An Action Gambler’s Predicament

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Profiling an action gambler is easy. This kind of gambler is also called a compulsive gambler with the following characteristics: manipulative, domineering, and controlling with a big ego. They possess an IQ of over 120. They are usually energetic and gregarious. They are also assertive, friendly, sociable and widely generous. However, they are persons with low self-esteem. Based on their history, they learn to gamble and indulge in such activity in their early teens. They start gambling through smaller bets beginning with sporting bets or simply from card games with relatives and friends. As they grow, their gambling habits notoriously transform into problem gambling.

Action gamblers go for the games that require skills such as card games, poker and online dice games. Horse racing, dog racing and sports betting become their favorites too. They even go after illegal betting with too much confidence they can dominate the game and think of themselves as professional gamblers. They oftentimes believe they can manipulate to create a system that could make them the lead of the game.

What started as a simple gambling activity turns into an uncontrollable gambling behavior where they often find themselves becoming gambling slaves. At the beginning of their gambling activities, they are in control of their gambling habits but as they go on gambling, the table turns against them and the gambling has taken control over their behavior. Their gambling hobby turns into an addiction.

Most action gamblers deny their problematic gambling attitude and continue in the denial phase where they insist everything is normal. This is what makes diagnosing action gamblers difficult because they act as if nothing is wrong with them. Convincing them to confront and admit there is something wrong with their gambling attitude is futile. This type of gambler will not listen and will continue to gamble despite many losses and beginning to sink into a deeper financial catastrophic situation.

Just like substance abuse addiction, any attempt to withdraw from gambling activity afflicts him with intense depression. No other things can soothe the depression but gambling itself. The person has become addicted not to the money they might win but they are addicted to the act of gambling. Being able to control the game and winning gives them a euphoric feeling of gratification. Despite many losses, they would resort to credit and loans from other sources just to keep their gambling activities going. They would end up losing precious things that matter in their life: family, properties, employment and social life. They are at their ends wits in complete desperation. When all hopes are gone, the situation leads to suicidal actions that bring a catastrophic ending to an action gambler’s predicaments.

All efforts therefore must be exhausted to identify the presence of this abnormal behavior. Close relatives and immediate family should be alert and observant about the gambling attitudes of their loved ones. The predicaments an action gambler will go through are so difficult that early detection is essential.

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