Treatment duration is a minimum of 28 days and can extend up to 8 weeks in primary care. Liberty Home Clinic provide residential treatment for those in need of help for their gambling troubles. We also offer sober living in our second facility for those who wish to continue with further treatment once the initial phase has come to an end.

What is Gambling Addiction?

A gambling addiction is a medical condition that is defined by a person’s compulsive gambling. A person who has a gambling addiction will play regardless of the consequences that they suffer. They can lose their whole life savings, and they’ll take out loans, sometimes from unsavoury sources, so that they have the funds they need to keep on playing.

A person who has a gambling addiction will keep on playing even if they win. They can go to a casino and win generational wealth at a table, but they won’t be able to stop playing. Instead, winning will only encourage and reinforce their behaviour.

This is because this form of addiction isn’t entirely about the money or wins and losses. Problem gambling is about the act of gambling itself, and winning and losing money is just a fringe benefit or consequence.

In-person Gambling

In-person gambling refers to gambling that is done onsite or face-to-face. This can include going down to a track to place a bet or going to a casino to play at the table or the machines. It can even entail something as seemingly innocuous as buying a lotto ticket.

What Causes Gambling Disorder?

Like any other addiction, a gambling problem can be caused by numerous factors. Genetics is a major factor, as addictive traits can be passed down between family members.

A person’s environment can also play a major role in whether they become a problem gambler. Growing up in an environment where gambling was normalised can make someone more likely to develop an addiction.

Mental health can also play a major factor. A person can turn to gambling in order to cope with stress, trauma, or the symptoms of a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety.

Gambling Addiction Treatment

There are numerous ways to treat gambling addiction. Many governments have gambling helplines that people can call for support. However, there are professional treatment programmes, and treatment for gambling addiction must be comprehensive. Some of the treatment options to help behavioural addictions such as gambling include:

Cognitive behavioural therapy is a potent tool to help a person stop gambling. CBT is a form of treatment that is focused primarily on helping people identify and address the negative thought patterns that can contribute to the urge to gamble.

CBT

Self-help groups such as Gamblers Anonymous can offer a person who has a problem with gambling a place where they can be around others who have had similar struggles. These support groups can provide an invaluable source of encouragement and accountability, both of which are vital to helping a person change their gambling behaviour.

Support Groups

Seeing a mental health professional can help someone who engages in pathological gambling. One-on-one counselling sessions can give a person a safe space to explore the underlying causes of their excessive gambling.

Individual therapy can also help a person who has an addiction to gambling develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage their cravings.

Individual Counselling

Recovery from gambling can also include some financial controls. A person who struggles with gambling can surrender control of their finances to another person, making it so that they don't have access to the funds that they need to gamble.

There are self-exclusion programmes which allow people to enter a programme that aims to curb their ability to gamble.

Another measure that someone can take to help them break the cycle of gambling is to install blockers on their devices. This will prevent them from being able to access online gambling apps or websites.

External Controls

Signs and Symptoms of a Gambling Addiction

There are a number of signs that may indicate that a person is struggling with gambling addiction. One prominent sign is financial difficulty. The more a person gambles, the more money they are likely to lose. It’s not uncommon for problem gamblers to blow through their savings in a short space of time.

Another sign of a gambling addiction is secrecy. Many people with gambling disorders seek to obfuscate their activities so that they may be more protective of their phones, and they may borrow money to either cover their losses or to keep gambling.

People who have a gambling disorder may also have unpaid bills or debts, as the money they could have used to settle their accounts instead went towards gambling.

Risks of Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction can come with a number of risks. The most prominent risk is financial ruin. Gamblers do not often win. The odds are often stacked against players. As such, many players often end up with mounting debts.

In some cases, a person may face legal consequences if they are unable to pay back their debts. These losses and mounting debts can also compel a person to declare bankruptcy in some cases.

Many gamblers can resort to selling assets in order to cover their debts. In some cases, these assets may hold sentimental value.

While gambling can be used to cope with mental illness, it can also exacerbate anxiety and depression by adding to a person’s stress.

Gambling can also have social consequences. Relationships can break down due to an individual’s attempts at hiding the gambling addiction and the financial hardships that can come with the losses and debts mentioned above.

We'll Help You Get Your Life Back

Gambling may be fun to some extent. The uncertainty and the risk both lend themselves to an adrenaline rush. But some people can take it too far. The main problem with an addiction to gambling is that it affects everyone around the person who struggles with it. People can lose their houses, which can often end up in entire families having to squat with friends or loved ones, and some may even have to resort to sleeping rough.

But help is available. Your gambling may be a problem, but it is a problem that can be solved with the right treatment. Liberty Home can offer you that treatment, and we can help you retake control of your life from gambling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Types of Individual Therapies Offered?

Individual therapies include CBT, DBT, Narrative therapy, and person-centred therapy.

What Process Addictions are Treated at Liberty Home?

Gambling, shopping, gaming, sex, porn, internet, and social media addictions.

What Activities Are Available for Residents?

Activities include visiting museums, golf, yoga, acupuncture, sightseeing, and hiking.

Can I Prevent Gambling Disorder?

The best way to prevent yourself from developing a gambling problem is to never gamble in the first place. However, if you do gamble, set hard limits for yourself and stick to those self-imposed limits.

How Can I Help Someone with a Gambling Disorder?

If you know someone who is struggling with a gambling disorder, the best way that you can help them is to encourage them to seek professional treatment. You may even stage an intervention.

Simply asking or even begging them to stop may not be enough, as they may be unable to control their urges without professional intervention.