Gambling addiction

Last update at 2 December, 2025⏲️ Reading time: 4 minutes

Problems with gambling addiction can affect anyone, regardless of social status. What starts out as harmless fun can turn into an unhealthy obsession with serious consequences. Discover the warning signs and symptoms of compulsive gambling and learn how to overcome it.

Symptoms of gambling addiction

Gambling addiction, also known as pathological gambling, is sometimes referred to as a "hidden disease" because it has no obvious physical signs and symptoms like drug or alcohol addiction. People with pathological gambling often deny or minimize the problem, even to themselves. However, you may have a gambling problem if:

You feel the need to hide your gambling. You may gamble in secret or lie about how much you bet, thinking that others won't understand or that you'll surprise them with a huge win.
Do you have trouble controlling your gambling? Once you start playing, can you stop, or do you feel compelled to play until you lose every penny, increasing your bets in an attempt to win back the money you've lost?
Gamble even when you have no money. You can gamble until you spend every penny and then use money you don't have: money to pay bills, credit cards, or things for your kids. You may feel pressured to borrow, sell or even steal things to get money to gamble.
If your family and friends are worried about you, but you ignore them. Denial perpetuates problem gambling. If they are concerned, listen to them carefully. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Many gamblers are reluctant to talk to people close to them and even prefer to walk away, but it's never too late to change for the better.

Who is at risk for gambling problems?

The combination of psychological and social factors can become a lethal cocktail in the world of sports betting and casino games.

For example, one study revealed that young people between the ages of 20 and 25 are most at risk for gambling problems. The reason? Because they have so much access to technology, they try to escape everyday problems such as stress, anxiety or depression through gambling. This, in principle, is not seen as a problem. But when gambling becomes a daily routine to cover up these psychological factors instead of dealing with them, impulsivity and sensation seeking end up being bad companions.

Add to this the fact that nowadays there are many online gambling and casino sites, so you don't need to leave home to play. However, this advantage can also be counterproductive, since spending many minutes in front of your computer or cell phone can increase negative behaviors such as economic problems and social isolation.

Where to turn for help?

Do you feel like you've lost control of your game? Don't worry, there's nothing wrong with accepting that you have a problem. On the contrary, it means that you are trying to recover. Fortunately, the best online bookmakers take responsible gambling very seriously, so they spare no resources in providing tools such as deposit and time limits, self-exclusion, self-assessment, parental control and international professional organizations.

The latter is key, as these sites can offer you guidance, treatment and accompaniment at every stage of recovery. To get these website links you have to enter the "Responsible Gambling" section of the site where you registered your account.

At the time of writing this article there were many international institutions; but, according to our criteria, these are the best ones:

Just play for fun

Gambling can be tempting, especially when you are going through an economic crisis and think that gambling can be your salvation. But nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is that you should always see it as something fun and to pass the time, not to look for an extra income.

Sure, it is not bad if you win some money; after all, it is your balance that you risk, but there is a very thin line in all this, so you better respect your budget, play responsibly and not spend hours and hours on betting or casino games. Remember that your mental health is priceless.