Gambling

Gambling Problems: Comprehensive Treatment for Lasting Recovery

Gambling problems come in many forms. Generally people come to therapy once a problem has become severe. Some people find themselves drawn repeatedly to casinos, spending hours at slot machines or card tables. Others develop patterns around horse racing, studying form guides and placing increasingly larger bets at tracks or OTB locations. Still others play the lottery compulsively, buying scratch tickets daily or spending significant money on number games. Each type of gambling creates its own particular grip on a person’s life, but all share common features: the inability to stop despite negative consequences, the preoccupation with the next opportunity to bet, and the progressive erosion of financial stability, relationships, and personal well-being.

In recent years, a new and particularly insidious form of gambling has exploded: sports betting through internet and smartphone apps. Platforms like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and dozens of others have made wagering instantly accessible 24 hours a day. You no longer need to go anywhere—the casino is in your pocket. You can bet on games while watching them, place multiple bets throughout a single sporting event, and access your account in moments of impulse or emotional vulnerability. The combination of constant availability, aggressive marketing, social normalization, and the illusion of sports knowledge giving you an “edge” has created an epidemic of betting problems among people who never would have set foot in a traditional gambling venue.

The Devastating Impact of Problem Gambling

Gambling problems rarely affect only the person gambling—the consequences ripple outward, damaging every important area of life:

  • Impact on self– Depression, anxiety, shame, guilt, loss of self-respect, suicidal thoughts, physical health problems from stress, sleep disturbances, emotional exhaustion, feeling trapped and hopeless
  • Impact on spouse/partner– Betrayal and broken trust from lies and financial deception, anger and resentment, emotional distance and loss of intimacy, considering separation or divorce, taking on extra work to compensate for financial losses, constant anxiety about money
  • Impact on children– Emotional neglect as gambling consumes attention and time, loss of college funds or savings meant for their future, witnessing parental conflict and stress, learning unhealthy coping patterns, moving or changing schools due to financial problems, losing sense of security and stability
  • Impact on family relationships– Broken promises and missed family events, borrowing money from relatives and not repaying it, family members feeling manipulated or used, loss of respect from parents or siblings, isolation as relationships deteriorate
  • Financial consequences– Mounting debt across credit cards and loans, depleted savings and retirement accounts, unpaid bills and utilities threatened with shutoff, bankruptcy, foreclosure or eviction, destroyed credit rating, loss of assets, legal problems from desperate measures to obtain money

These consequences often accumulate gradually, then suddenly reach a crisis point. The good news is that with effective treatment, these damages can be addressed, relationships can heal, and financial recovery is possible.

Recognizing When Gambling Has Become a Problem

Gambling becomes problematic when it interferes with your life in meaningful ways and you find yourself unable to control it despite wanting to. Key warning signs include:

  • Preoccupation and loss of control– Thinking about gambling frequently, trying unsuccessfully to cut back, gambling longer or spending more than intended, needing larger bets for the same excitement
  • Negative consequences– Financial problems (unpaid bills, mounting debt, depleted savings), relationship strain, declining work performance, emotional distress including guilt, shame, anxiety, or depression
  • Chasing losses– Returning to gambling specifically to win back money you’ve lost, often leading to even greater losses and desperate, high-risk betting
  • Concealment and escape– Lying about gambling to family or friends, using gambling primarily to escape uncomfortable emotions rather than for entertainment

If several of these patterns sound familiar, you likely have a gambling problem that would benefit from professional treatment. You don’t need to have lost everything to deserve help—early intervention prevents progression to more severe consequences.

Evidence-Based Strategies for Real Change

I use an integrated treatment approach proven effective across all types of gambling problems, including Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills, Motivational Interviewing . The treatment is practical, collaborative, and focused on creating sustainable change.

Phase One: Clear Problem Definition

We develop an honest, comprehensive understanding of your gambling behavior:

  • Identify all forms of gambling you engage in and how much time and money you’re spending
  • Map what triggers urges and what emotional states precede gambling episodes
  • Assess consequences across financial, relational, work, and emotional domains
  • Evaluate co-occurring issues like depression, anxiety, substance use, or trauma

This assessment provides accurate information so we can design treatment specifically for your situation.

Phase Two: Curtailing Use—Immediate or Incremental

We determine the most appropriate path based on your circumstances:

  • Immediate cessation– Necessary when financial crisis is imminent, previous controlled gambling attempts have failed, or severity of consequences demands immediate action
  • Incremental reduction– May be appropriate in earlier stages or when complete abstinence feels overwhelming; allows testing whether you can establish and maintain limits

Many people discover through incremental attempts that controlled gambling isn’t sustainable for them, and that realization becomes powerful motivation for complete abstinence. We will be very honest with each other.

Phase Three: DOT Therapy—Delay, Observe, Talk

A practical strategy for managing urges in real-time:

  • Delay– Wait 15-30 minutes before acting on the urge; urges peak and then subside if you don’t act on them
  • Observe– Notice what thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations are present; identify what triggered this urge
  • Talk– Reach out to someone—call a trusted friend, text a recovery ally, post in a support group; putting urges into words reduces their power

This creates space between impulse and action, making conscious choice possible.

Phase Four: CUT Strategies—Concrete Use-Prevention Tactics

We implement practical barriers to gambling:

  • Digital controls– Delete betting apps, block gambling websites using software like Gamban, self-exclude from gambling platforms
  • Financial protection– Arrange for trusted person to manage money temporarily, set up automatic bill payments, cancel credit cards linked to gambling accounts, limit cash access
  • Environmental changes– Avoid physical gambling locations, change routines that included betting, schedule incompatible activities during high-risk times
  • Cognitive work– Identify and challenge gambling-related thinking errors (“I’m due for a win,” “I have a system”), carry reminder cards with consequences and reasons for quitting

Phase Five: Empowerment Therapy—Building a Life Beyond Gambling

The most sustainable recovery involves creating a life that makes gambling unnecessary:

  • Address underlying issues– Treat co-occurring depression, anxiety, or trauma; develop healthy coping strategies for stress and uncomfortable emotions
  • Build essential skills– Improve emotional regulation and distress tolerance, develop effective problem-solving abilities, learn to enjoy activities without gambling’s artificial stimulation
  • Reconnect with meaning– Identify your core values and what truly matters; repair or develop supportive relationships; engage in activities providing genuine satisfaction and accomplishment
  • Financial recovery– Create realistic plans for addressing debt, develop money management skills, rebuild financial stability incrementally

Why This Treatment Works

Gambling problems are complex—they involve behavioral patterns, thinking errors, emotional regulation difficulties, and often serve important psychological functions. Sustainable recovery requires understanding your specific pattern, implementing practical barriers, managing urges skillfully, addressing underlying issues, and ultimately building a life where gambling no longer fits because you have better alternatives. Importantly, treatment is individualized to your situation. We work at your pace, adjust strategies based on what’s effective, and problem-solve obstacles as they emerge. My role is to provide expertise, support, accountability, and hope while you do the courageous work of change.

Take the Next Step

If you’re struggling with gambling—whether it’s daily sports betting on your phone, regular casino visits, chronic lottery purchases, horse racing, or any other form—help is available. You don’t have to figure this out alone. I offer a confidential, non-judgmental environment where we can honestly assess your situation and create a treatment plan tailored to your needs and goals.

Contact me today to schedule a consultation:

Phone: 410-970-4917
Email: edgewaterpsychotherapy@gmail.com

Recovery is possible. Let’s start the conversation about building the life you want beyond gambling