How do you know if someone has a gambling problem or is addicted to gambling?

At the beginning gambling is all fun and games. Then things start to change. The person continues gambling even if it starts affecting normal life. At this stage strangely the negative effects of gambling can trigger the person to gamble even more.

The problem gambler starts to be secretive about how much he/she spends time and money on gambling. This is partly due to feelings of regret and embarrassment, partly due to lost monies and ever evolving web of lies. He/she starts to spend more and more time and money on gambling. He/she may also lie about having won a large sum of money. The gambler starts to neglect their responsibilities, such as work or studies. He/she starts borrowing money from friends and family. But the money doesn't come back to the lender - even when the problem gambler wins money he/she spends all the winnings to gamble more. The gambler himself has become tired of gambling and it is causing him stress and anxiety. But he/she just simply isn't able to quit!

Is there such a thing as safe gambling?

Not all gambling is problem gambling and all gambling does not lead to addictive behaviour. Gambling is under control when the person can stop gambling whenever he/she wants, when it is not causing any financial strains and when it does not take too much of the person's time. Also, the gambling is likely to be under control when he/she can talk about it openly to friends and family as there is no reason to lie about time or money spent.

Who is allowed to gamble?

Everyone over 18 years of age is permitted by law to gamble on slot machines, online and all other forms of gambling. In Finland the age limit for slot machines is 15 years and you need to be 18 to enter the casino and game archades operated by RAY. Often the age limits are not supervised, particularly at the slot machines located in supermarkets and kiosks.

Why is there a rehabilitation project aimed at young immigrants?

The existing services available for problem gamblers tend to be out of reach for young immigrants. There are several factors that might discourage the young person from accessing available services, such as language barrier or shame or a web of lies related to problem gambling. MaPe project offers a method of rehabilitation specifically tailored to suit the needs of young people and their families and close friends. We stress the importance of providing support to young people with immigrant background at the earliest stage possible to prevent marginalisation and being left out of school, studies, hobbies, circle of friends and the family/ support network/ supported housing - in other words from all things important to all young people.

Why do people gamble?

Everyone has their own reason for gambling. Some have said they gamble to escape the problems of everyday life, some to relieve boredom, some to get excitement or pleasure. A problem gambler often believes that if he/she carries on long enough, he'll eventually reclaim the spent monies. It may be difficult to understand for an outsider that money often loses its value in the eyes of a problem gambler. The continuity of gambling has become the most important thing in life.

Many problem gamblers believe that the wins become more likely with increased knowledge on the game or game strategies. However, the truth is that winning is a game of luck.

Can people be addicted to gambling the same way they can be addicted to smoking or taking drugs?

Yes. People who are addicted to gambling get an extremely strong and hard to resist urge to gamble. This urge can make them do things they wouldn™t usually do like go without food, lie, steal, or miss work or school.

Gambling addiction is a cognitive addiction, which means that by gambling more and more the person achieves a state he/she is longing for. Gambling causes pleasure and the gambler continues to play to reachive the feeling of pleasure - again and again.

When a behavioural pattern is regularly repeated (in this case gambling), it will create "paths" in the brain. A problem gambler feels the urge to "walk" along these "paths" more frequently. If the addict is not able to follow the urge for gambling, he/she experiences withdrawal symptoms. They can include stomach ache, heavy sweating or feelings of restlessness. Seeing certain images or hearing certain sounds can trigger the addictive behaviour model - even if the problem gambler is aware of the negative effects of gambling.

Gambling is partly regulated by the hormones of the body. Research indicates that during a gambling session, the brain of someone with a gambling problem will produce dopamine. Dopamine is a hormone and neurotransmitter produced in the several areas of the brain. It can give a person a feeling of satisfaction and achievement. The brain of a gambling addict also produces endorphins during gambling session. The brain naturally releases endorphins to sooth pain and they result in a feeling of euphoria, or a œhigh. During a gambling session the endorphins help the person to keep going despite of being tired.