Quitting gambling is not an easy task and requires the support of friends and family. There are also professional treatment programs to help individuals stop gambling. Without professional help, quitting can be nearly impossible. While the help of family and friends is important for recovery, they may not know the best ways to help. Below is a list of resources available to those who are struggling to stop gambling.
Understanding the basic nature of gambling
Gambling is an activity in which a person assumes an element of risk. This risk typically has a negative expectable value. In casinos, the house takes a cut of each bet, and therefore, the more a person bets, the more likely he or she will lose.
It is important to understand the basic nature of gambling to better understand its effects. Gambling has been shown to cause numerous harms, and these harms increase as a person’s gambling experience becomes more intense and frequent. In addition, if a person spends large amounts of money on gambling, the harms are more serious. Therefore, it is important to focus on harm minimisation, which involves preventing and treating gambling problems.
Signs of gambling addiction
Signs of gambling addiction are often similar to those of alcohol or drug addiction, and include restlessness, depression, and irritability. This is a common reaction to the psychological withdrawal that occurs when a person is not gambling. Gambling addiction is a mental illness characterized by a persistent obsession with the behavior and a perceived “need” to gamble to feel happy.
A person who has a gambling addiction may even break the law, such as stealing money, or even committing fraud. These behaviors can lead to criminal charges and even jail time. However, the signs of gambling addiction should not be ignored, and they should be addressed as soon as possible.
Treatment options for gambling addiction
There are many treatment options for people suffering from a gambling addiction. These include one-on-one counseling, medications, and lifestyle changes. There are also support groups that are led by people who have suffered from the same addiction. These groups can be found online or in person. Depending on the extent of the problem, a person may need a combination of several different treatments.
The recovery process from gambling addiction can be long or short-term. A person may spend weeks or even months in rehab, or may go back to their old ways of gambling. Depending on the severity of the condition, treatment may include counseling or family therapy. In any case, a commitment to change is necessary. Choosing to go to treatment is a significant first step. If a person wants to be fully recovered, they need to make the commitment to attend treatment for as long as necessary.
Taxation of gambling gains
Taxation of gambling gains should be based on the principle of equity. Every person should be taxed according to their ability to pay, and people with similar economic circumstances should not have to pay more than those with different economic circumstances. This principle should also apply to gambling gains, as they represent an increase in the taxpayer’s spending power, and the government should not be discriminatory in its treatment of these gains.
The IRS has defined a gambling gain as the difference between the wagering proceeds and the adjusted basis. However, the IRS concedes that its position that a winning wager should be excluded from gross income is flawed. In addition, it admits that one gambling transaction does not constitute an investment.
