Sandhya Raghavan
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Ever bought a lottery ticket with the hopes of overturning your fortune? Have you bet on your favourite cricket team for a few hundred? As much as we would like to deny it, almost all of us have indulged in some form of gambling in our lives. I knew someone who would yell "bet?" every time someone challenged his knowledge. There is a strange fascination we have with gambling, about risking something we value in the hopes of landing something bigger and better than what we have bet.
Not too long ago, a young Indo-American named Sandeep Kaur was in the news for her penchant for gambling and plundering. Dubbed as the 'Bombshell Bandit' due to her bomb threats and glamourous disguises, Sandeep started out as a nurse in California. Before she knew it, she was hooked on gambling and betting. But lady luck didn't favour her for too long as she started losing one game after another. To fuel her addiction and to recover the money she had lost, she took to robbing banks. She's now cooling her heels in prison. The new Kangna Ranaut starrer Simran, directed by Hansal Mehta, is based on Sandeep's unusual life and exploits. This makes one wonder, why would a girl in the prime of her life, who has everything going for her, get sucked into this maze of gambling. Was the allure of winning a quick buck so irresistible that she took to a life of crime?
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What is gambling?
Gambling is the practice of risking something you value in order to gain something that is more valuable. Traditional gambling activities include lotteries, horse racing, betting and card games. It is a widespread activity and at least 86 percent of the adult population endorse some form of gambling activity and 52 percent of adults participate in lottery.1 While it does seem like a lot of people are addicted to gambling, only a small group of gamblers need clinical attention.
Why do people gamble?
It turns out that there is little room for logic when it comes to gambling. Psychiatrist Dr Arun John from the Vandrevala foundation says, "It is the thrill of risk that draws people to gambling." Dismissing the myth of "beginners luck", Dr John says that gambling dens bait first-time gamblers into raising the stakes by letting them win for the first few times.
"When you win four-five times, you feel confident about raising the stakes. Soon the losing streak begins, and the person starts betting more to recover the amount he or she has bid," says Dr John. "When it comes to the lottery, even small wins can build confidence. Even prize money as less as Rs. 5 makes you hopeful of bigger wins in the future. So they keep buying tickets, hoping for a big win."
Who is at risk?
Gambling addiction doesn't spare any gender. But, according to Dr John, it is commonly seen among people who belong to the 18-35 age groups. "It is the age when money becomes important and peer demand is increasing. Gender has nothing to do with it," he says.
When would you need help?
Pathological gambling or problem gambling is an irresistible urge to gamble despite the obvious risk of negative consequences to life. "When your habits start draining you of your money and jeopardising your relationships, it means you need immediate help," says Dr John. People who exhibit five or more of following qualities would need professional help for gambling addiction or pathological gambling.2
Preoccupation with gambling
Need to gamble with large amount of money or expensive valuables to maintain the thrill of the game
Repeated efforts to stop the habit are met with failure
Feels restless or irritable while trying to resist gambling
Gambling becomes a form of escapism
Gambling to forget feelings of helplessness, anxiety, guilt or depression
Chasing one's loss or repeated gambling to recover lost money
Lying to near and dear ones and the psychologist about money
Indulging in criminal behaviour like forgery, fraud or embezzlement to fuel the habit
Jeopardising job or relationships for gambling
Borrowing money from others to fuel the habit
How does gambling affect your health?
Pathological gambling drains you of your money, but it also affects your physical well-being. Dr John says, "Almost all lifestyle disorders are seen in people who gamble incessantly: hypertension, diabetes, cardiac problems, etc."
Gambling is a high-stress activity, and psychological stress has a direct bearing on your cardiovascular health, immune system, and your gut health. Research says that almost every system in the human body can get affected by chronic stress, especially if it goes unreleased. Gambling-related stress can put your body on a perpetual fight-or-flight mode, suspending the immune functions and leaving you susceptible to infections. It can also worsen pre-existing illnesses in people.3
"Since they are perpetually worried, gastric problems are commonly seen in gamblers," adds the doctor. Gastrointestinal diseases like peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis flare up when someone is under stress. Additionally, gamblers also develop vision problems from squinting too hard in the dark says, Dr John.
Dr John says that when gambling addiction takes over the person's life, there is a marked change in his behaviour. "Constant preoccupation with winning causes the person to become more anxious. He oscillates between the euphoria of winning and the depression and anxiety of losing," he adds. "The addicts become increasingly scheming, either to hide the habit from family members or to hide the money from the income tax department."
More worryingly, teenagers who do not receive treatment for their gambling habit do consider suicide, mainly because of monetary problems or threats from bookies and loan sharks.4
(Read: 6 health problems caused by gambling)
How is gambling addiction treated?
Like all addictions, the person has to check himself into a de-addiction centre. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is usually the norm for de-addiction. Every gambler is unique and so is his problem. "We also have to do a thorough investigation into the person's gambling habit. What led to it? The ABC (Action, Belief, Consequence) Model of therapy is what we commonly use. Group therapy and sessions with the addict's' family also help," says Dr John.
CBT focuses on changing unhealthy gambling behaviour and thoughts. It reaches out to addicts and urges them to fight urges and face distressing emotions that drive them to gamble in the first place. For example, if the person gambles for excitement or an adrenaline rush, through CBT the person is persuaded to take up a healthy habit like rock climbing or sports for that will give them the same thrill. Step-by-step, it rewires the addict to think about gambling in a new way.
Gamblers anonymous, patterned after the Alcoholics Anonymous programme, is a 12-step recovery programme fashioned for the gambling addicts. Sponsors usually recovered former addicts themselves guide the others with experience and support.
References:
1.Gerstein, D., Hoffmann, J., Larison, C., Engelman, L., Murphy, S., Palmer, A., ... & Hill, M. A. (1999). Gambling impact and behavior study. Report to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, Chicago.
2.Potenza, M. N., Fiellin, D. A., Heninger, G. R., Rounsaville, B. J., & Mazure, C. M. (2002). Gambling. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 17(9), 721-732.
3. Salleh, M. R. (2008). Life event, stress and illness. The Malaysian journal of medical sciences: MJMS, 15(4), 9.
4.Jazaeri, S. A., & Habil, M. H. B. (2012). Reviewing Two Types of Addiction Pathological Gambling and Substance Use. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 34(1), 5 11. https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7176.96147
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