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Are you addicted to gambling?
There is help out there for problem gamblers
Posted: Wednesday, October 5, 2011 11:12 am | Updated: 11:19 am, Wed Oct 5, 2011.
Are you addicted to gambling? 0 comments
Posted on October 5, 2011
However, if gambling has become an issue in your life and your finances and relationships are suffering because of it, then you may be a compulsive gambler. If so, you’re among the 2 percent of all Michigan residents who currently have a gambling problem, representing about 300,000 people, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health. That figure more than doubles at 4.1 percent, when asking people if they have had a gambling problem at some point during their lives.
A person who wonders whether they have a gambling addiction can ask him or herself the following questions:
• Has your gambling become a problem?
• Are you neglecting your bills?
• Have you used your savings, insurance, retirement, or investment money to gamble?
• Do you have large credit card debt because of gambling?
• Are you neglecting your health or personal needs?
• Are you withdrawing from family, friends, or regular activities?
• Are you spending more time in secret gambling activities?
• Have you compromised your values?
• Do you find your mood changes with wins and losses?
While gambling has increased among nearly all groups of people in recent years, it is increasing most rapidly among women, who may be especially vulnerable because they gamble for different reasons than men. Women use gambling to escape unpleasant situations in their lives, while men more often gamble for excitement and the hope of a big win.
Nearly 60 percent of Michigan men have gambled in a casino, according to statistics from www.michigan.gov, which monitors gaming activities in its three state-run casinos — MGM, Motor City and Greek Town. The state does not have general regulatory authority over the 23 Native American-owned casinos located throughout Michigan. The National Indian Gaming Commission and the government of the appropriate tribal community regulate them.
Internet gambling has become more popular, too, with gamblers using credit cards to wager unlimited dollars on hundreds of sites, 24 hours a day. These “on-line casinos” are often run by illegal, offshore operators who don’t pay off winners and are sometimes connected to organized crime, according to the Michigan Association of Problem Gambling.
Office pools, card games, sports events and horse racing also attract a large number of men. At some point, men with a gambling problem begin to take bigger financial risks and feel compelled to bet at every opportunity. For them, gambling can become an addiction that leads to serious family and financial problems.
There is help for problem gamblers and their families. Groups such as Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon exist in many communities, including groups in Flint that meet weekly. Outcome studies indicate treatment success rates of more than 50 percent.
Ironically, the casinos themselves help police problem gamblers through the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Called the“Disassociated Persons List,” this program allows gamblers to ban themselves from the three state-run casinos in Detroit. Persons wishing to do this can contact the MGCG by visiting their website,www.michigan.gov/mgcb or by calling their offices at (517) 241-0040 in East Lansing and (313) 456-4100 in Detroit. However, this program does not apply to Michigan’s 23 Native American casinos.
If the gambling problem involves Internet gambling, software (Gamblock) is available through www.gamblock.com, which blocks access to all Internet gambling sites.
How to keep gambling from becoming a problem
• Always gamble with others and not alone. Having friends, family, or colleagues nearby can keep gambling from getting out of hand.
• Set limits on how much time and money you spend on gambling, stop when limits are reached.
• Never gamble on credit.
• Don’t use household money for gambling.
• Don’t drink alcohol while gambling.
If you think you may have a gambling problem, call the Michigan Problem Gambling Help-line at (800) 270-7117 [24 hours].
Are you addicted to gambling?
There is help out there for problem gamblers
Posted: Wednesday, October 5, 2011 11:12 am | Updated: 11:19 am, Wed Oct 5, 2011.
Are you addicted to gambling? 0 comments
Posted on October 5, 2011
-
by Sally Rummel
However, if gambling has become an issue in your life and your finances and relationships are suffering because of it, then you may be a compulsive gambler. If so, you’re among the 2 percent of all Michigan residents who currently have a gambling problem, representing about 300,000 people, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health. That figure more than doubles at 4.1 percent, when asking people if they have had a gambling problem at some point during their lives.
A person who wonders whether they have a gambling addiction can ask him or herself the following questions:
• Has your gambling become a problem?
• Are you neglecting your bills?
• Have you used your savings, insurance, retirement, or investment money to gamble?
• Do you have large credit card debt because of gambling?
• Are you neglecting your health or personal needs?
• Are you withdrawing from family, friends, or regular activities?
• Are you spending more time in secret gambling activities?
• Have you compromised your values?
• Do you find your mood changes with wins and losses?
While gambling has increased among nearly all groups of people in recent years, it is increasing most rapidly among women, who may be especially vulnerable because they gamble for different reasons than men. Women use gambling to escape unpleasant situations in their lives, while men more often gamble for excitement and the hope of a big win.
Nearly 60 percent of Michigan men have gambled in a casino, according to statistics from www.michigan.gov, which monitors gaming activities in its three state-run casinos — MGM, Motor City and Greek Town. The state does not have general regulatory authority over the 23 Native American-owned casinos located throughout Michigan. The National Indian Gaming Commission and the government of the appropriate tribal community regulate them.
Internet gambling has become more popular, too, with gamblers using credit cards to wager unlimited dollars on hundreds of sites, 24 hours a day. These “on-line casinos” are often run by illegal, offshore operators who don’t pay off winners and are sometimes connected to organized crime, according to the Michigan Association of Problem Gambling.
Office pools, card games, sports events and horse racing also attract a large number of men. At some point, men with a gambling problem begin to take bigger financial risks and feel compelled to bet at every opportunity. For them, gambling can become an addiction that leads to serious family and financial problems.
There is help for problem gamblers and their families. Groups such as Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon exist in many communities, including groups in Flint that meet weekly. Outcome studies indicate treatment success rates of more than 50 percent.
Ironically, the casinos themselves help police problem gamblers through the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Called the“Disassociated Persons List,” this program allows gamblers to ban themselves from the three state-run casinos in Detroit. Persons wishing to do this can contact the MGCG by visiting their website,www.michigan.gov/mgcb or by calling their offices at (517) 241-0040 in East Lansing and (313) 456-4100 in Detroit. However, this program does not apply to Michigan’s 23 Native American casinos.
If the gambling problem involves Internet gambling, software (Gamblock) is available through www.gamblock.com, which blocks access to all Internet gambling sites.
How to keep gambling from becoming a problem
• Always gamble with others and not alone. Having friends, family, or colleagues nearby can keep gambling from getting out of hand.
• Set limits on how much time and money you spend on gambling, stop when limits are reached.
• Never gamble on credit.
• Don’t use household money for gambling.
• Don’t drink alcohol while gambling.
If you think you may have a gambling problem, call the Michigan Problem Gambling Help-line at (800) 270-7117 [24 hours].
