Betting can be a fun pastime activity that enhances your sports viewing experience. However, it is wise for everyone who participates in the fun to know that it is highly addictive and can cause other aspects of your life to spiral. Just like other activities that pose a risk of addictions like alcohol and drugs, you should engage in betting with caution. 

The first step to solving any problem is realizing that you have a problem, so in case your betting could have turned from a harmless hobby to a problem that needs fixing, being here means you are well on your way to finding help. If you are worried that your betting is getting out of control and becoming problematic, this article is for you.

Compulsive Gambling Disorder

Did you know The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) considers gambling addiction a type of mental health condition? In fact, it is the only behavioral addiction included in the manual. 

Gambling disorder or compulsive gambling disorder is not just a bad habit; it is an illness. The main ways through which people engage in gambling are either through casinos; online or land-based and through sports betting. 

What causes betting addiction

Unlike many people’s beliefs that addiction is something one can control, addiction is very complex, and there is no one or certain thing that causes addiction. However, research has found that alteration of the brain, genetics, and pre-existing mental illnesses are three common triggers of addiction. 

1. Someone’s personality and pre-existing mental illnesses. 

Sometimes, your personality might be the reason why you are at risk of being addicted to betting. Personality traits like compulsivity and difficulty in making decisions make it easy for you to get addicted to behavior like betting. 

Besides, you might have pre-existing mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety disorders that make you view betting as an escape from the reality of these other illnesses. So it is advisable to figure out if you might be suffering from any other mental illness and if you are using betting as an escape from the conditions.

2. Genetics 

A person’s genetic disposition is one of the reasons why they might end up being addicted to sports betting. Research on identical twins showed that identical twins have a higher likelihood of being addicted to gambling compared to fraternal twins. Hence, your genetics might be the reason you cannot control your sports betting.

3. Altercation of brain chemistry

Betting causes an imbalance in neurotransmitters- dopamine and serotonin due to the rewards that come with winning a bet. When gambling, sometimes you win, and it makes you feel good. You will feel like replicating this feeling. 

The more you gamble, the more your brain develops tolerance and dependence for gambling so that you can experience the high from gambling. The need to continuously get these rewards can make you continue to bet, and eventually, you will get addicted to this habit.

Signs You Have a Betting Addiction

You know your betting is becoming a problem once you start experiencing the negative effects of the habit and you continue to indulge in it. It does not matter your age, your gender, your social class, or your economic status. Anyone can have a betting problem

1. Obsession with Betting

If you find yourself extremely preoccupied with betting and it is the only thing you look forward to doing, it might be a sign that betting is no longer a harmless hobby. If you are obsessively looking forward to placing bets and making money from them or looking for money just to be able to bet, that is a sure sign that you have a betting problem.

2. You are now betting with a lot of money

When one starts betting, they are likely to bet with small amounts because they are afraid of losing big amounts of money. Once you develop the habit, your confidence to place bigger bets increases. This is not a bad thing if done responsibly. However, if you realize that placing small bets no longer excites you, it might be a sign that your betting habit is becoming problematic.

3. Chasing Losses

Chasing losses is a common phrase in sports betting. It happens when you lose a certain amount from your bets and then try to recover the loss by betting more. Chasing losses is rooted in the belief that in the next bets, you will win more and recover the money you lost. The habit of chasing losses also means that you are likely to stake a higher amount in the best you use to regain the money you previously lost. Once you realize that whenever you lose a bet, you end up betting more to recover the money you have lost, it is a sign that your sports betting habit is becoming problematic.

4. You have neglected your other responsibilities

The surest way to know that any habit is becoming problematic is when the other aspects of your life are negatively affected by your habit. If you neglect work or school because of betting or cannot take care of your other responsibilities because you have spent all your money on betting, that is a clear sign that your betting habits are now problematic.

5. Terrible Financial decisions

Since betting is a habit that requires money to engage in, Your money habits when you begin betting will be a telling sign of whether the habit is becoming problematic. If you start borrowing or stealing money or selling your possessions so that you can bet, and you are in unexplainable debt, you should take a step back from betting.

6. You want to stop, but you can’t

When you start experiencing some of the abovementioned signs, your instincts will tell you that you should quit sports betting. If you have told yourself you will stop betting or cut down on betting but cannot, that is a sign that your betting habit is now problematic. It is also a sign that you cannot help yourself and might need a professional’s help.

Sports Betting addiction help

Betting addiction is like any other form of addiction, which will require a professional to guide you through the journey of getting yourself out of it. Some of the places you can get betting addiction help include

Get Professional Help

Therapists and counselors are equipped with knowledge on how to rehabilitate your mind so that it no longer craves the dopamine you get from betting. These addiction specialists will give you insight and practical tips on overcoming sports betting addiction. 

They could also give you other treatment options, such as rehabilitation, depending on how deep you are into the addiction. You could get this professional help by calling a hotline like 0800-000-023 if you are in Kenya or by searching for therapists who specialize in addiction.

Remember, the first step to recovery is realizing you are not okay and need help. So, if this article proves that sports betting is now problematic, seek help.