Understanding Casino Gambling Addiction

Nowadays, real or virtual casinos attract an incredible number of players worldwide. Alongside slot machines, sports betting, scratch-offs, draws, and many other games of chance, some indulge in them to the point of addiction. But why such enthusiasm?

The influence of online games

The arrival of online gaming platforms is one of the causes of the increase in addiction. The player no longer needs to travel to have fun. Knowing that while comfortably sitting on their sofa, free from the gaze and prejudice of others, they can play as they please. Day or night, they can bet on their favorite gambling games without being inspected by social control.

There is no opening hours as in regular casinos. He has the right to play on several games simultaneously and stay as long as he wishes. The internet thus offers a certain freedom to players, but some are no longer aware of their actions. Some casinos do not hesitate to use multiple strategies to attract players to them.

At this stage, they offer a whole range of bonuses and advantages that may seem attractive at first. The player is seduced and thinks only about playing, betting, reloading their account, etc.

Addiction in numbers

As previously announced, the existence of these gambling incentives only increases addiction behaviors. An acceleration in the induction is expected, especially among young adults aged 18 to 25., the reference center for excessive gambling estimates that over one million players are pathological.

According to an estimate, the rate of pathology reaches 2% of the adult population. The rate tends to increase over time. Another study conducted in 1996 by Ladouceur, Jacques, Ferland, and Giroux demonstrated a rate of 2.1%. The increase may be minimal in numbers, but it is now a real problem.

The more open the path, the more addiction increases. It is recognized that the number of pathological gamblers reaches a record high in countries where gambling establishments are favored, such as in the case of Las Vegas. Being the world capital of gambling, this country has an incredible rate of "player-addicts" that even exceeds the national average.

Australia, with a multitude of video lotteries, also has the largest number of players with this problematic gambling practice.

The three basic steps that lead to addiction

The Internet is here. We tend to blame it as the main culprit for this addiction. But that's not entirely the case. There are many other distinct phases that explain how players become addicted to gambling games.

• The winning phase From the registration, the player is quickly seduced by the avalanche of bonuses and advantages that the casino offers him. He tries the experience, has fun, and gets significant winnings. It cannot be denied that luck is on his side during his beginnings. At this moment, he is filled with excitement and has only one desire in mind: to continue playing, again and again! He even thinks that luck will smile on him throughout his games. There is nothing like winning to fill his pockets with little effort. Thus, he uses the winnings obtained to make new starting bets on other games. No one can stop him, thinking that he has nothing to lose. But how far will this moment of glory go?

• The loss phase When a player starts to drift, they cannot be saved from this phase. always keeping in mind the chance of winning, the gambler plays above their means. They bet large sums without realizing that they could lose everything at any moment. The initial winnings are lost. The player who does not accept defeat tries to recover. They invest a lot in bets, allowing themselves to make significant bets, believing they can recover them soon. Which is not the case. We see that this phase of loss continues. It is the hardest period for gambling enthusiasts without them realizing it. The player plunges further into debt. They care little about their surroundings and family life in favor of gambling. They put all their effort and concentration into the game, even at the expense of their other interests. Debts accumulate, stress sets in, and nothing goes well for the player.

• The phase of despair Following these successive periods of loss, the player could lose control. Overwhelmed by events, they may spiral out of control and commit theft, for example, to pay off their debts or gamble again. The player no longer experiences the same sense of excitement as before. Depression suddenly takes its place. At worst, suicidal thoughts occupy their mind.

At this stage, the game has become an addiction. It is urgent to find a remedy. Dialogue proves to be the only means that helps the player to get out of this situation. It is recommended to consult one of the specialized agents of French institutions such as Adictel and SOS Joueurs.