will be referred to the specific rehabilitation units that will help them understand and treat this type of disease and to the associations of people affected by compulsive gambling that help and care for this group, both the patients themselves and their families.<h2>References:</h2><ol><li>Federación Española de Jugadores de Azar Rehabilitados. (2015).&nbsp;Intervención en el entorno familiar de personas con conductas adictivas. La familia, un agente más en el cambio.</li><li>American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-V).Washington, D.C: Author.</li><li>Astorga, A. (2003) Reflexiones Sobre Familia e Intervención Psicosocial en el Marco de la Protección Integral de Derechos y el Pensamiento Relacional.</li><li>Bombín, B. (2010) Manual del Ludópata: Guía para pacientes y familiares. Toledo: FEJAR.</li><li>Escartín, M.J.; Palomar, M.; Suárez, E. Introducción al trabajo social II: Trabajo social con individuos y familias (1997) Ed. Aguaclara.</li></ol>

Read and learn about the impact that gambling addicts cause on their families

How Gambling Addiction Affects The Family?

In recent decades, gambling addiction has attracted great interest among the scientific community. Today, there are several new research lines focused on the differences in gambling addiction between men and women.<h2>Which Games Do Men And Women Prefer?</h2>Previous research has shown a gender-related pattern in gaming preferences and gaming motivation. Men tend to choose games with a higher level of action and competitiveness, such as sports betting, while women are more likely to use less strategic games, such as bingo, slot machines or the lottery. Likewise, women tend to prefer a narrower spectrum of gaming activities compared to men, showing a preference for games based on chance, such as slot machines, bingo or scratch cards, while men tend to cover a greater number of games, preferring those based on skill, such as cards, races or&nbsp;<a href="https://spa.rg.plat.agency/sport/how-to-bet-on-sports">sports betting</a>.<h2>Different Reasons To Gamble</h2>This is based on the fact that men show greater impulsiveness and search for new sensations and financial gain, while women have a greater tendency to gamble as a form of escape. Women tend to report a greater motivation to gamble based on the need to escape from stressful life circumstances and alleviate negative mood states, such as anxiety or depression. Women with pathological gambling problems are more likely to present problems in interpersonal relationships such as family or marital problems, being widowed or divorced, being victims of intimate partner violence, having had a previous history of bereavement or emotional and physical abuse. In this sense, negative emotions would be the main precipitant of relapses in women.<h2>Collateral Addictions</h2>However, men present more impulsive traits, have a greater number of antisocial and sensation-seeking traits, and to carry out illegal activities to finance their gambling behavior, a greater tendency to present comorbid alcoholism, tobacco and some illegal drugs&nbsp;problems, while in the case of women the addictions that coexist with gambling disorder are smoking, alcoholism and tranquilizers.<h2>When Does Gambling Become A Problem For Men And Women?</h2>It has also been pointed out that preferences for types of gambling would be influenced both by cultural aspects and by the availability and social acceptance of the different types of gambling in both men and women. Women would be more likely to play alone and to hide the extent of their gambling behavior from friends and family. The increase and availability of gambling activities in premises is one of the aspects that has influenced women to gamble to a greater extent than before, since women prefer legal forms of gambling.&nbsp;Regarding the progression of the gambling problem, women would start gambling later, with a lag of up to 14 years between men and women in terms of age at onset, but the progression of the problem would be much faster in women. Women who gamble would take less time from when they start to gamble until gambling becomes problematic and they seek treatment for it. In any case, the most recent studies indicate that the data between men and women would be converging between young people and adolescents, in such a way that women would be starting the game at much earlier ages than before. Therefore, the age of onset in women would be lowering and equaling that of men in adolescence and youth.<h2>Conclusion</h2>For all that has been exposed so far, it’s safe to say that the differences between men and women are clear: in the game mode, onset time, disease progression, psychological characteristics, therefore there is a need to promote interventions and treatment with a gender perspective that meet the needs of the entire population.<h2>References</h2><ol><li>Adolphe, A., Khatib, L., van Golde, C., Gainsbury, S. M., y Blaszczynski, A. (2019). Crime and gambling disorders: a systematic review. Journal of Gambling Studies, 35(2), 395-414.</li><li>Blaszczynski, A., y Nower, L. (2002). A pathways model of problem and pathological gambling. Addiction, 97(5), 487-499.</li><li>Boughton, R., y Falenchuk, O. (2007). Vulnerability and comorbidity factors of female problem gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 23(3), 323-334.</li><li>Brewer, R., Cook, R., y Bird, G. (2016). Alexithymia: A general deficit of interoception. Royal Society Open Science, 3(10), 1–8.Brydges, N. M., Holmes, M. C., Harris, A. P.,</li><li>Cardinal, R. N., y Hall, J. (2015). Early life stress produces compulsive-like, but not impulsive, behavior in females. Behavioral Neuroscience, 129(3), 300-308.</li><li>Caldentey, C., Tirado-Muñoz, J., Ferrer, T., Fonseca, F., Rossi, P., MestrePintó, J.I. y Torrens, M. (2017). Intimate partner violence among female drug users admitted to the general hospital screeming and prevalence. Adicciones, 29(3), 172-179.</li><li>Garrido-Fernández, M., Moral-Arroyo, G. D., y Jaén-Rincón, P. (2017). Antecedentes de juego y evaluación del sistema familiar de una muestra de jóvenes jugadores patológicos. Health and Addictions/salud y Drogas, 17(2), 25–36.</li><li>Hing, Nerilee, y Breen, Helen, 2001. Profiling lady luck: An empirical study of gambling and problem gambling amongst female club members. Journal of Gambling Studies, 17(1) 47-69.</li><li>Holdsworth, L., Nuske, E., y Breen, H. (2013). All mixed up together: Women’s experiences of problem gambling, comorbidity and co-occurring complex needs. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 11(3), 315-328.</li><li>Jauregui, P., Estevez, A., y Urbiola, I. (2016). Pathological gambling and associated drug and alcohol abuse, emotion regulation, and anxious-depressive symptomatology. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 5(2), 251 260.</li><li>Lloréns, R., Morales, E., De Vicente, T. y Calatayud, M.D. (2002). Estrés post-traumático y adicciones. Adicciones, 14(4), 487-490.</li><li>Schull, N. D. (2002). Escape mechanism: Women, caretaking, and compulsive machine gambling. Berkeley Collection of Working and Occasional Papers, 51(3) 345-376.</li><li>Sideli, L., La Barbera, D., Montana, S., Sartorio, C. R., Seminerio, F., Corso, M., Giunta, S. Suarez Cuba, M. Á. (2010). La importancia del análisis de los acontecimientos vitales estresantes en la práctica clínica. Revista Médica La Paz, 16(2).</li></ol>

Read and learn about the difference on how men and women cope with problem gambling.

What's The Difference Between Men And Women Facing Gambling Addiction?

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Misconceptions About Pathological Gamblers

Cognitive Biases And Gambling Addiction

Can Gambling Cause Health Problems?

How Gambling Addiction Affects The Family?

How Do Men And Women Handle Gambling Addiction?