digital@russellherder.com, Author at DHS Problem Gambling

What to Expect in Problem Gambling Recovery

Posted on March 31, 2022 - 3:38 pm by [email protected]

A person leads a small group discussion.

For many, problem gambling can feel overwhelming and debilitating. The strong and seemingly uncontrollable urge to gamble even when it poses risk is scary, but not impossible to overcome. Recovery takes time, bravery and commitment, but it’s always worthwhile. No matter how challenging things may seem, you have the chance to get your life back on track. All kinds of support are available to people dealing with gambling addiction, and the decision to pursue recovery is a great place to begin. Learn about problem gambling recovery options and what to expect through the healing process.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution

There are plenty of success stories about different kinds of recovery, and these are a testament to the possibility of positive change. True stories are inspiring and demonstrate that everyone has a unique approach to finding what works for them. A treatment method that worked for one person may not be right for someone else, so it’s important to explore all options to see what feels right for your needs. Here are a few approaches to recovery that can work well.

The expectation of recovery is a straight line, while in reality it's a winding journey.

Confiding in loved ones

Disclosing a gambling problem to a trusted person in your life, like a partner, family member or friend can be a helpful way to start the recovery process. Choosing one or several people to confide in opens the door to a possible support system. For some, this is a great way to be held accountable and have support while seeking treatment.

Choosing to attend a program

In some cases, an inpatient treatment center is the best solution, with a range of support and treatment methods offered. This option also keeps all forms of gambling out of reach by spending time in an intentional, focused space. Community support groups are another popular option for people seeking recovery. These peer-based gatherings are found throughout the country, and often use 12-step methods and consistent discussion for ongoing accountability.

Therapy and medication

Working with a therapist to explore causes, goals, and address ways to overcome challenges can also be an effective way to make progress. The skilled professionals are often able to guide clients through techniques for managing urges and impulses, which perpetuate gambling addiction if left untreated. If you have another condition that affects your gambling behavior, a medical professional may also be able to prescribe appropriate medication. In some situations, this can aid the recovery process by improving problem gambling behaviors.

Setbacks are a common part of the process

Since problem gambling is a type of addiction, quitting the behavior is not necessarily simple, easy or quick. Once the decision to stop has been made, there could still be challenges along the path to recovery. This could mean going to a casino despite efforts to avoid them, or taking part in some type of gambling and losing money.

Making a mistake like this might feel discouraging, but it’s not a reason to lose hope. Setting an intention to regain control of your finances and personal life lays a strong foundation for ongoing improvement, but doesn’t guarantee instant perfection. When setbacks occur, rather than giving up hope, learn from the situation and aim to identify the cause so you can prevent a future setback. And be sure to let one of your close contacts know so they can offer support.

Focus on your motivation

Throughout the challenges on the path to recovery, staying committed to your original reason for pursuing it can be a powerful way to make progress. When tempting thoughts arise, remind yourself that any type of gambling, and any amount of money gambled, will likely cause harm by leading to continued activity. If you know that certain situations contribute to gambling urges, make it a priority to avoid them. If you realize in the moment that something is causing an urge to gamble, remind yourself of your goal and avoid the trigger next time.

Recovery isn’t easy — it will likely take time and continued effort. When preparing for the process, make a plan for how you’ll react to challenges and potential mistakes along the way and continue toward your goal. Remember that everyone’s path is different, but recovery is always possible. With a trusted support network and an eagerness to keep going, problem gambling can become a thing of the past, paving the way for a more stable life.

7 Common Types of Gambling

Posted on March 29, 2022 - 6:48 am by [email protected]

Gambling takes on many forms, and some of them are discreet. Since it often has a gaming, social or entertainment component, it can be easy to develop a habit while overlooking potential risks. Unlike skill-based recreational activities, gambling has a high degree of chance involved and the possibility of financial loss. While controlled gambling doesn’t always lead to serious consequences, it’s important to understand the signs of problems. Learn about seven major types of gambling and potential issues here.

1 – Horse Racing

One of the oldest types of sports, horse racing has been a popular form of entertainment and gambling since prehistoric times. But the excitement of going to the racetrack can be more than just a social outing. It can escalate into a habit or even become problem gambling, especially since you have the option to place a bet with a very small amount of money. This makes it an affordable way to gamble on a regular basis.

2 – Lottery Tickets

Buying a lottery ticket is as easy as buying a pack of gum, and this accessibility can be difficult to resist. The thrill of possibly winning money with an instant scratch-off or entering a drawing with a big payout can turn into a purchasing habit and drain money overtime. Since the odds of winning are remarkably slim, even buying a single ticket will typically result in lost money.

Casinos

These spaces are designed for gambling, with a wide range of games including slot machines, roulette and pool. Since many casino games are fun and interactive, with colorful lights and music playing, they’re popular social destinations. Their allure can lead to compulsive problem gambling and other linked issues like anxiety, depression and migraines.

4 – Poker

Poker is a card game played among a group, where the player with the best hand wins a sum of money. It involves mostly luck and some strategy that can be learned, but taking part poses a high likelihood of losing money. People who participate in this type of gambling have a particularly high risk for developing harmful gambling-related tendencies.

Sports Betting

Sports betting is a growing trend, with an increasing number of states choosing to legalize it. While it has a wide range of participation, young men make up the largest portion of the betting population. The rates of problem gambling associated with sports betting are nearly twice as high as those with general gambling.

6 – Bingo

Played in a group setting, bingo is a game completely up to chance. Each player has a card with a grid of numbers on it, and the goal is to win by being the first to complete a row as numbers are called at random. While playing bingo typically has fewer risks than other forms of gambling, it can become detrimental to family dynamics and finances.

7 – Card Games

Aside from poker, there are several other card games played in casinos or among recreational social groups, including blackjack, rummy and Texas hold ‘em. Because of the social nature of card games, this type of gambling can quickly turn into a pattern, creating the possibility of financial losses that add up over time.

Understanding these facts and risks can help you make informed decisions and monitor your approach to gambling. If you need support, confidential help is available.

Understanding the Brain’s Reward System

Posted on March 28, 2022 - 11:05 am by [email protected]

An illustration representing synapses in the brain

The urge people struggling with compulsive gambling feel to keep betting even after countless losses can be attributed to the brain. When this impulse occurs, it surpasses standard thought processes and logic. Instead, the brain’s reward system takes over. The desire to win money makes it extremely difficult to stop gambling, sometimes to the point of going into debt, lying about behavior and asking others for money. Understand how the cycle starts — and how it can stop — here.

How the brain’s reward system operates

Our brains are wired in ways that keep humans functioning and motivated, with a reward system designed to support this using dopamine. In a typical brain, separate pathways for liking and wanting things are activated when something is enjoyed or desired, respectively. With gambling addiction, the wanting pathway is amplified with a strong craving for dopamine, while the liking pathway becomes diminished. A reward that once created a positive feeling is no longer satisfying, whereas the urge to win becomes stronger, sometimes at any cost.

Even if someone struggling with compulsive gambling doesn’t want to keep gambling or knows it may cause more financial harm, these urges created by the brain are similar to those involved with alcohol and drug addiction, and can take over. This is very hard to overcome, making the pattern extremely difficult to break without support.

Causes of neurological disruption

Gambling addiction can be caused by several things, including genetic, biological and environmental elements. For those who have a parent living with problem gambling, there’s a higher risk of developing the disorder. While it can become a compulsive behavior for anyone, younger people are especially susceptible, and it’s also more common among men than women. Several mental health conditions can be linked to problem gambling, along with certain personality traits like impulsivity and workaholism.

Because multiple factors can cause disruption in the brain and amplify compulsive behavior, it’s important to be cautious when gambling. If you have an existing trait that could put you at risk for problem gambling, the best way to prevent an addiction may be avoiding gambling altogether, if possible. Even if you’re unaware of any factors that increase the likelihood, keep in mind that problem gambling can happen to anyone and pay close attention to your own behavior.

Dopamine is not released when expecting a loss. Dopamine floods the brain when expecting a win. — Source: nrmscience.org

Why addiction escalates

Continuing to play past a predetermined money limit is just one sign of problem gambling. Other harmful behaviors can coincide. Some people are overcome with their need to gamble and skip responsibilities like school, work and relationships. They may even start gambling with greater amounts of money and become focused on their next opportunity to play. In dire circumstances, people can end up bankrupt.

When the brain gets used to recurring dopamine and reward system activation in the brain, it starts to need more stimulus to get the same level of satisfaction. With gambling disorder, this can mean gambling more frequently and with more money. The anticipation of winning causes dopamine to be released. Eventually, even losing money will also cause the same dopamine response in the brain as winning, perpetuating the gambling pattern.

Breaking the cycle

Breaking the problem gambling cycle can be a challenge, since the brain is accustomed to the compulsive activation of its reward system. Among people who experience problem gambling, the part of the brain that’s able to stop rash decisions isn’t always as strong as it is for others.

Problem gambling recovery is challenging but possible, especially with access to a support system. To successfully put a stop to gambling, it’s important to avoid all types. Setting an intention to get better and following through by seeking outside help are great ways to get started. There are many options when it comes to recovery, and finding the right one can help you adjust behavioral patterns and pathways in the brain. With proper guidance, available to Minnesotans for free, people dealing with problem gambling can make a full recovery and lead heathy, financially stable lives.

3 Things to Know About Sports Betting

Posted on January 24, 2022 - 5:19 pm by [email protected]

A man bets on a live sports game from his phone

There’s nothing quite like gathering with friends on Super Bowl Sunday, or being part of the rivalry between your favorite team and its longstanding opponent. Watching sports is a way unwind, take pride in your roots and socialize, bringing together friends and strangers alike. While many choose to watch games for the fun of it, sports betting raises the stakes by risking money in hopes of a certain outcome. For some, this is a harmless social activity done only on occasion. But it can also lead to a gambling addiction, especially since it can now be done on smartphone apps rather than confined to a casino. Here’s what you need to know about the growing sports betting trend.

1. Types of Sports Betting

Sports betting varies depending on the game being played. Typically, the person placing a bet predicts how a certain game will end, depositing money that will either be lost or increased based on the outcome.

In a moneyline bet, each participant predicts a game winner – this is the most common form of sports betting. A spread bet is slightly different: participants predict how close the final score will be and choose an expected point difference. Similarly, in total bets each person guesses whether the combined teams’ final score will be higher or lower than a certain set amount. A parlay bet combines several of these elements.

Each sports bet can have different rules and nuances, so it’s important to be fully informed and comfortable with the rules before getting involved.

2. Why it’s Rising in Popularity

In May of 2018, the federal government overturned a national sports gambling ban – Nevada had previously been the only state where it was legal. Since then, each state’s government has had the power to decide on the issue. So far, more than thirty states have chosen to legalize it with several more in the process.

Along with these changes, sports gambling has become easy to access online and through smartphone apps. This convenience factor means people can make a bet at any time, just as easily as they can send a text, listen to a song or order a ride. The variety of apps and types of sports betting available attract people with interests ranging from ice hockey to boxing, as well as people who simply bet for the satisfaction of winning.

Sports fans who haven’t gambled in the past are also now being targeted with ads for betting sites and apps. Enticing offers like sign-up bonuses and rewards appeal to both regular gamblers and those who don’t typically gamble.

With growing social interest, easy accessibility and prevalent marketing, sports betting is now a normalized part of American culture. According to the American Gambling Association, more than 23 million Americans planned to place a bet on the 2021 Super Bowl. To put this in perspective, that’s nearly three times the population of New York City. The financial amount totaled $4.3 billion, with nearly a third of bets placed digitally through online sportsbooks.

3. Risks to Be Aware Of

Like any other form of gambling, sports betting can be enjoyable when done in moderation. In a controlled approach, betters gamble only a pre-determined amount of money that they can afford to lose, recognizing that this is likely. But maintaining control isn’t always easy or possible, and sometimes unsuspecting people develop problematic sports gambling habits.

Borrowing from others while gambling or in order to gamble, spending excessive time betting and dipping into personal funds reserved for something else are just a few dangerous tendencies that can quickly derail your finances. If you lose money while sports betting, it can be tempting to try to win back the lost money by gambling more. To avoid losing more money and the complications that go with that, always stop betting once you’ve spent the amount you budgeted for.

If you notice changes to the way or reasons you participate in sports gambling, or find yourself lying about how often you’re doing it and how much you’re spending, seeking help can get you back on track. Using sports betting to relieve stressful emotions or noticing it affecting your relationships, job or goals are also signs that call for support.

If you currently participate in sports betting in a controlled way, continue to monitor your spending closely and be aware that gambling addictions can develop over time. It may be a good idea to choose a trusted accountability partner who you can touch base with about your betting habits periodically. If you’re concerned or struggling with sports gambling, you’re not alone. Don’t hesitate to get free confidential help, and know that recovery is possible.

Online Gambling: Is it Legal?

Posted on January 24, 2022 - 5:10 pm by [email protected]

Abstract representation of online gambling

Once reserved for poker rooms and casinos, gambling can now be done online in some states. This has transformed the gambling landscape, adding a new level of convenience with poker, sports betting and casino games at your fingertips anytime. But this is still illegal in many parts of the U.S., including Minnesota, and participation introduces the possibility of developing a gambling disorder. Understand the laws and risks here.

History and Appeal

Online gambling is slowly becoming legal in some states today, but the concept was introduced back in the mid ’90s when poker, casino and sports betting sites began to emerge. Eventually, certain laws were put in place limiting these activities. Today, every state in the U.S. has the authority to decide whether or not to legalize different types of gambling, meaning it’s important to understand the nuances where you live, especially since laws can change over time.

In states that allow online gambling, website perks like having a wide variety of games to choose from and low-minimum bets can attract participation. The ease of playing games and making bets from a desktop or mobile phone also facilitates frequent gambling, whereas going to a casino requires a designated amount of time and potentially costs more money.

When is Online Gambling Legal?

Although online gambling is legal in certain states, Minnesota does not currently allow it. Websites that let you place bets and earn or lose money through games fall under this category, and unauthorized gambling, including on online platforms, is considered a misdemeanor offense.

States that facilitate legal online gambling like Connecticut, Michigan and New Jersey typically permit online casino games, poker or sports betting. If you’re in a state that does allow online gambling and you choose to participate, the first and most important step is to make sure you’re using a legal platform. Stick with well-known sites and always check for licensing. Otherwise, you may be subject to a scam and risk sharing personal or financial information with an unknown entity.

Cautions to Be Aware Of

No one wants or expects to develop a gambling problem. But recreational gambling is popular, and the reality is that problem gambling is also common. In Minnesota alone, around 220,000 people deal with this disorder — that’s nearly two percent of the state population.

Compulsive gambling can be particularly easy to hide with online platforms. For people with a gambling disorder, the short-lived satisfaction of making bets often leads to bigger challenges. This can create financial strain and affects quality of life with relationship, career and educational challenges. If you’re dealing with a gambling disorder, you don’t have to do it alone. Get back on track with free confidential help, available to all Minnesota residents.

Trending Now: Cryptocurrency and NFTs

Posted on January 24, 2022 - 4:20 pm by [email protected]

An abstract tech background representing blockchain

A modern and popular alternative to the stock market, cryptocurrency and NFTs are emerging currencies that can also be used to grow money over time. Both types use blockchain technology as the pillar of their systems, which traces every exchange to prevent hacking. Unique benefits like this draw in eager investors and lead some to believe these currencies will become mainstream in the future. But whether trading cryptocurrencies and NFTs for fun or investing large chunks of money, the risks of financial loss can be parallel to gambling. Understand how cryptocurrency and NFTs work and what to be cautious of here.

The Rise of Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency, often simply called crypto, was introduced in 2009. Bitcoin was the first type available and was widely viewed as a radical concept. Cryptocurrency has since taken off with more than 8,000 types, or coins, and hopeful investors consider it an alternative to standard money.

Rather than being sourced from one entity or authority, cryptocurrencies are supported by computers all over the world through a distributed ledger, which saves transaction information and displays changes for everyone in the system to see. Cryptocurrency also facilitates quick, low-cost money transfers — a benefit over regular money, with fund transfers that can sometimes take several business days.

But there are downsides as well, which make investing in cryptocurrency riskier than traditional investing. Since coin prices often change drastically in short periods of time, the cryptocurrency market is unpredictable. If you make a large profit one day, your balance could drop to near-zero the next. While you can speculate on how to trade, it’s impossible to know how a coin’s value might change in the future.

What are NFTs?

Short for non-fungible token, NFTs are another new form of digital currency and can be purchased using cryptocurrency. These are original assets that are non-fungible, or non-exchangeable, meaning they’re one of a kind. While NFTs are digital in structure, they’re still considered original creative work — having one is similar to having a certificate of ownership for a collectable object. The asset can be shared and reproduced, but the owner of the NFT has a token with a code identifying it as the original, securely stored in the blockchain system.

The first NFT was created in 2014, and like cryptocurrencies, NFTs have since gained traction with nearly $11 billion traded during a single quarter in 2021. This concept has potential to extend into different types of digital spaces, but skeptics know NFTs could also become obsolete.

Gambling Versus Investing

With cryptocurrencies and NFTs, it can be hard to see the line between calculated investments and short-lived fun with harmful effects. Discussing which cryptocurrencies have potential and selecting trades with friends can feel like a strategic form of investing, sometimes clouding the reality of financial risk. For some, trading these currencies can turn into a problem.

People who regularly trade cryptocurrency and do sports betting have a high likelihood of gambling and disordered gambling, so it’s important to pay close attention to how you invest and why. If you find yourself investing large amounts of money due to friends’ advice or sudden market changes, it might cause fluctuations between short-term success and major financial loss. This approach is risky and much like gambling since you ultimately have no control over the outcome. Making spontaneous decisions, investing lots of money in a single coin and spending excessive time doing so are all concerning signs to look out for.

On the other hand, smart investing involves a careful recognition of risk and a long-term approach, using money that’s been set aside for this purpose. To keep your cryptocurrency and NFT investments under control, budget a small amount that you know might disappear completely. If you have extra money to spend on entertainment or something personal, cryptocurrency and NFT spending should fall into this category. These markets are new and though they’re gaining traction now, they aren’t guaranteed to stick around long-term.

Gambling is complicated, and sometimes it can throw people off balance. If you feel like your cryptocurrency or NFT investing habits are financially problematic or affecting your wellbeing, help is readily available

Minnesota's Problem Gambling Resource

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