What to Do If Your Loved One is Addicted to Online Gambling

It is easy for matters to get out of hand quite quickly when competitive individuals engage in online gambling. There are times when a punter can’t control the betting habits, creating serious cause for concern. The effects of addiction to online gambling wreak havoc. While some sites like Gclub do employ ethical practices to prevent such things from happening, the allure of gambling is indeed one that is hard to shake off.

Here, we look at two primary effects of online gambling and what to do if a loved one has become addicted to the practice.

Deterioration of Mental Health

Online gambling is all about the adrenaline. It can be an exhilarating experience, but it also comes with high anxiety levels while waiting for the outcome of the bet.

Slipping into betting addiction can quickly lead to anxiety disorders, triggered by a series of heavy losses that might be incurred from losses. If not adequately addressed, the anxiety can also morph into depression.

Sadly, some sports bettors resort to suicide when they find themselves mired in addiction and depression.

Getting Into Debt

The most significant contributor to mental health issues, while online gambling is sinking into debt. Betting is a vicious cycle. The stakes tend to get higher and higher as punters try to recoup losses from previously failed bets.

These actions can lead to poor financial management, and in the worst-case scenario, crippling debt.

What to do if Your Loved One is a Online gambling Addict

How can you help a loved one who’s addicted to online gambling?  There are several key actions you can take to bring them onto the path to recovery.

1. Encourage Them to Stop For A Time

Self-exclusion is one of the most effective ways to curb addiction to online gambling. It keeps them away from betting shops and online platforms. It is advisable to block access to these betting sites by using services like GAMSTOP, for example.

If your loved one frequents online gambling shops, convince them to visit self-exclusion.co.uk, which offers advice and support on self-exclusion from these facilities.

2. Limit Access to Money

A more practical measure is to limit their access to money, which cuts the fuel that enables them to engage in excessive online gambling. If you successfully manage to stop them from accessing funds, they won’t be able to continue their habits. The action might be the tonic to start reversing your loved one’s addiction to this ailment.

3. Seek Professional Help

If the addiction persists and your loved one bypasses the measures indicated above, seek professional help.

In the UK, Gamcare is a national institution that deals with gambling addicts and provides free resources, advice, and support. As the loved one of an addict, you can contact them. They’ll guide you on how you can help your loved one and offer support.

Gamcare offers phone, online, and one-on-one treatment for addicts—all treatment is free. Contact them by calling their toll-free line on 0808 8020 133, visiting their website, or reaching out to them on Twitter and Facebook.

If Gamcare is not suitable, you can opt to book your loved one into various private mental institutions in the UK that offer effective treatment to betting addicts.