Gambling addiction (ludomania)

What is gambling addiction?

Gambling addiction, also known as gambling disorder or pathological gambling, is a behavioural addiction recognised by the main diagnostic manuals. The person loses the ability to control how much they gamble and how much they bet, even though this behaviour is causing obvious harm to their finances, their work and their relationships.

Unlike a hobby, gambling stops being a free choice and starts to work like a need. Sports betting, online casinos, slot machines and poker create a very powerful cycle of reinforcement: uncertainty and intermittent wins activate the brain's reward system in a way similar to some drugs.

Symptoms and warning signs

Gambling addiction usually advances silently. Many people hide the problem for months or years, until a debt or a family crisis brings it to light.

Some signs that should not be ignored are the need to bet increasing amounts to feel the same excitement, restlessness or irritability when trying to stop, and failed attempts to quit on one's own. It is also common to gamble in order to escape from problems or from negative moods such as anxiety or guilt.

Another characteristic feature is going back to gamble the next day to win back what was lost, known as chasing losses, which tends to make the debt worse.

Causes of gambling addiction

Gambling addiction does not have a single cause. It is usually the result of a combination of several factors that feed off each other.

• Biological factors: alterations in the reward system and in impulse control.
• Psychological factors: low tolerance to frustration, impulsivity, pre-existing anxiety or depression.
• Social factors: the enormous accessibility of online gambling, constant advertising and pressure from one's environment.
• Distorted thinking: the illusion of control, the belief in having a system to win, or the idea that luck is about to change.

At Reconectar we understand gambling as a learned way of thinking and feeling. That is why treatment focuses on modifying those beliefs and on finding healthier responses to distress.

Consequences of gambling addiction

The consequences of pathological gambling are rarely limited to money. Debt is only the visible part of a problem that affects every area of life.

On the financial side there are loans, unpaid bills and, in the most serious cases, ruin or legal problems. On the emotional side, anxiety, guilt, shame and depressive thoughts are common. Within the family, lies and concealment erode trust and can lead to relationship breakdowns or isolation.

Gambling addiction treatment at Reconectar

Gambling addiction is treatable and can be overcome. At Reconectar we offer an outpatient, individual and personalised approach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with no need for hospitalisation and in complete confidentiality.

We work with cognitive therapy to identify and modify the thoughts that sustain gambling behaviour, and with motivational techniques that reinforce your decision to change. The goal is not only to stop gambling, but for the urge to do so to disappear so that you recover a meaningful life.

Each process is adapted to your situation, your pace and your circumstances. We also provide practical guidance for managing money and for rebuilding trust with your family.

How to help a family member with a gambling problem

Living with someone who has a gambling addiction is very draining. The first step is to stop repeatedly taking on their debts, as this usually prolongs the problem, and to seek professional guidance for the family.

Supporting without judging, setting clear limits and encouraging the person to start treatment are gestures that make a difference. At Reconectar we also guide family members, because their support is a key part of recovery.