Gambling Addiction Can be a Tricky Beast to Identify

Thursday, January 4th, 2024 -- 8:01 AM

(Avery Lea Rogers, Wisconsin Public Radio) Gambling addiction can be easy to hide from others, according to gambling counselor Patricia Jirovetz.

According to Avery Lea Rogers with Wisconsin Public Radio, Jirovetz also said that what counts as gambling isn’t always clear. "(Some) video games are set up with the same reward structure as a slot machine," Jirovetz said in a recent interview for "The Morning Show" on WPR.

"It's unpredictable. You know you're going to win, but you just don't know when." Online gambling has become more accessible and popular since 2000, according to the Centre for Gambling Education and Research in Australia.

Jirovetz said as a result of this increase, people are gambling for longer periods of time and with more cash to try and win back their losses. According to Jirovetz, there are a few different types of gamblers: the social gambler, the problem gambler, and the compulsive gambler.

Most people are social gamblers, Jirovetz said. They can set a spending limit, go to a casino for fun, and leave at the end of the night without having gone over their limit. Sometimes a gambling problem can progress into gambling disorder as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

"(Gambling) starts to be a problem when the gambler becomes obsessed with placing the next bet," Jirovetz said, adding that this kind of obsession is known as "chasing the loss." Gamblers experience a spike of dopamine in the brain when they gamble, whether they win or lose.

In addition to being a certified gambling counselor, Jirovetz is president of the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling. The organization was started in the '90s by offering a 24/7 problem gambling helpline.

Jirovetz said that last year, the helpline answered around 15,000 phone calls from people seeking help for themselves or someone they know. "Generally, significant others or spouses don't find out about (a gambling) problem until there's a crisis," Jirovetz said.

If you suspect that someone you care about has a gambling problem, Jirovetz suggests having an open, non-judgmental conversation with them. If they are receptive to help, Jirovetz recommends directing them to recovery resources like the ones available on the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling website.

Some options include counseling, the Gamblers Anonymous 12-step program, and cognitive behavioral therapy. The website also has a screening questionnaire to help people decide if they want to seek help.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.