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How to recognize the signs of sports betting addiction

How to recognize the signs of sports betting addiction
Tips to recognize and overcome addictions in sports betting and act in the market as a professional.
by Academia   |   comments 0
Monday, June 20 2022

When addiction is mentioned, the word is quickly associated with drinking and drugs for most people. However, the lack of control in performing any activity can receive this qualification. In sports betting, the path to psychic addiction is relatively simple, but little recognized, not only by addicts, but also among mental health professionals. Contrary to what happens with drugs and drinks, where it is possible to find support groups and entities, including governmental ones, aimed at combating addiction, when it comes to betting, there is no well-structured support network. Occasionally, small groups called “gamblers anonymous” can be found, which help fight gambling addiction, however, there is no clearly defined health policy to combat this disease.

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Friends and family are the first to spot the problem

As with the vast majority of problems, be they health or otherwise, the circle closest to the person affected is the first to be affected by. Therefore, friends and family are often the first to notice that something is wrong. Often even before the player.
 
They may not even be able to make a correct diagnosis, but they notice changes in behavior that indicate that what should be entertainment or a way to supplement income, has gone beyond the limits.

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In the first case, perception is a little easier. In the second, when betting became, at first, a job, it is already more difficult. After all, you need to dedicate more hours to your source of income. This happens in the most different types of services. To name this relationship, the English term workaholic was created, which is often seen as positive, as it indicates that the person is willing to fight for their gains. Thus, it is often difficult to indicate that there is a betting addiction. However, the lack of balance creates problems in living with friends and relatives, capable of clearly showing that there is a pathology.

Simple questions can help identify the problem

To make a preliminary diagnosis, friends and relatives can use a questionnaire capable of revealing whether what was once fun has turned into gambling addiction. Even the player himself can be called to answer the questions, since to get around this situation, as with drugs or drinks, his effort will be fundamental.
 
It is advisable to take a break from the market when: the time dedicated to betting has caused significant absences from important personal commitments (absence from work or school, birthday party of a close person, etc.); the money wagered could not be lost; sold a good just to have money to gamble; after a loss the gambler seeks anything to get his money back; took out a loan to gamble; among other extreme cases.

Just one yes to turn on the alert signal

A “yes” answer to any of the above cases is enough for the warning signal to be turned on for a possible betting addiction. If the positive responses are numerous, perhaps the time has come for a stronger attitude and with the help of specialized professionals, such as psychologists and psychiatrists. Although prejudice sometimes gets in the way of analysis, the fact is that gaming addiction is a disease like chemical dependency. Thus, the first step towards a solution is to make the bettor recognize his condition and accept the help of third parties. Treating this issue as if it were a lack of shame or will will only cause the addict to conflict with the speaker and be unproductive.
 
In all these cases, the participation of the bettor's family and closest circle of coexistence is essential to combat gambling addiction. Eventually, even technology can be an ally. There are useful tools, such as programs that block access to online gaming sites. The bookmakers themselves offer self-exclusion tools for customers. In this case, it is necessary to contact the gaming website and request that access be blocked for a specified period, or even that the account be permanently suspended. Although they are the most extreme tools for combating gambling addiction, there are other intermediate ones, such as determining a maximum period of use of the site with the appearance on the screen of a message indicating that the time has been reached, or limiting values ​​to be deposited.

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