Gambling Addiction

Is gambling addiction a problem for me?

Do you…

• Think about gambling a great deal of your time?
• Lie about your gambling to others?
• Gamble while bills go unpaid?
• Borrow money to finance your gambling?
• Miss work because of your gambling?
• Feel anxious, depressed or even suicidal after you gamble, but not quitting?

If you answered yes to any of these, you could have a gambling addiction problem.

How do I stop my problem gambling?

The good news is that Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) based professional treatment and self-help CBT models such as SMART Recovery can be very helpful for gaining independence from addictions, including problem gambling. SMART Recovery is an alternative to Gamblers Anonymous (GA) as well as other 12-step programs.

SMART Recovery’s potential effectiveness for assisting individuals to find relief from gambling addiction is supported by research. The National Center for Responsible Gambling Conference, co-sponsored by Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions and the Gaming Industry, introduced research clearly showing CBT to be an effective way to assist individuals interested in reducing problem gambling. Studies also show a correlation between alcohol, nicotine and other drugs, as well as gambling. Problematic gambling can lead to more destructive actions such as criminal behavior (i.e., embezzlement) and, possibly, suicide.

How can SMART Recovery help me stop gambling?

SMART Recovery provides its members with tools and support that they can use to help them recover from addictive gambling behaviors as well as other negative and unwanted behaviors. SMART Recovery’s 4-Point Program® is an alternative to 12 step programs, such as Gamblers Anonymous, and designed to help you overcome your problems with gambling addiction:

1. Enhancing & Maintaining Motivation to Quit – Helps you identify and keep up with your reasons to stop gambling. Why do you want to stop – what will keep you focused on that goal?
2. Coping with Urges – Dealing with urges is part of recovery. SMART has tools designed to help you cope with your urges to gamble.
3. Managing Problems – We frequently turn to our addictive behaviors (like gambling addiction) to either escape from or avoid addressing problems. SMART helps you learn problem-solving tools to help you manage challenges along the way.
4. Lifestyle Balance – SMART helps you develop skills to help balance both short and long-term goals, as well as pleasures and needs that were once out of balance.

Where can I go from here?

Getting started with SMART Recovery is easy!

Our SMART Recovery Handbook is filled with practical exercises and useful information.

You can find a SMART meeting by using our SMARTfinder meeting search.

Listen to our SMART podcast: Getting Treatment For Compulsive Gambling.

 

Other helpful resources:

• APA article on inclusion of problem gambling in DSM-III 
• Dr. Valerie Lorenz's book Compulsive Gambling
• Arnie Wexler's book All Bets Are Off
• University of Maryland resources for problem gambling
• International Problem Gambling Center