Problem gamblers are not necessarily motivated by money. Some gamblers are motivated by social interaction and the possibility of winning money. These individuals also have impulse control disorders and a low sense of risk. In any case, there are many signs that the gambling is out of control and they need to seek help. Here are some of the warning signs:
Problem gamblers blame others for their actions
When dealing with a problem gambler, the first step is to understand that your actions do not cause the gambler to lose control over their behaviour. This can be an extremely difficult situation to deal with, particularly if you have no idea how the gambler became so involved. Often, problem gamblers blame others for their behavior because they feel that no one else can understand the effects of their gambling. It can also be incredibly frustrating to deal with the blaming of loved ones for the gambler’s actions.
They are motivated by social interactions
The motivation of college students to engage in recreational gambling is largely driven by social interaction. However, few studies have investigated the influence of social interactions on gambling behaviour. This is particularly the case when examining the effects of social interaction on women. In one study, women college students endorsed recreational gambling behaviour when they had warm or cold social interactions with other participants. They were assigned to either a warm or cold social interaction condition, and were seated at opposite ends of the table. After completing a demographics questionnaire, participants were randomly assigned to either a warm or cold social interaction with their confederates. The warm social interaction condition resulted in significantly increased bet size and a longer time between bets, whereas the cold social interaction condition induced significant decreases in both bet size and gambling frequency.
They have impulse control disorders
People who suffer from impulse control disorders often find it difficult to resist the temptations to gamble. While the committee was reluctant to drop it from the criteria, it was added in the last minute. In the published edition of the criteria, this feature is listed as ‘chronically and progressively unable to resist impulses to gamble.’ While this is contradictory to the text of the disorder, many readers still think of impulse disorders in this way.
They are at risk of developing a gambling addiction
Young people are at higher risk of developing a gambling addiction compared to the adult population. Gambling among young people is two to three times more common than among non-students. Nearly all U.S. colleges have policies on alcohol use, but only about twenty-two percent have formal gambling policies. About four to eight percent of college students are problem gamblers. Another ten to fourteen percent are at risk of developing a gambling problem. Almost 85 percent of college students engage in some type of gambling activity.