Casino gambling, sports betting, lottery and bingo playing is enjoyed by many whilst for others it as an addictive and distractive habit. The uncontrollable urge to gamble despite the destructive effect it has on your life is defined as pathological gambling.

Answer these questions:- 1) Do you gamble until your last penny runs out? 2) Do you gamble to win back your former losses or debts? 3) Did you ever have to borrow money to continue to gamble? 4) Did your gambling habit ever make you lie to your friends or family? 5) Did you ever skip work or other obligation to gamble? 6) Do you tend to gamble to forget about your personal problems or to celebrate happy occasions? 7) Does gambling have a negative effect on your daily life or relationships?

A ‘yes’ to at least one of the questions means you have a problem.

Slot machines are the most addictive type of gambling activity, while lottery draws and bingo games are the least. Gambling addiction is an emotional problem; its symptoms, causes and treatments are similar to any other form of addiction.

Gamblers Anonymous offers a 12 step self help programme. Group therapy also offers addicts advice and support from professional counsellors.

Cognitive or behaviour therapy can help gambling addicts to identify their unaware thinking and acting patterns, which led them to gamble compulsively, and to replace them with controllable and healthier ways of thinking.

Antidepressant medications from the family of SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be affective in treatment of gambling addicts.