Do Big Wins Cause Gambling Addiction? 

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It cannot be denied that playing casino games is insanely fun. There is just something about the sound of coins in slot machines, chips being stacked, and games announced that wakes up the competitive spirit in all of us. Needless to say, the prospects of a money prize make the entire event only more thrilling. Gambling is one of the very few leisure activities that promise financial rewards. Sites like Nomini pl, as well as spectacular land-based establishments all over the world, attract visitors who hope this will be their night. 

And some of them do get a chance to win massive payouts and bathe themselves in chips and coins. Yet, can winning big time cause big problems? And are big wins triggering gambling addiction.

Gambling expert Anna Rosak (more about her here) believes gambling addiction is often a combination of multiple factors, and while big wins may be the ultimate trigger for addictive behavior, they are rarely the cause of it.

What is Gambling Addiction?

“Gambling addiction is classified as a control-impulse disorder, meaning problem gamblers are not able to control their impulse to place a bet. They ignore all other aspects of their life and control only gambling, regardless of the financial, social and other consequences it might have”, explains Anna.

The expert says not every gambling is pathological, nor every visit to the casino leads to addiction. Plenty of people enjoy a gaming session with their friends instead of hanging out at a pub. Old ladies play bingo in retirement homes for pure entertainment. Such people won’t feel desperate if something prevents them from gaming.

 

“There are many contributing factors such as age, sex, financial situation, social circumstances and history of risky behaviour. The average person with a gambling disorder is a white man, between 18 and 50, who hasn’t had financial struggles before they developed a gambling problem”, adds the expert.

Impact Winning Has on Overall Gambling Experience

However, she admits that winning, just like losing, can trigger the downward spiral towards the world of problem gambling. There is something she describes as the “thrill of the chase”, as gamblers, in general, always believe the next hand will be the winning one. If they are winning, they don’t want to break the winning pattern. And if they are losing, they want to break it, and desperately hang onto the odds. No matter what the course of the game is, they will want to play more and more.

“It is a vicious circle, especially with emotions involved. Big wins might make the person think they are invincible. Losing, on the other hand, throws people into despair, and they keep chasing their losses, hoping the next hand will help them balance it all out”, reveals Rosak.

At this particular moment, financial troubles kick in, as players often borrow money to keep it going. If they lose it, they have to play even more hands to get it all back. If they fail, the process is repeated.

“Also, it is important to understand that a win, no matter how big it was, won’t solve the gambling problem, although it might seem like it. The addict will very likely continue tossing the dice or playing cards for as long as possible. Even if they don’t, they often lack the will and knowledge to manage large amounts, and they find themselves in the very same spot, very soon”, says Anna.

When to Ask for Help?

Anna mentions it is of crucial importance to be observant of your own behavior as a gambler. She recommends taking self-assessment tests every so often and keeping your gaming public. If you have to hide it from your friends and family, gambling has probably already become an issue for you.

“Players who lie, cheat and steal have already fallen down the rabbit hole. Lying to your partner about where the money went, or how you spend the night, is one of the first tell-tale signs”, she continues.

Another red flag is money mismanagement. Gamers who find issues in financing their habits have very likely developed a problem. Additionally, if gaming is your first thought after receiving a paycheck – you might be in trouble. Ultimately, if you take loans or dip into your kid’s college fund to play slot machines, slots, or any other game – ask for help.

“Talk to someone you trust”, says Anna and offers an alternative, “Or just ask your doctor to help you. If all this is too intimate for you, call a hotline almost every country in the world has, and specialists working there will let you know how to proceed to get control over your habits. It might not be a “one and done” deal, but it will be worth it.” she concludes.

Faheem Haydar
Faheem Haydar
Faheem is the lead editor for The Tiger News. Faheem Haydar is a serial entrepreneur, investor, author, and digital marketing expert who has founded multiple successful businesses in the fields of digital marketing, software development, e-commerce, content marketing, and more.

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