The defining characteristic of gambling addiction is the complete immersion in gambling, being unable to quit despite negative consequences. Common symptoms include:

• Engaging obsessively in gambling.
• Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to experience the same excitement.
• Unsuccessfully trying to control, reduce or stop gambling.
• Feeling restless or irritable when unable to gamble.
• Gambling to escape problems or alleviate feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety or depression.
• Attempting to recoup lost money by further gambling.
• Jeopardizing significant relationships or school/work opportunities due to gambling.
• Resorting to theft or fraud to fund gambling.

People with gambling addiction cannot stop themselves from playing or set a loss limit when they lose; they feel compelled to continue playing to try to recover their money. In most cases, individuals end up losing more than intended, blame themselves for the amount of money lost and then try to compensate for the losses by playing more, leading to further financial losses. This destructive cycle results in many negative consequences.

Gambling addiction has a comprehensive impact, not only harming the individual but also affecting their family and society negatively. The effects include:

For the Individual:

• Psychological issues.

• Increased susceptibility to other addictions.
• Becoming selfish and opportunistic in the pursuit of winning.
• Neglecting responsibilities due to gambling obsession.
• Involvement in a complex web of relationships that can lead to physical harm.
• Financial losses.

For the Family:

• Loss of trust within the family.
• Financial losses.
• Emotional losses.
• Negative impact on family relationships due to relationships formed to finance gambling.

For Society:

• Legitimizing ill-gotten gains, making easy money an ideal for new generations.
• Illegal structures gaining power and wealth through these means.
• Erosion of foundational societal concepts like hard work, justice and legality.
• Damage to societal morals.
• Manifestation of self-interest and the desire to win in social relationships.
• Erosion of peace and trust in society.

To address gambling addiction, individuals should:

• Stay away from places where gambling occurs, including online gambling sites.
• Distance themselves from triggers that prompt thoughts of gambling (such as horse racing programs, casino advertisements, lottery tickets, etc.).
• Avoid individuals associated with gambling.
• Refrain from engaging in discussions about gambling.
• Carry only the amount of money needed for daily necessities and avoid using credit cards and ATMs beyond necessity.
• Change lifestyle, replacing negative habits with positive behaviors.
• Seek support, reaching out to a trusted friend or family member for assistance.
• Engage in other activities to redirect focus, such as housework, exercise, reading or spending time with family.

To prevent gambling and potential relapses, consider:

• Setting financial limits and taking on financial responsibility within the family to prevent both gambling and relapses.
• Preparing in advance for requests for money using begging, threats or accusations from the individual with gambling addiction and developing strategies to handle them.
• Encouraging both yourself and the individual with gambling addiction to seek therapy for more effective coping with the problem.

Given the profound impact of this destructive habit on communities and families, treating pathological gambling as a public health issue is crucial. Successful treatment is possible by implementing a treatment model often used for substance addiction. Individuals with gambling addiction should be directed to the addiction treatment departments of hospitals.

To achieve success in a treatment program tailored to the individual, it is essential for the individual to first acknowledge that gambling addiction is a pathological disorder.

The Green Crescent Counseling Center (YEDAM) provides free psychosocial support for individuals with gambling addiction. This service, offered by the Turkish Green Crescent Society, aims to create motivation for quitting, prevent relapses and help individuals cope with the desire to gamble. Expert psychologists provide support for mental health issues that may arise after quitting gambling. In meetings with families, activities are conducted on topics such as money management, family relationships and parenting attitudes and skills. This valuable service seeks to establish an effective support network in preventing gambling addiction, aiming to improve the quality of life for individuals and increase societal awareness in addiction prevention.