My experience is that gamblers who have problems typically fall into two categories, irrespective of the gambling type they pursue;
Problem Gamblers - those who cannot control their gambling - they chase losses, they lose all of their disposable income eventually or every month, but they would never gamble money which is meant for paying bills, council tax, mortgage etc. They may also have separate accounts for savings and home improvements and the like. The quality of holidays and cars they have may suffer due to loss of all of their disposable income. Some may go into overdraft and situations. Some may use money from credit cards or take small loans to fund their gambling.
Compulsive gamblers - they lose all of their disposable income and more. They only care about gambling. It becomes their number one, sometimes only priority. They cannot recall how much they have lost in a day. They will do ANYTHING to get money to gamble, spend the mortgage and bills money, credit cards, loans, steal money, its odesnt matter. When they are in action they arent even thinking about where the money has come from, only where the money will come from next after they lose what they have. The problem of paying the mortgage and bills is tomorrows problem. Today is just about the bet. An overdraft grows. Credit cards are maxed out. Loans are taken out to fund gambling and to consolidate other debts. Most eventually end up stealing money to gamble. Most will get to a point where they have to declare bankrupt, take an IVA or re-mortgage.
Both problem gamblers and compulsive gamblers will experience character changes but to different extents.
In both cases the gambler has to admit having a problem and be willing to do something about overcoming it.
Having done this the recovery of a Problem Gambler should be faster and easier than that of a Compulsive Gambler. The Compulsive Gambler has a problem which is more deep-rooted and may require analysis and conclusion outwith the scope of gambling itself.
Hi Captain.
I couldn't agree more with you. I class myself as a problem gambler. Never had a problem with my financial commitments but never had a enough to see me through the month. When I was skint, i'd stop. Only when I got paid again I would start gambling.
I came here because I knew I had a problem, but wasn't sure how deep it was. I still class myself as a problem gambler, and I still think I could bet within my means. But I was worried my addiction could lead me to be a compulsive gambler. That's why I stick around hear, to keep me towing the line. I too believe it's easier for a problem gambler to recover. Perhaps the brains are wired differently.
I haven't read all of your diary but I know you are able to continue sports betting. I wish I could. You have greater self discipline than me. And I personally think that as long as your in control and happy with the way your recovery is going, your doing well.
Best wishes
Brad
I'm not sure how realistic this definition of a "problem gambler" is. They lose all of their disposable income and chase losses but are able to be disciplined enough to never dip into money meant for bills etc? I suppose its possible but would generally form a pretty small minority of people on here.
My personal opinion is, based on if there really is 2 types of gambler like you mention, that problem gambling will turn to compulsive gambling over time.
Linda
Once you hit the compulsive gambler stage, its time to have a major rethink. Waking up thinking about gambling, skipping work/college to gamble. It doesn't work. Great post.
Cap,
I think the two are only seperated by time. Based on your opinion, I am most definitely a problem gambler but if I continued I would no doubt be promoted to the second stage.
We learn new ways to get money that we just weren't aware of. A year ago I would never have dreamed of taking money out on a credit card. Once I found out that this was possible I stopped stopping when my debit card withdrawal had been maxed for the day. Instead, I would take money out on credit cards. I have no doubt that had I continued this until my credit cards were maxed out I would have went down the road of payday loans. Once my pay day loans would have become unmanageable I would have tried to re-mortgage the house without the wife finding out. In other words, I think it is just a time process.
Tomso.
If these definitions are true and realistic, im 100% a Problem Gambler, and i too recognised and had to face up to my problem luckily before i turned into a compulsive gambler.
I only once used a credit card to fund gambling, whilst at the cheltenham festival a couple of years back ion day 4 after over doing it on the stakes. Once back in the real world i knew i had over done it and never returned but it was far too easy.
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