What can the average person do to stop gambling?

After months or years of compulsive gambling, you have finally realized that you have a problem. But you are not a superstar with thousands of dollars to blow on a fancy treatment program in the Hollywood Hills. You are just an average person who needs help kicking this all-consuming habit. Thankfully, there are some ways to treat your gambling addiction that do not involve taking a leave of absence from your job or spending thousands of dollars on months of private therapy sessions.

Find a Confidant

After realizing that you have a problem, HelpGuide.org recommends creating a support system to lean on while you kick your addiction. Attending group meetings, like those organized by Gamblers Anonymous, will put you in immediate contact with people who can empathize with your situation. Having one-on-one appointments with therapists can be costly, but these group meetings are free and are usually led by a facilitator with special training and experience to assist with gambling addiction. Available programs vary by region, and the National Council on Problem Gaming has organized a list of therapeutic options according to the state in which you live.

Avoid Temptation

One of the best ways to stop gambling is to avoid the places that make you want to gamble. If you pass by your favorite off-track betting spot on your way home from work, find a different route home. If you want to go on a weekend trip, choose a few nights of camping in the woods rather than Las Vegas or Atlantic City. If playing a game of cards with friends makes you think about playing blackjack at the casinos, suggest playing a board game or a round of charades. If internet gambling is a problem, discontinue internet service to your home and just use the internet at the library, which have time limits and are monitored for inappropriate use. A few adjustments to your normal routine can help you stay away from your old haunts.

Talk to the Owners

Telling the owners or floor managers of your favorite gambling establishments that you have a problem is sure to be a humbling experience, but it can be necessary to prevent backsliding into your old gambling ways. Be up front about your addiction and ask that they have you removed if you ever show up ready for a night of betting. Arriving and being asked to leave would be very embarrassing; however, Michelle Tee, the author of "111 Tips To Help You Beat Your Gambling Addiction Problem," says that you will undoubtedly feel far worse--even horrible shame and hopelessness--if you stay and gamble away every cent you have. No amount of embarrassment can compare to that feeling.

Source:

HelpGuide.org: Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling

SelfGrowth.com: Gambling Addiction--That Horrible Drive Home From The Casino

More Information:

National Council on Problem Gaming: Help By State

Gamblers Anonymous International Directory