Driven by a growing need to gamble, people affected by this addiction often end up losing large amounts of money, but also their relationships with their family and even their jobs,
Gambling addiction, also called pathological gambling or gambling disorder, was included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in 2013. Furthermore, it is included among the Disorders related to substances and addictions. Those affected have a constant need to gamble and often invest large sums of money, in some cases leading to debt and failure to fulfill social obligations, to the point of losing contact with family members or getting fired. Driven by an ever-increasing desire to gamble, problem gamblers may go so far as to break the law to obtain ever-increasing amounts of money.

The most common symptoms in those with gambling problems are:

 

Irritability or restlessness when trying to stop or play less

Criminal tendencies in order to get money

Making large stakes of money to recover previous losses

Lying about the amount of money you spend gambling

Losing a relationship, job, or other opportunity

Constantly ask to borrow money

Set large amounts of money to feel the excitement of gambling

There are several causes that influence gambling addiction:

Mood disorders such as anxiety or depression
Personality problems, such as borderline personality disorder (BLP)
Consumption of narcotic substances
Personality traits such as: competitiveness, tendencies towards boredom or constant search for strong sensations
Stressful situations
Increased advertising of online gaming and betting

The first step in treating an addiction is always to recognize the addiction. Once recognized it can be treated with various therapies:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Self-help and support groups
Some drugs such as antidepressants or opioid antagonists, although it is not yet clear how they act on each patient