Gambling is everywhere in our culture. It is an attractive, exciting and entertaining pastime, providing great opportunities for a bit of fun and social interaction. Problems arise when entertainment runs over into obsession; when escapism becomes ultimately destructive.

Gamblers will often tell you that they enjoy the problem solving element of the game. They like to weigh up their chances, work out the odds, and decide on the most probably winning outcome. On a winning streak this is fine, you’ve beaten the odds, you’re smart and in control – a winner! Gamblers love the excitement of the challenge and the feeling they get when things go their way. However on a loosing streak their rationalisation is a little less conclusive. After suffering significant losses they will tell you that their luck had run out; that they were unable to concentrate due to others, or that they ran out of funds before they had a chance to regain their stake. This pattern of behaviour is typical of the problem gambler. An otherwise intelligent person will explain away their gambling using clichés and excuses. They refuse to face up to the truth and will lie to everyone, including themselves, in order to justify and continue the habit. Their thoughts and estimations about life and future plans are often similarly unrealistic. It can be said that blind optimism and a tenuous grip on reality are possible outcomes of the gambling addiction. The gambler needs to believe in certain false truths in order to concentrate on the matter in hand (continuing gambling), instead of worrying about the very real issues affecting their future.

Another strategy the gambler uses for self justification is encouraging certain other people to gamble. This will only happen during the early stages of the addiction or during the period where others are completely unaware of the gambler’s problem (i.e. if the gambler moves to a new town, a new job, or becomes involved with a new social group). It should be noted that this is nothing more than a further evasion strategy. The gambler will be selective about his or her companions and often stay longer at the gambling location than them. They will generally move on to a more serious gambling environment later, and only really communicate with other gamblers who are at a similar level. This part of their life becomes disconnected from home and family responsibilities. The problem gambler is invariably reluctant to gamble in the company of family and close friends (anyone who may remember or comment on their actions), and as the addiction progresses they prefer to be alone or in the company of other heavy gamblers.

As the habit develops into a problem more funds are needed to feed the addiction, regardless of the economic position or social status of the gambler. The more money you have the more you have to loose. Gamblers from more economically viable backgrounds will invariably gamble with higher stakes from the beginning. This is not the issue; gambling becomes a problem when its frequency and results begin to affect the day to day life and actions of the person concerned. Monetary figures are variable - the social, emotional and physical damage is not.