Compulsive gambling is characterized by being unable to control one’s impulse to gamble, which is a mental health disorder known as pathological gambling or gambling disorder. In cases like this, the person who’s addicted to gambling will often feel a strong impulse to gamble, despite any negative consequences. They may not care if they have the money for it or not, and instead turn to their addiction regardless of how it plays out.

Gambling is all about the thrill of the unknown. The game is not meant to be won, but rather provides pleasure in itself. The reward center in our brain boosts when we win, so humans naturally enjoy feeling victorious at gambling games. This is more common in men than in women, as losing a game or a bet can hurt your ego if you’re not a good sport. In countries such as Japan, it’s common for men to use withdrawal or gambling to deal with work stress. According to Japanbets, an estimated 3.2 million individuals in Japan are hooked to gambling, a country where gambling regulation is so ambiguous that most Japanese are unsure whether internet casinos are allowed or illegal. This demonstrates that gambling addiction is a global issue, not only in places where gambling is permitted. What’s more concerning is that gambling addiction might be more difficult to detect and treat when it’s stigmatized, as it is in nations where gambling is prohibited.

Gambling is, first and foremost, a series of different games that are meant to be fun. With gambling, things can take a risky turn at any time when possessions and money are at stake. 

This article will highlight six problems that gamblers may likely encounter if they’re not careful about how they play. 

1. Inability to Stop

A common problem that gamblers face is the inability to stop before it’s too late. Players may be on a winning streak one day and may not have luck on other days. When some gamblers get a taste for winning, it gets hard to let go of the fantasy. You want to relive it over and over again. 

Gambling addiction can have short-term and long-term consequences that affect an individual’s mental and physical health. To help Japanese people out of this situation, a Japanese adapted Gamblers Anonymous (GA) has been introduced. Contrary to the US version, they avoid confrontation and encourage acceptance by the nakama (the addict’s close friends and family).

2. Numbing The Pain 

Most of the casinos you visit sell alcohol to adults over 18 years of age and prohibit the distribution of drugs on their premises. Sometimes, this can be difficult to respect as drug traffickers have improved ways of getting their products through. In the same way that it’s advised to gamble responsibly, establishments also advise drinking responsibly. 

When a player keeps failing at the betting table, alcohol and drugs help chase the pain momentarily. By using these substances, the gambler becomes dependent on them to get away from the reality of losing.

3. Casino Scams

Scams are also associated with gambling, as some places can give you fake cash or have a game rigged to lose. So, it’s clever to check out the latest reviews on casinos and be sure they have a discreet and trustworthy payment method.

4. Allergic To Saving 

One benefit of gambling is that you can make a lot of money in a short time. It’s a great time initially, as the first thing you would want to do is fulfil your desires with it. Not all gamblers think about saving or investing their money for the future. 

5. Depression (Head in the Game)

Gamblers are known to be perfectionists in the game. So when things don’t go accordingly, it can cause depression and a lot of anger, which can be dangerous if not controlled. For example, Japanese poker player Kazuchi Ikeuchi started playing in 2003 but developed depression later on in 2014. He eventually got better and participated in WSOP 2019, where he was ranked 19th.

6. Debt 

Having a winning streak isn’t something you can simply buy. You either have one or don’t; sometimes you can be on a roll, while other days you lose a bunch of money. An excessive gambler will do anything to get more money to bet, which will eventually lead to numerous debts. As they think the next round or spin will be the lucky one. 

Responsible Gambling

Gambling can be a very dangerous game when you have no limits. If you don’t know when to stop gambling, it can seriously wound your pockets, leaving you penniless. Some gamblers have been known to sell assets they have acquired over years or even decades because they just couldn’t control the urge to place a bet.