Recovering From Online Gambling Addiction
Online gambling has become a multi-billion industry over the past decade. It has been fueled by the proliferation of mobile devices and the growing popularity of sports betting, esports and casino games. But it’s not without its pitfalls. Fraudsters are constantly coming up with new ways to scam players and operators alike.
Whether it’s poker, slots or bookmaker sites, the online gambling industry is a high-risk sector for fraudsters and money launderers. As such, it’s not surprising that it attracts the attention of regulators and legislators. However, despite the fact that online gambling is a regulated business, enforcement of laws against fraudulent activities has often been challenged on constitutional grounds. Arguments based on the Commerce Clause, the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech and the Due Process clause have all failed to gain traction in court.
While there are many reasons why people may gamble, some people develop a problem and need help to recover. The main treatment options for gambling addiction are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing. With CBT, a person works with a therapist to identify faulty thinking patterns such as feeling “due to win” after a loss and learns tools to reframe those thoughts. In motivational interviewing, a patient and counselor explore their ambivalence about change in a supportive and empathic environment.
Both CBT and MI are effective in treating gambling addiction, and both can be delivered on a one-to-one basis or in group sessions. In addition to these, there are also various other specialized therapies such as acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction. Those in recovery from gambling addiction should also work to address any underlying mental or physical health issues, as these could be contributing to the addictive behaviour.
As the popularity of online gambling continues to rise, so do the number of people with an addiction to the activity. If you suspect that someone you know is struggling with an online gambling addiction, it’s important to talk to them in a non-judgemental manner and offer support. You can even encourage them to seek professional help if they need it.
A gambling addiction can have both short- and long-term effects on a person’s life. For example, it can cause financial problems, feelings of guilt or regret, and a reduction in the amount of time spent with friends and family. In addition, problem gambling can have a physical effect on the body, such as lowered immunity and weight gain or loss because of sleep and food deprivation.
As the popularity of online gambling increases, so does the risk of fraud. In the world of iGaming, fraud can have a huge impact on an operator’s revenue. In the case of poker, for example, a site that fails to stop fraud will see their player numbers plummet. Moreover, it can result in legal trouble and loss of credibility among regulators and customers alike. The good news is that SEON offers robust, sophisticated software and a dedicated fraud analyst team to stop online gambling fraudsters in their tracks and protect legitimate punters.