Online Gambling Mental Health

Chris Lees, Research Officer, Money and Mental Health

Today we’ve launched our new paper, A Safer Bet? which is the first in a series exploring a range of harms people with a mental health problem can face when going online. This report looks at the levels of harm people with mental health problems can experience when gambling online. We found that mental health problems can impact the reasons we gamble, whether we stay in control and our ability to cut down. We also found that elements of the online gambling environment can make these problems worse — and leave people with mental health problems at risk of harm.

When the ‘fun’ stops

For many, online gambling can be an enjoyable activity but for some of us, there is a significant risk of harm. Struggling to stay in control of online gambling can have a devastating impact on our finances, our mental health and our relationships.

Find more information on the relationship between mental health and compulsive gambling in the story below. Compulsive gambling, also called gambling disorder, is the uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite the toll it takes on your life. Online gambling helps in keeping the brain young. Online gambling is one activity that works very well in keeping the brain young even in the later years of life. Many people well into their 80s enjoy poker on a daily basis with their friends and families.

When we surveyed our Research Community, we found a quarter (24%) of respondents had experienced financial problems as a result of gambling online. People with a mental health problem are already more likely to be in a financially precarious situation and struggling to stay in control of online gambling can lead to people draining their savings and falling into debt problems.

“The addiction to load money then use it to bet, is like a hit of cocaine. Wasted hundreds of pounds and missed payments,” – Expert by experience

We also found that over a third (36%) of Research Community respondents have become stressed or anxious because of gambling online. Gambling problems are highly stigmatised and struggling to stay in control of online gambling can plunge people into depression and drive feelings of hopelessness, sometimes with fatal consequences.

“Gambling online makes my stress levels and anxiety worse. Even when I win it doesn’t really make me happy but I can’t stop the urge to play” – Expert by experience

Stacking the deck

Sometimes the symptoms of mental health problems can lead us to gamble online for the wrong reasons. We heard from some Research Community members who felt that online gambling could offer an escape during difficult periods of mental health, which means that people are gambling while they are particularly vulnerable to harm.

Adverts can play a key role in pulling people into online gambling. Many people with a mental health problem feel overwhelmed by advertising – more than eight in ten (85%) Research Community respondents felt it was impossible to avoid seeing online gambling adverts. It can be difficult to resist gambling adverts during periods of poor mental health and online gambling is always available, making it possible to gamble even when you can’t get out of bed.

“I find it really hard to resist the pop up adverts for gambling online. It’s really tempting to click and have a go.” – Expert by experience

Mental health problems can also make it difficult to stay in control of online gambling. Common symptoms like increased impulsivity can form a toxic relationship with aspects of the online gambling environment. The speed and ease of depositing online means that people can bet large sums during periods of ill health.

Four in ten (40%) online gamblers who have experienced mental health problems say it doesn’t feel like they’re spending real money when they gamble online. This feeling can contribute to riskier playing behaviour which in turn can cause lasting financial damage.

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“It’s too easy to lose your money, because you’re only pressing [a] button, you don’t actually have the cash in your hand.” – Expert by experience

A safer bet

As part of this report, we worked with our Research Community to develop solutions that could make online gambling a safer environment for those of us with a mental health problem.

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to people spending more time online and is set to have long term impacts on people’s finances and mental health. We are therefore calling on gambling firms to suspend advertising and marketing for as long as social distancing measures are in place.

We also want to see gambling regulation improved to ensure player safety across online gambling markets through safe limits for all customers, and to place more responsibility on firms to identify signs of vulnerability and intervene early.

Finally, the report sets out crucial steps that online advertising providers, internet service providers and financial service providers can take to reduce online gambling harm.

To find out more about our recommendations, read our A Safer Bet report here.

Gambling & Mental Health

May is National Mental Health Month. The causes and complications of compulsive gambling.

We all have a role to play in preventing problem gambling in the state of Ohio. During National Mental Health Month, we’re asking all of you to help raise awareness about the relationship between mental health disorders and compulsive gambling. By doing so, we can prevent problem gambling before it starts, promote responsible behaviors and provide treatment to those who need it most.

Find more information on the relationship between mental health and compulsive gambling in the story below.

Overview

Compulsive gambling, also called gambling disorder, is the uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite the toll it takes on your life. Gambling means that you’re willing to risk something you value in the hope of getting something of even greater value.

Gambling can stimulate the brain’s reward system much like drugs or alcohol can, leading to addiction. If you have a problem with compulsive gambling, you may continually chase bets that lead to losses, hide your behavior, deplete savings, accumulate debt, or even resort to theft or fraud to support your addiction.

Compulsive gambling is a serious condition that can destroy lives. Although treating compulsive gambling can be challenging, many people who struggle with compulsive gambling have found help through professional treatment.

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Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of compulsive gambling (gambling disorder) include:

• Being preoccupied with gambling, such as constantly planning how to get more gambling money
• Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to get the same thrill
• Trying to control, cut back or stop gambling, without success
• Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut down on gambling
• Gambling to escape problems or relieve feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety or depression
• Trying to get back lost money by gambling more (chasing losses)
• Lying to family members or others to hide the extent of your gambling
• Jeopardizing or losing important relationships, a job, or school or work opportunities because of gambling
• Resorting to theft or fraud to get gambling money
• Asking others to bail you out of financial trouble because you gambled money away

Unlike most casual gamblers who stop when losing or set a loss limit, people with a compulsive gambling problem are compelled to keep playing to recover their money — a pattern that becomes increasingly destructive over time.

Some people with a compulsive gambling problem may have remission where they gamble less or not at all for a period of time. However, without treatment, the remission usually isn’t permanent.

When to see a doctor or mental health professional

Have family members, friends or co-workers expressed concern about your gambling? If so, listen to their worries. Because denial is almost always a feature of compulsive or addictive behavior, it may be difficult for you to realize that you have a problem.

If you recognize your own behavior from the list of signs and symptoms for compulsive gambling, seek professional help.

Causes

Exactly what causes someone to gamble compulsively isn’t well-understood. Like many problems, compulsive gambling may result from a combination of biological, genetic and environmental factors.

Risk factors

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Although most people who play cards or wager never develop a gambling problem, certain factors are more often associated with compulsive gambling:

• Mental health disorders. People who gamble compulsively often have substance abuse problems, personality disorders, depression or anxiety. Compulsive gambling may also be associated with bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Age. Compulsive gambling is more common in younger and middle-aged people. Gambling during childhood or the teenage years increases the risk of developing compulsive gambling. However, compulsive gambling in the older adult population can also be a problem.
• Sex. Compulsive gambling is more common in men than women. Women who gamble typically start later in life and may become addicted more quickly. But gambling patterns among men and women have become increasingly similar.
• Family or friend influence. If your family members or friends have a gambling problem, the chances are greater that you will, too.
• Medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome.Drugs called dopamine agonists have a rare side effect that may result in compulsive behaviors, including gambling, in some people.
• Certain personality characteristics. Being highly competitive, a workaholic, impulsive, restless or easily bored may increase your risk of compulsive gambling.

Complications

Compulsive gambling can have profound and long-lasting consequences for your life, such as:

• Relationship problems
• Financial problems, including bankruptcy
• Legal problems or imprisonment
• Poor work performance or job loss
• Poor general health
• Suicide, suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts

Prevention

Although there’s no proven way to prevent a gambling problem, educational programs that target individuals and groups at increased risk may be helpful.

If you have risk factors for compulsive gambling, consider avoiding gambling in any form, people who gamble and places where gambling occurs. Get treatment at the earliest sign of a problem to help prevent gambling from becoming worse.

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Remember that there is no cost for Problem Gambling treatment at Ohio’s publicly funded alcohol, drug and mental health agencies. See the service directory here: www.gamblinghelpohio.org.

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