Health and Wellness - Gambling

Gambling can be addictive and cause harm. 

Gambling is often enjoyable entertainment. But for about 15 percent of adult Iowans, gambling has negative consequences. Without support, these habits could result in a gambling disorder. 

The criteria for a gambling disorder are¹:

• Being preoccupied with gambling. 
• A need to gamble with larger amounts of money to achieve the same thing. 
• Repeated efforts to control, cut back or stop gambling. 
• Restlessness or irritability when trying to cut down or stop gambling. 
• Use gambling as a way to escape from problems or unwanted feelings. 
• Returning to gamble even after losses to "get even."
• Lying to family members, therapist or others about the extent of their gambling. 
• Risking or losing important relationships, jobs, educational or career opportunities because of gambling. 
• Relying on others to provide money to relieve financial situations caused by gambling. 

 Gambling can increase stress-related conditions.

Gambling can cause mental, emotional and physical stress. For some, this may lead to hypertension, loss of sleep or even heart disease. For others, it may lead to depression, anxiety or substance use disorder². Gambling also affects how the brain uses dopamine and serotonin. These hormones affect feelings of happiness². 

 Gambling can increase risk of substance use disorders. 

Gambling-related problems often lead to higher rates of alcohol and nicotine use. Gambling risk factors that can increase the risk of a substance use disorder include:

• Being competitive.
• Feeling stressed.
• Acting impulsive.

Questions about your or someone else's gambling? Your Life Iowa can listen and connect you with support. Contact YLI 24/7. 

Call:(855) 581-8111      Text:(855) 895-8398      Live Chat

Citations

1. DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria: Gambling Disorder. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition.
2. The Biophysical Consequences of Pathological Gambling. National Library of Medicine. March 2005.

Know how to prevent gambling related harm.

There are many ways to avoid developing a gambling problem. Here are some ideas on how to prevent gambling related harm:

• Don't think of it as a way to make money. The bottom line, gambling establishments take more in money than they pay out. This means over time; you will lose more money than you win. 
• Always gamble with money that you can afford to lose. Gambling with money that you set aside for fun, like going to the movies or going on a vacation. Never use money that you need for important things like rent, bills, groceries, etc. 
• Set a money limit. Decide how much money you can afford to lose before you play. When you have lost that amount of money, quit. If you win, enjoy it, and remember it won't happen most of the time. 
• Set a time limit. Decide how much time you can afford to spend gambling. When you reach that time limit, stop gambling. 
• Don't chase loses. If you lose money, don't try to get it back by going over your limit. This usually leads to even bigger loses. 
• Don't gamble when you're depressed or upset. It's hard to make good decisions about gambling when you're feeling down. 
• Enjoy other activities so gambling doesn't become too big a part of your life.

Self-exclusion can be a tool to limit access to gambling.

The Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission (IRGC)

The IRGC self-exclusion program allows a person to self-exclude from licensed gambling operators. This includes gambling at casinos or racetracks, sports wagering or fantasy sports. If a self-excluded person places a wager at a licensed entity, the entity will remove the person. Trespassing charges may result. They will also give up the right to all winnings. 

The Iowa Lottery

The Iowa Lottery also offers a program that limits lottery game pay outs. The Iowa Lottery self-exclusion program bans a person from collecting prizes greater than $600. Signing up also prevents the person from receiving lottery promotional materials.

If your gambling is causing problems in your life, 1-800-BETS OFF through Your Life Iowa can help. YLI counselors provide a listening ear or help you start the self-exclusion process. They can also help you connect with gambling recovery resources in your area. 

Learn More About Self-Exclusion (IRGC)     Learn More About Self-Exclusion (Iowa Lottery)

Gambling's financial consequences

Each year, people in the U.S. who gamble lose about $120 billion. The estimated annual social cost of gambling is about $14 billion. 

Ninety percent of problem gamblers use credit card cash advances to gamble¹. They also "borrow" money from savings accounts or apply for loans to cover loses. They hope to find the "one big bet" that gets them back to even¹. Unfortunately, that rarely is effective.

If you choose to gamble, remember to budget an amount you can afford to spend on gambling and stick to the plan. Don't pull out more from an ATM to try to win your losses back. That's when people get in trouble. 1-800-BETS OFF and Your Life Iowa can help.

Citations

1. National Council on Problem Gambling. 

Brain injury and gambling-related problems can be related. 

Brain injuries can lead to problems with gambling¹. Screening for brain injury is a best practice. Especially for patients in any healthcare, community, and corrections-based settings. Brain injury screening tools assess a person's exposure to brain injury. Learn more with the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa. 

Learn More About Brain Injury

Citation

1. Moderate to severe gambling problems and traumatic brain injury: A population-based study- ScienceDirect. Science Direct. 2019

Payout Wizard

Chances are you have strong beliefs about gambling. Maybe it's how to beat the house, which games have the best odds, or even a system that "can't lose." In most cases, you’ll take home far less than you think. See the payout by selecting a game and plugging in the bet amount. 

The Payout Wizard automatically calculates the house advantage, hold percentage and churn rate, letting you know how much of your original wager you can plan on taking home with you.

Does the house always win?

Many people have strong beliefs about gambling. How to beat the house, which games have the best odds or even have a system that "can't lose." In most cases, you'll take home far less than you win. In the long run, gambling and lottery vendors always win and the player always loses. This is fine, as long as the player realizes that gambling is like other forms of entertainment. The more you play, the more you pay.

Are slot machines "due to hit the big one" sometimes?

Slot machines don't have a memory. All modern slot machines are state-of-the-art. They use sophisticated computer chips programmed to abide by state laws. In general, a slot machine is never "due to hit the big one." It's always random. 

Can you be "good" at gambling so you don't lose?

You can't increase your odds of winning a game of chance by practicing more or studying the game. Common games of chance are dice, playing cards and roulette wheels. They depend on luck, not skill. 

Understanding how these games work can help you make informed decisions. You can decide whether to continue playing, take a break or stop playing. 

Are you more likely to win if you play longer?

No. You may think you can break a losing streak by continuing to gamble. That is not the case. When gambling, time is not on your side. The odds are set up so that the longer you play, the more likely you will lose. It's simple math and it always favors the gaming operator. 

To see how much of your original wager you can expect to take home with you when you gamble, see our Payout Wizard. 

What is recovery?

Recovery varies based on a person's situations and needs, and it looks different for everyone. 

Recovery is more than sobriety and abstinence. Recovery is about coming to recognize things you've been through and all that you've overcome. Recovery centers on individual needs. 

The path to recovery may look different for each person. Pathways to recovery include activities that promote health and well-being, such as:

• Going to peer support meetings. 
• Seeking treatment.
• Connecting with community resources. 
• Developing and maintaining an ongoing network of support. 

Recovery often looks different over time. Circumstances change as recovery progresses. Having allies and a community of support helps in sustaining long term recovery. Wherever you are in your recovery journey, YLI is here to help. 

Learn More About Recovery

Encouragement. One Text at a time.

You can never have too much support. That's why Your Life Iowa created our supportive text messaging program. Sign up to receive encouraging messages, no matter what you may be facing. 

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The language you use matters. 

Stigma continues to happen because of the language we use. How we talk and think about gambling matters. Our words and actions impact the health of those experiencing addiction. 

Terms like "problem gambler" and "addict" are not person-centered. They foster the belief that gambling related problems are a choice. This misses the fact that a gambling disorder is a real medical condition. 

When we hear or use the label "problem gambler," blame and punishment come to mind. We promote stigma. When we see a person experiencing a gambling disorder, there is the potential for healing. 

Everyone plays a role in reducing stigma against people with a gambling disorder. You can¹:

• Learn more about what is a gambling disorder. 
• Learn how a gambling disorder is a chronic, treatable, medical condition. 
• Learn that people with a gambling disorder deserve compassion and respect. 

Replace language that perpetuates stigma with person-first language. Use "a person with a gambling disorder" instead of terms like "problem gambler" or "addict." See the Words Matter: Preferred Language for Talking About Addiction guide for more.

Citations

1. Gambling Disorder and Stigma: Opportunities for Treatment and Prevention. National Library of Medicine, 2022.