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Addicted to Gambling

Gambling can often be seen as an exciting and glamorous world with big winners celebrated and acclaimed; but for people who become addicted to betting and start to lose control of their spending; this age old past-time can have devastating social and financial consequences.

Placing a bet can be defined as agreeing to stake money on an uncertain outcome with another party, e.g. an operator or bookmaker, where the result is determined by chance. The winner is always paid out by the loser.

Today there are many forms of gambling open to punters with money wagered on everything from the outcome of sporting events and television shows, to the national lottery and scratchcards; and as technology evolves, so does the opportunity and accessibility for betting.

Playing a fruit machine, a game of bingo or visiting a casino all fit the definition of placing a bet and with the internet now home to a number of websites offering online gambling, the availability has never been so great.

The ease of setting up an online gambling account and the range of betting options on offer make this very appealing for some. However, with the opportunity of 24 hour betting being on offer in the comfort of your own home, this can be very dangerous for many people.

Gambling can and does become addictive and as a result gamblers may well find themselves caught in a trap of spiralling debt without even realising it. Spending a large amount on betting can leave gambling addicts short of money to spend on the more important, essential things in their life. This in turn can lead to major financial difficulties and even bankruptcy.

Many punters are guilty of gambling extra money when their funds run low; in the hope of landing that one big win which will clear their arrears, yet frequently this will lead to further debt and more reckless gambling.

This problem not only affects the gambler, but also their family, friends and work life, resulting in the break down of relationships or loss of job. This disastrous decline in personal circumstances can be hard to turn around without professional help and support from organisations such as ‘Gamblers Anonymous’ and rehabilitation clinics.