For a person to overcome a gambling addiction, they must make a conscious decision to stop and change their behaviour. This is easier said than done, but the urge to gamble must be conquered if you are to stop it. When a person finds it difficult to stop, the gambling becomes a problem and it negatively affects all areas of their life. Fortunately, there are ways to stop the urge to gamble. Cognitive behavioural therapy and behavior therapy are both available to help combat this problem. These therapies focus on changing the way people think and feel about gambling.

A person suffering from a gambling addiction usually focuses on gambling when they feel stressed or distressed, and returns to it after losing money. A gambler may lie about how much they are gambling to hide their involvement and rely on others to help them out of their financial crisis. It is very important to seek help if a person suspects they have a gambling problem, as this will allow them to get the appropriate treatment and support. The benefits of seeking help are numerous.

Problem gambling is common in teenagers, but it can also occur in middle-aged and elderly adults. Men are more likely to experience compulsive gambling than women, and gambling in childhood increases the risk of developing a problem later in life. Men have higher rates of compulsive gambling than women, but a woman’s age is the best time to begin. Both sexes can be affected by gambling, but women generally start gambling later in life.