Although gambling addiction affects less than 1 percent of all people, it is an issue taken very seriously by online casinos around the world.
A problem gambler is someone who feels this compulsive need to keep gambling despite the effects it is having on his/her life.
There are certain criteria that define a problem gambler, including, but not limited to, gambling until every dollar is gone, gambling a longer period of time than planned, thinking about gambling causes you to lose sleep, you have tried to and can’t stop gambling and you leave bills unpaid and spend all your money on gambling.
Addiction gamblers don’t always necessarily gamble in regular methods, at casinos or lotteries, for example. People with this problem will bet and gamble on anything, even meaningless bets with friends or coworkers. This contradicts the idea that land-based and online casinos encourage and create problem gamblers. If there isn’t a casino online or nearby, a problem gamble will bet in other ways.
If a person is having trouble determining if they, or someone they know, has a gambling problem there are many tests online from various problem gambling institutes that they can accurately determine if they are affected.
Casinos and online casinos have also taken steps to identify and help problem gamblers, although they acknowledge the fact that most problem gamblers identify themselves first and seek help. If you think that you or a loved one may have a gambling disorder, there are also support groups like Gamblers Anonymous (http://gamblersanonymous.org/).