How Casinos Enable Gambling Addicts

How online casinos keep you coming back again and again 

Though many of the following concepts have been academically researched, the aim of this piece is to provide a personal narrative for the commonly experienced tricks and traps from over 10 years of experience as a compulsive gambler.Familiarity in gamblingRegression with childish cartoons and familiar characters from our youth can encourage a level of irresponsibility among players. Whether it’s Jack and the Beanstalk or the Incredible Hulk, the outcome is the same for the player – increased engagement and distraction. Homer Simpson shouting “D’oh” trivialises a losing spin, using humour to numb the pain of loss. Equally, Spiderman defeating his enemies during a bonus is immensely exciting ‘under the influence’.Availability bias“25 million people didn’t win the lottery last week” is not a story. “Jennifer from Birmingham changed her life and won £156m” is a story. Technically “it could be you” but you don’t focus on the fact that it’s almost impossibly unlikely. Even the internal narrative playing out in your head can over-emphasise the possibility of an optimum outcome, potentially resulting in play.Reframing affordabilityYou win, you play higher stakes. Won £50 on that last £1 spin? What could you have won if you were betting £3 a spin? How about £6? You can afford it because you won the last time.Near-misses“Nearly, nearly… DAMN!” Approximately 37% to 42% ‘near misses’ are programmed into slot machines and scratch-cards for <a href="https://gamban.com/blog/improving-your-odds-at-slots-is-just-a-myth">psychological effect</a>. From an industry perspective, even if manufacturers don’t add them, players tend to create them their selves, turning clearly losing situations into near-wins.Reverse withdrawalsEven at the point where you have decided to stop playing and cash out, your money may still be available for immediate play and reversal. A second chance to lose everything!Illogical limit-settingIt was recently revealed by a large online casino that where deposit limits are set, the average spend is much higher. This illogical situation may be due to an erroneously perceived level of control.

Tricks and traps to keep you hooked

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning - ”Sir Winston Churchill

OK, so Winnie was talking about Montgomery’s victory at Alamein in World War 2 but he could just as easily have been talking about Gamban.There will be many people who have downloaded Gamban and thought “I’ve done it: I’ve finally removed gambling from my life!”<h2>If only it were that simple.</h2>Unless you discover – and address – the reason for your addiction, it will always acquire willpower to keep it at bay. And that requires eternal vigilance. Which is why you hear alcoholics who are 20 or 30 years ‘clean’ still refer to themselves as alcoholics rather than as ‘former alcoholics’ as you’d think they would eventually be able to call themselves.Allow me to ‘fess up a secret. I was gambling way too much on my desktop computer. Poker every evening and slots when the poker tournaments were taking a break. So I installed Gamban and it was brilliant: a real gamechanger (literally).At the same time, I found myself increasingly disinclined to go into (high street) bookies or casinos: if I was (effectively) banning myself from my favourite form of gambling, why would I want to ruin it all by chucking away the money I was saving on fruit machines with fewer choices and lower payouts? It would be like having hypnosis to stop me eating my favourite chocolate (Lindt’s 70% dark since you ask) and then scoffing bars of Bournville<h2>This virtuous circle…</h2>…continued until July of last year when I had a brain haemorrhage and nearly died.While recovering, I ‘discovered’ that I could play slots on my iPhone and also on my iPad. So I did.If I wanted to, I could blame this lapse on the fact that my frontal cortex had filled with blood and thus removed my inhibitions.It’s true: that’s what happened but was it the cause of my gambling?Or was it merely the occasion?If I’m honest, I think it was the latter.I had been looking for a reason, a pretext, to gamble again and this terrible event provided me with it.Yes, I was bored (and uninhibited) but there were plenty of positive, life-affirming things I could have done instead of gambling. I was like someone who’d given up smoking who suddenly lost a loved one and therefore had an excuse to start again.The trick I had found with smoking was to go from being a smoker to becoming a non-smoker (who wouldn’t want to smoke in any circumstances) rather than an ex-smoker who felt as if was depriving himself of his pleasure and so would take advantage of anything that justified returning to it.It turned out that my return to online gambling wasn’t enough: I started going to the bookie’s too. For six months (until I eventually saw the error of my ways and decided to stop), I would go to the bookie’s pretty well every day and spend thirty or so minutes playing the wretched FOBTs.I did quite well, funnily enough, winning more than I lost but I found that my FOBT-use cross-fed my online addiction to the point where I was gambling more than was good for my bank balance or for me.So I’m trying to wean myself off online gambling again.Gamban is an incredibly useful tool in this process but it’s only as good as I choose to make it.There are – and there will be until we get the legislation that many of us believe we need to protect us from ourselves and the rapacious gambling industry – always devices to gamble on and new temptations to withstand.I do my best and I know that constant vigilance is the only sure protection.<h3>But I’m a work in progress, not the final article.</h3>The key thing, I have learned, is not to treat every lapse as though it’s the end and that, if one’s going to give in then one might as well go the whole hog and splurge until all bank accounts and reservoirs of self-respect are drained.

Guest Blog by Mitchell Symons: on willpower, gambling and commitment to recovery 

How Online Gambling Affects Your Business

Online gambling may be hurting your bottom Line. Here’s what you can do about It.

What would you do to protect your employees—and your entire organisation—from a destructive, dangerous threat to your productivity and your bottom line? We’re talking about online gambling:  a serious (though often overlooked) risk confronting your business.It’s no natural disaster or cyber-attack, but online gambling is one of the costliest threats to contemporary commerce. In fact, gambling addiction costs the UK economy <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41846126">more than 1.2 billion pounds</a> yearly.This behaviour facilitates numerous dangers for your business and your staff, including:Lost time &amp; productivity: The average gambler will lose more than seven hours of work time each month as a result of their addiction. This dramatically impacts your entire team’s effectiveness in the workplace, costing the organisation time and resources as employees lose focus.Employee Wellbeing: Gambling addiction is associated with numerous negative effects on the victim’s mental health, including depression, loss of motivation, and withdrawal from social situations. This further impacts the individual’s performance and ability to interact with team members.Crime:<a> 23 percent of adults</a> who underwent treatment for gambling problems admitted to committing fraud or some other financial crime to secure money for their habit. In many cases, this takes the form of theft or embezzlement from one’s employer.<h2>Take Steps to Protect Your Business</h2><figure><img src="https://web-cdn.gamban.com/img/aa48df9a-1805-4a41-b865-27bf426b06d5.jpg" alt="gamban protecting your business" /></figure>Online gambling, both in the workplace and at home, is a major risk hiding in plain sight. Given that<a> one in three cases of embezzlement</a> involve perpetrators suffering from this addiction, it’s clear that online gambling is a liability you can’t afford to ignore.Fortunately, there are steps you can take to address this issue and ensure the productivity and wellbeing of your employees: Implement the Right Policies: Establish a clear, concrete policy against gambling of any sort in the workplace. This will give you a formal basis for any necessary disciplinary action and help foment a workplace culture that does not tolerate such practices. Divide Responsibilities: Don’t put too much responsibility for the company’s finances in one individual. Instead, divide all bookkeeping activity between multiple parties and perform regular audits to detect fraud or any other suspicious activity. Identify Warning Signs: Learn to identify the trademarks of an individual with a gambling problem. These can include asking for regular advances, borrowing money, arguing about money with co-workers, or requesting additional pay in lieu of vacation or sick time.<h2>Prevention Is the Answer</h2><figure><img src="https://web-cdn.gamban.com/img/b059c1a5-b3ee-42d3-9b84-a1a66cab5b19.jpg" alt="gamban Prevention Is the Answer" /></figure>The above steps may help protect your business against loss resulting from online gambling; however, they are largely reactive solutions. Knowing the warning signs of an employee suffering from gambling addiction or dividing responsibilities cannot address the core issue: the impulse to gamble in the first place.The best solution is one that prevents a problem rather than mitigating the damage once it’s already been done. Gamban enables you to go beyond discouraging gambling and trying to identify potential problems. Now, you can eliminate online gambling entirely, both at home and in the workplace.While other services offer expensive, ineffective products that fail to speak to the problem of online gambling itself, Gamban provides the cross-platform solution you need to minimise risk and ensure productivity. Adopt the tools you need to protect your staff and eliminate risk to your business productivity today.For more information on how Gamban can help your organisation please visit: <a href="https://gamban.com/contact/enterprise">https://gamban.com/contact/enterprise</a>

How to Prevent Online Gambling from Negatively Impacting Your Business

How do I Self-Exclude? 

We go through some of the methods to easily bar yourself from online and offline gambling

As we've said in the <a href="https://gamban.com/blog/belts-and-braces-why-more-than-one-tool-can-be-helpful">past</a>, having more than one tool in place to ban yourself from gambling, online and offline, means giving yourself the best chance to overcome the habit. Whether that be gambling blocking software, self exclusion from online gambling or bank transaction blocking. There are many tools out there to help.<h2>Gambling Blocking Software</h2>Gambling Blocking software, such as Gamban, can be downloaded onto all of your devices, for the purpose of blocking access to 1000s of gambling websites and apps, worldwide. Gamban offers a trial that grants you free access to their state of the art programmes and applications for your devices. Learn more about Gamban <a href="https://gamban.com/">here</a>.<h2>Self-exclusion</h2>Self-exclusion typically involves asking a gambling operator, casino or betting shop, for example, to exclude you from gambling with them over a set period of time. This means that you will be refused service at the locations, online and offline, from which you are self-excluded. By law gambling operators in the UK have to provide self-exclusion.Manually self-excluding yourself from every venue or website can be a daunting task. However, there are "multi-operator" schemes available, allowing anyone to easily "mass" self-exclude. Listed below are some of these schemes. <h3>Online Gambling Self-Exclusion - GAMSTOP</h3><figure><img src="https://web-cdn.gamban.com/img/71dc41da-7341-4e67-9b8e-7a0ab497a381.jpg" alt="gamstop self exclusion" /></figure>One of the most well-known multi-operator schemes is <a href="https://www.gamstop.co.uk/">GAMSTOP</a>, which is currently available as a multi-operator self-exclusion scheme to UK and NI residents. However, It does not cover all gambling sites, only those based in the UK. Find the list of participating online gambling companies <a href="https://www.gamstop.co.uk/participating-companies">here</a>.<h3>Arcades and Adult Gaming Centres</h3><figure><img src="https://web-cdn.gamban.com/img/f61bad09-687d-4001-a30d-f21828603465.jpg" alt="bacta Arcades and Adult Gaming Centres" /></figure>Unfortunately, as of this date, it is not possible to mass self-exclude online from Arcades and Adult Gaming Centres. However, through the Bacta Self-Exclusion Scheme, you will be able to self-exclude from Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) by simply visiting one AGC or by phoning one of them and enquiring.Anyone wishing to join the Bacta Self-Exclusion Scheme should contact Bacta on selfexclusion@bacta.org.uk or 0207 730 6444.For further details, <a href="https://bacta.org.uk/self-exclusion/">click here</a>. <h3>Betting shops / Bookmakers</h3><figure><img src="https://web-cdn.gamban.com/img/57786737-7d23-4df1-8fee-32389777fb78.jpg" alt="multi operator self exclusion scheme betting shops bookies bookmakers" /></figure>Through the self-exclusion.co.uk Multi Operator Self Exclusion Scheme you can designate betting shops from which you want to self-exclude. This scheme is tailored to the needs and habits of the registrants. By identifying the betting shops someone uses or might try to use, the scheme passes on the information to all the relevant betting shop operators.Call the Multi Operator Self Exclusion Scheme helpline on 0800 294 2060 to exclude yourself from more than one bookmaker in your area. For more details please <a href="https://self-exclusion.co.uk/">click here</a>.<h3>Bingo venues</h3><figure><img src="https://web-cdn.gamban.com/img/2f210a79-68e9-4a04-8b5c-2634fc48522a.jpg" alt="bingo industry self exclusion scheme" /></figure>To self-exclude from licensed bingo premises across Great Britain, use The Bingo Associations' Self-Exclusion Scheme. Simply register at your local bingo club or alternatively, you can do so online if you <a href="https://www.bingo-association.co.uk/site/bing/templates/selfexclusion.aspx?pageid=181&amp;cc=gb">click here</a>.<h3>Casinos</h3><figure><img src="https://web-cdn.gamban.com/img/217133b8-be91-49b3-91e6-05fb1a50f07a.jpg" alt="sense self enrolment nation self exclusion" /></figure>SENSE enables people to register in a scheme to exclude themselves from all UK land-based casinos. Once someone has requested exclusion through the SENSE scheme, their information will be shared with all casinos across the country. Furthermore, their details will be removed from all land-based casino marketing databases. For more information, <a href="https://www.nationalcasinoforum.co.uk/voluntary-self-exclusion-sense/">click here</a>.While for some, Gambling Blocking Software will be enough to ban themselves from gambling, others (problem gamblers or otherwise) may want to use self-exclusion schemes in conjunction with Gamban.Learn more about Gamban’s Gambling Blocking Software <a href="https://gamban.com/product">here</a>.Find more information on how gambling self-exclusion can be effective <a href="https://gamban.com/blog/gambling-self-exclusions-can-be-effective">here</a>. Find more information on how to block gambling transactions from your bank account <a href="https://gamban.com/blog/block-gambling-transactions">here.</a>Find more information about gambling problems and support <a href="https://gamban.com/help">here.</a>

How to Ban Yourself from Gambling Online

Small Acts You Can Take On to Help Yourself and Others with Online Gambling

Why problem gamblers often don’t seek help

<h1>How to Help Those Looking for Gambling Addiction Support</h1>There is a long-running stigma attached to those suffering from gambling addiction. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5264412/">Plenty of research on the subject</a> makes that fact abundantly clear. Even without the data, those suffering under the weight of problem gambling know the pain well.It’s time to open up about the stigma surrounding problem gambling. Let’s see how this silent epidemic impacts victims, and what we can do about it.<h3>How stigma hurts compulsive gamblers</h3>A stigma is defined as “a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.” The <a href="https://www.who.int/">World Health Organization (WHO)</a> describes social stigma as “a major cause of discrimination and exclusion.”Those targeted by a social stigma are seen as having less value than “normal” people. The victims of this phenomenon may be shunned by friends, family and their peers. They may also experience discrimination in education, housing, <a href="https://gamban.com/blog/protect-your-business-from-online-gambling">employment</a> and other factors that impact them in daily life. In its most extreme forms, social stigma contributes to substantial human rights violations. This stigma affects both men and <a href="https://gamban.com/blog/women-and-gambling-addiction">women</a>. Those suffering under the weight of gambling addiction are routinely stigmatised. Even though we understand addiction much better today than ever before, it is still seen by many as a personal flaw, rather than for what it is: an illness, beyond the person’s control.Stigmatisation carries serious consequences. The fear of social isolation can keep victims of addiction from seeking treatment, as they suffer in silence instead of opening up about the issue. This inhibits long-term harm reduction efforts and damages the victim’s self-esteem and self-worth.The end result: the potential for increasingly-destructive behaviour and even suicide. In fact, problem gamblers have <a href="https://800gambler.org/quick-facts-gambling-suicide/">the highest rate of attempted suicide</a> among all addictive disorders. Because of the stigma of problem gambling, those suffering under the weight of addiction and social pressure can be made to feel there is no other alternative.<h3>What can be done?</h3>The problem can get better, but only once people feel more comfortable reaching out for help. That’s why destigmatising gambling addiction is the key to treating the problem.Beating the stigma surrounding problem gambling is not going to be easy or quick. It will take years to reshape how we think about addiction and how we treat addicts in general. However, there are small acts you can take on your own to help:<ul><li>Be compassionate: Show understanding, kindness and support to those suffering from addiction. Withhold judgement, and instead simply listen to their experiences and needs.</li><li>Do your research: Education breeds empathy. If you understand what those in the grip of addiction are going through, you can better understand how to help.</li><li>Avoid labels: Words like “addict” put blame on the individual. We want to avoid blaming the victim and instead focus on the real problem: the behaviour.</li><li>Educate others: Even those with good intentions can cause harm through a lack of knowledge. Share what you learn to help broaden the understanding.</li><li>Be an advocate: Don’t stay silent when you see others abuse or misrepresent victims of gambling. Speak up and let people know they’re not alone.</li></ul>Of course, while the behaviour is the core problem, access to online gambling often enables and aggravates the issue. That’s why <a href="https://gamban.com/blog/belts-and-braces-why-more-than-one-tool-can-be-helpful">tools capable of blocking access</a> to such sites are an important piece of the puzzle.<h3>Help is out there</h3>Even if you are not ready to talk, there are tools you can use to start your recovery journey. <a href="https://gamban.com/">Gambling blocking software</a> allows you to keep gambling away from your devices (computers, smart phones and tablets); It works better when deployed together with GamStop, the UK’s free self-exclusion scheme, and payment blocking solutions, such as the one provided by Monzo. Get all of them, and as soon as you’re ready, get in touch with the National Gambling Helpline. They are there to listen, no shame, no stigma. Break the silence!Recovery is possible.

The Silent Epidemic Made Worse by Shame and Stigma

To Help Customers Block Access to Online Gambling with Gamban

Since 2015, <a href="https://gamban.com/product">Gamban</a> has gone from strength to strength, setting the standard in gambling blocking software. Gamban is the smartest and most effective software for blocking gambling sites and applications. First-hand experience of problem gambling, combined with the most talented minds in the field of self-exclusion software have resulted in the <a href="https://gamban.com/blog/gambleaware-chooses-gamban-gambling-blocking-software">most effective</a> cross-platform solution for creating friction and aiding willpower in the fight against gambling addiction. We're extremely excited to announce a partnership between Lloyds Banking Group and Gamban, enabling Lloyds, Bank of Scotland and Halifax customers access to Gamban. This is in addition to the Lloyds Banking Group Gambling Transaction Freezes which customers can activate from within the mobile banking app, providing an additional layer of protection from potential gambling harm. <blockquote>“We know that gambling related harm can have serious and long term impacts on our customers and we are committed to making sure they can easily access a wide range of support. In addition to our card controls that allow the freezing of gambling transactions we are delighted to have developed a pilot with Gamban offering our customers three months free access to their software, providing another level of protection” Elyn Corfield, Managing Director, Consumer Finance, Lloyds Banking Group </blockquote> Gambling addiction is a complex problem and offering vulnerable customers a multi-layered form of protection is the best approach to help people control gambling activity. By blocking transactions and access to online gambling, people can more effectively tackle their relationship with gambling. Lloyds Banking Group has been working closely with experts in the field of gambling support to ensure that customers have easy access to a wide range of help and support options. <blockquote>"It’s very positive to see forward-thinking banking institutions such as Lloyds Banking Group rise to the challenge of protecting vulnerable customers from gambling addiction through barriers such as spend control and collaboration with market-leading gambling-blocking technology, Gamban." - Jack Symons, Founder, Gamban</blockquote> Initial integration of Gamban within Lloyds Banking Group banking offering was completed towards the end of January 2020 and a significant number of people have already activated the blocking protection, protecting iOS, Android, Windows and MacOS devices from thousands of gambling sites and applications. More information on the Lloyds Bank Gambling Support: <a href="https://www.lloydsbank.com/help-guidance/customer-support/help-with-gambling.asp">https://www.lloydsbank.com/help-guidance/customer-support/help-with-gambling.asp</a> More information on the Bank of Scotland Gambling Support: <a href="https://www.bankofscotland.co.uk/helpcentre/help-with-gambling.html">https://www.bankofscotland.co.uk/helpcentre/help-with-gambling.html</a> More information on the Halifax Gambling Support: <a href="https://www.halifax.co.uk/helpcentre/help-with-gambling/">https://www.halifax.co.uk/helpcentre/help-with-gambling/</a> Find more information on how to block gambling transactions from your bank account <a href="https://gamban.com/blog/block-gambling-transactions">here.</a>

Gamban Partners with Lloyds Banking Group

When the Money Runs Out 

Problem gamblers can easily find themselves in vicious cycles of borrowing to pay gambling tabs 

In theory, payday loans exist to help consumers make ends meet when they need temporary help in a short amount of time. In practice, this type of fast and easy-to-get credit products are the only option – apart from loan sharks – for thousands of individuals and families, up and down the country, who need money “now”, and are unable to obtain a loan from the bank.With strict terms and extremely high interest rates, payday loans can easily spiral out of control. For many borrowers, the payday loan is simultaneously the lifeline that keeps their heating on, and the chain that will keep them prisoners to an endless and growing debt nightmare.<h3>Adding gambling to the equation</h3>In <a href="https://www.finder.com/uk/payday-loan-statistics">2017, 53% of UK payday loan customers borrowed money to pay for living expenses</a>, including groceries and utility bills. When we add a gambling addiction to this very unbalanced equation, the end result is nothing short of a personal catastrophe. And no, it cannot simply be chalked up to misspending or poor planning of personal finances. The real causes go much deeper.Individuals living with a gambling addiction don’t place a bet because they enjoy the game, or because they’re having a laugh with their mates at the pub. In fact, they usually feel quite isolated, and do it because they’re compelled to satisfy an uncontrollable urge – they just have to do it. In this process, anyone can get desperate enough to turn to payday loans as the solution to fund their sports bets, their online poker, their slot machines, or any other form of gambling.Problem gamblers can easily find themselves in vicious cycles of borrowing to pay gambling tabs, forcing them to borrow more to cover newer debts. This is extremely dangerous, and can quickly lead to an unmanageable vicious cycle of debt and financial loss. The problem can be life-threatening, as troubling stories <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3457058/Gambling-addict-27-hanged-owing-thousands-pounds-getting-messages-offering-free-bets-died.html">l</a><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jul/15/ryan-myers-bereaved-parents-taking-on-the-gambling-industry">ike that of Ryan Myers</a> highlight. Mr Myers took his life in 2016, after falling into thousands of pounds of gambling debt and turning to payday loans as a last resort.There’s no set character trait or signal precipitating this toxic situation. It can happen to anyone irrespective of their socioeconomic standing, from a low income part-time worker to affluent professionals like doctors or <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/24648539">professional footballers</a>.“It’s not uncommon to have a player in a cycle of payday loans and gambling,” says Sporting Chance Clinic CEO Colin Bland, referencing patients at the athlete-focused recovery center. 70% of Sporting Chance Clinic’s admissions are for gambling addiction, and many find themselves trapped between payday lenders and gambling before finally seeking help.<h3>Out of gambling, out of debt</h3>A person suffering from addiction turns to payday loans as a source of quick cash, confident he or she will win the money back. The plan rarely works out, and the individual is saddled with the added burden of debts that can multiply exponentially within a year due to the unfair interest rates.Those at risk of slipping into this cycle need to seek help, as do those already inside the trap. While this is easier said than done, especially due to the level of isolation many players believe to be in, there are people, organisations and technology products out there that can help.Protecting oneself from a dangerous payday loan trap is essential. But, the most important part of that process is confronting the addiction itself. Until victims overcome that obstacle, every day remains a new risk.

Payday Loans &amp; Gambling

GambleAware has published an independent evaluation of software packages designed to block access to gambling websites and apps.

GambleAware’s decision was the result of an independent evaluation that compared six different products

Southampton, 10 October 2018 – Gamban announces that UK based charity GambleAware has selected Gamban’s gambling blocking software as a tool to be available to all clients of the national gambling treatment service.Marc Etches, Chief Executive of GambleAware said: “Blocking software can be an effective tool to help those at-risk of getting into difficulties resist the ubiquitous gambling adverts and special offers that surround us these days. This report reinforces the point that such tools work best as part of a treatment package tailored to the individual rather than being effective in isolation. This evaluation gives us the confidence we needed to fund the use of this software for anyone who is referred to our treatment services.”The decision was taken after the publication of an independent evaluation that compared six different software products. In this comparison, Gamban emerged as the most effective solution for blocking access to legal and illegal online gambling sites, achieving as much as 99% success. The published research anonymises the considered packages, but Gamban emerged as the most technologically effective to block licensed and illegal gambling sites.Jack Symons, CEO of Gamban said: “Significant investment and dedication in the development of our software has got us to the point where we’re now world-leading in gambling blocking. We’re delighted that this has been recognised by GambleAware, who will provide Gamban for free to those whose treatment they fund.”Gamban works with gambling operators, businesses, universities, affiliates and third sector organisations to help minimise the problems caused by online gambling.GambleAware’s public announcement can be found <a href="https://about.gambleaware.org/media/1814/2018-10-10-blocking-software-evaluation.pdf">here</a>.To read the full report, please follow this <a href="https://about.gambleaware.org/media/1813/blocking-software-evaluation-findings-report.pdf">link</a>.About GambleAwareGambleAware is a charity tasked to fund research, education and treatment services to help to reduce gambling-related harms in Great Britain. For additional information, please visit their <a href="https://about.gambleaware.org/">website</a>

GambleAware chooses Gamban’s gambling blocking software

Do I have a gambling problem? Concerned about your gambling habits?

Gambling Addiction misdiagnosis or incomplete diagnosis 

Gambling addiction is a serious challenge under the best of circumstances. What makes it even more difficult to face? A gambling addiction misdiagnosis.A gambling addiction can’t be diagnosed by taking a blood test or a scan. Most patients may show signs of depression, but unless they are open about it, there is no way the doctor will know the reason why. There is no physical evidence that someone’s depression is due to an uncontrollable urge to gamble and the family and financial problems that such addiction has created. If the stigma alone wasn’t enough to make it difficult, in countries where gambling is illegal, addicts will be even less likely to admit they have a problem. More often than not, the diagnosis is “depression” which, although true – gambling addicts often suffer from depression – is also incomplete, as the root causes remain unidentified.<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6691482">One study</a> from the US National Institutes of Health showed that 76% of gamblers surveyed also suffered from depression. The suicide rate among self-identified gamblers is four times higher than among non-gamblers. This may lead to a confusion of correlation and causation, and contributing to a gambling addiction misdiagnosis, or incomplete diagnosis. We need to ask “which comes first: the clinical diagnosis, or the gambling behaviour?”<h2>Correlation Vs. Causation</h2>For some people, an addiction to gambling may be a product of depression or another underlying condition. For most though, that depression is a result of their gambling addiction. The stress of losing money, plus the strain this puts on the victims’ personal lives, on their families, on their jobs, create the ideal circumstances for depression and other mental health issues to flourish. This isn’t unique to gambling addiction. In fact, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-cant-i-stop/201607/misdiagnosis-behavioral-addiction">many individuals with behavioural addictions</a> are misdiagnosed with problems like obsessive compulsive disorder. It can happen with any number of addictions, but there are unique factors at play with compulsive  gambling , though, such as inconsistent social acceptability or legal status, that makes it especially tricky to identify as the cause of suffering.<h2>When gambling is illegal</h2>Making something illegal, doesn’t necessarily mean it will be easier to deal with. Some scholarly evidence suggests drug prohibition for example, does little to actually reduce drug addiction, and <a href="https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1837&amp;context=facpub">may even make addiction worse</a>. The reason is simple – while it may help authorities act against those who “operate the market”, the illegal status also acts as a barrier between the victims and the treatment. The US is a good example of this dilemma: although gambling is only legal in a select number of states, the rate of gambling addiction is higher there compared to the UK.The problem of recognising an addiction to gambling is complicated by the rise of online betting. In countries or regions where betting is illegal, health professionals may be less inclined to consider gambling behaviour when looking at a patient. Gambling Disorder was <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4019046/">included in the latest edition of the DSM</a> in 2014, but it’s still a recent change. If the patient is uncomfortable with disclosing their gambling habits – because it is an illegal activity, and/or because the insurance policy wouldn’t cover it – the job of the doctor or therapist becomes a lot more difficult.<h2>The problem is the gambling</h2>Gambling addiction is rarely a self-evident issue. Here are a few common signs that something is wrong:<ul><li>Remorse: Those with an addiction typically aren’t having fun when satisfying their urge. It’s a compulsion, not a leisure activity, and feelings of remorse are a common side-effect.</li><li>Need: Addicted individuals often see gambling as a way to resolve other problems like debts, or even to recover previous betting losses. They feel the need to keep playing to try and solve these issues.</li><li>Mismatch of Priorities: Because gambling is a compulsion, it feels natural to place it higher on a list of priorities than is appropriate. It can overshadow family and friends, work, and paying bills.</li><li>Sense of Inevitability: Some problem gamblers see their habit as an inevitable part of life, about which nothing can be done. The problem may rise to the point that “gambling money” becomes a regular monthly expense, and often one that takes priority, as mentioned above.</li><li>Inability to Stop: Problem gamblers may keep placing bets until all their money is gone. Gambling may also take up large shares of their time, as they have absolute confidence they are working on getting their money back.</li><li>Compulsive Response: Problem gamblers don’t just gamble when the mood strikes them. Like any addict, they feel compelled to place a bet. It can be an all-encompassing urge that overrides other interests or responsibilities.</li><li>Escapism: Betting is a means of escape for many addicts. As a result, sources of stress, arguments, or everyday disappointments and frustrations can trigger the urge to gamble.</li></ul> Early identification is essential for effective treatment of gambling addiction. However, that will require society as a whole to see beyond the shame, challenging our own experiences, and staying away from prejudice. That will help those with the problem to open up about it, and it will help those with the treatment resources to use them without reservations. Ultimately, it will drive the growth of those resources, backed by statistics that truly reflect the reality.<h2>Helping gamblers help themselves</h2>Gambling addiction is highly stigmatised. It’s seen as a personal failure or weakness, rather than a real condition which demands treatment. We need to stop this and foster an environment in which people can speak honestly about their problem. For example, we can start by dispelling many of the myths about gambling addiction:<ul><li>Addiction only happens to certain groups of people.</li><li>You have to gamble every day to be addicted.</li><li>It's due to personal weakness and irresponsibility.</li><li>Problem gamblers are motivated solely by the allure of money.</li><li>Problem gambling only affects the gambler.</li><li>These are all misconceptions. Every single one of them.</li><li>An addiction to gambling can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any point in time.</li></ul> People can feel more comfortable <a href="https://gamban.com/blog/ban-yourself-from-online-gambling">seeking help</a> once we all have a more honest conversation about problem gambling. Until that happens though, gambling addiction misdiagnosis will continue to damage people’s chance of recovery.Worried that <a href="https://gamban.com/blog/are-you-at-risk-from-online-gambling">you, or someone you know</a>, might be suffering from an addiction to gambling? The first step to deal with it is to put as many obstacles as possible between the player and the game:<ul><li><a href="https://gamban.com/product">Gamban blocks access to 40k+ gambling websites.</a> It blocks the device itself from accessing those sites and is available for computers, phones and tablets and stop gambling. <a href="https://gamban.com/pricing">Click here to get started.</a></li><li>For those in the UK, we also recommend signing up to <a href="https://www.gamstop.co.uk/">GamStop</a>. This voluntary scheme self-excludes players from a large number of UK based gambling websites, in one go.</li><li><a href="https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/talk-to-us-now/">Gamcare</a> offers The National Gambling HelpLine, providing confidential information, advice and support for anyone affected by problem gambling in the UK. - 0808 8020 133</li><li>Another important roadblock is money. Monzo and Starling banks have developed features that block gambling related transactions. We recommend taking a look at those.</li><li>There are a number of <a href="https://gamban.com/blog/ban-yourself-from-online-gambling">self-exclusion schemes</a> out there, as well as <a href="https://gamban.com/help">support groups</a>. </li></ul>

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