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- Written by Abigail M
What causes problem gambling?
Have you been struggling with a gambling problem? You are not alone as anyone can develop this problem, regardless of their age, ethnicity, gender and background. Keep reading if you need answers to what causes problem gambling.
Like many other problems, if you are gambling compulsively this can be caused by a combination of environmental, biological and genetic factors. Many people with this problem fall in two broad groups: the ones who zone out when gambling and the ones who gamble for some challenge and excitement.
It is hard to pinpoint exactly what causes problem gambling, because everyone has a different story. Some people start to make more money, to use it as distraction from other physical or emotional issues and because they crave the thrills of winning cash or other prizes.
Some of the other reasons why you might develop a gambling problem would be when you are playing to forget troubles, for entertainment, to become sociable, to avoid talking to others, to get away from problems, just to do something or as a habit. When it starts because of a habit, you will continue until you take the necessary steps to stop or break it.
The early phases of gambling can lead to some serious problems because the addiction will take over other areas of life including domestic, workplace and financial behaviors.
Some people with gambling problems can go back to a controlled level, but most people choose to abstain or quit once and for all. There are no set rules to help you determine whether or not you should stop or reduce your gambling activities. If you discover that are losing more funds than you can afford, suffering mentally, socially and physically and you are accumulating lots of debts, then it might best to give it up totally.
At the end of the day, people will gamble for many different reasons and those reasons will change sometimes. You might be gambling regularly to win money, to bond with friends or family or to be sociable at the office. In any case, understanding what causes problem gambling will help you to change your behavior.