How Gambling Addiction Affects The Family?
Gambling disorder involves persistent gambling behaviors despite negative impacts on personal, professional, and financial well-being.
Who is at Risk
- Family: The disorder affects the individual but also significantly impacts their family.
- Emotional Shock: Family members may experience shock and stress upon discovering the gambling issue, leading to altered perspectives and increased stress.
- Most Affected: The partner and children of the gambler often bear the brunt of the emotional and sometimes physical repercussions.
- Gambler's Response: Acknowledging the problem can bring relief to the gambler, but it introduces new challenges for the family.
- Family's Initial Reaction: Family members often show greater concern and anxiety about the gambling problem than the gambler, who may minimize the addiction's severity.
The Ripple Effect on Families
Gambling addiction profoundly impacts families, creating a cascade of emotional, financial, and relational challenges.
- Emotional Distress: Family members often experience a wide range of emotions, including shock, betrayal, and anxiety, upon discovering the gambling problem.
- Financial Strain: The addiction can lead to significant financial difficulties, including debt accumulation and loss of savings, which affect the entire family.
- Relationship Breakdown: Trust and communication within the family can deteriorate, leading to strained or broken relationships.
Immediate and Extended Family Impact
The consequences of gambling addiction extend to both immediate and extended family members, with varying degrees of severity.
- Spouses and Children: Experience the most direct and profound impacts, including emotional turmoil and financial insecurity.
- Extended Family: May also suffer from the stress and fallout of the addiction, particularly if they are financially or emotionally involved.
The Cycle of Response
Families typically go through a three-phase cycle in response to gambling addiction:
- Denial Phase:
- Refusal to acknowledge the problem.
- Belief that the gambling behavior is not harmful.
- Stress Phase:
- Recognition of the severity of the addiction.
- Attempts to help the gambler, often enabling the addiction.
- Exhaustion Phase:
- Overwhelming stress and frustration.
- Physical and psychological health issues among family members.
The Path to Recovery
For families facing gambling addiction, seeking professional help is crucial.
- Consult Healthcare Professionals: Access expert advice and support for dealing with addiction.
- Rehabilitation Units: Specialized services can provide tailored treatment and recovery programs.
- Support Networks: Associations for compulsive gambling offer resources and community support for gamblers and their families.
Expert Insight
Effective management and recovery from gambling addiction require a holistic approach:
- Understanding the Addiction: Families should educate themselves about the nature of gambling disorder and its effects.
- Professional Intervention: Engaging with healthcare and rehabilitation professionals is key to addressing the complex needs of the gambler and the family.
- Supportive Environment: Creating a family dynamic that promotes open communication, mutual support, and resilience is essential for recovery.
Conclusion
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.
References
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Meet Our Authors
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Sol's interest in sports was sparked at a young age, inspired by athletes such as Barry Sanders, Michael Jordan, and Wayne Gretzky. This early fascination evolved into a deep-seated passion, guiding him toward a career in sports journalism in 2007. Over the years, Sol has contributed numerous articles and reviews to various online platforms, sharing his knowledge and perspectives.
Central to Sol's approach is his dedication to honesty, especially regarding sports betting platforms. He believes in providing bettors with straightforward and detailed reviews, distinguishing his work by avoiding the often overly positive spin on bonus offers and promotions. His commitment to truthfulness has made his reviews a reliable source for those seeking authentic advice and information, thereby earning him a reputation for integrity among his readers.
“In the world of sports betting, truth is more valuable than any bonus offer.”
| Experience | Year |
| Content Manager, OnlineCasinoReports | 2012-2021 |
| Sports Journalist, Dottraffic | 2009-2011 |
| Content Writer, HouseTech | 2007-2009 |
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”.
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.
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.
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.
