Developing an addiction to gambling is one of the major reasons why individuals view online casinos as one of the ills of the internet. Despite this though as with any other addiction there is help however people need to admit that they have a problem and have to want to seek help for themselves. Therefore this article is aimed at giving you a brief insight into an online gambling addiction and the treatments available.

There has been a debate over the years based on how to define an online gambling addiction. However, the Australian government did research and came up with a universal definition; keep in mind though it is the only research-based definition that did not use diagnostic criteria. Therefore, gambling addiction is characterized by difficulties in limiting money and/or time spent on gambling which leads to adverse consequences for the gambler, others, or the community. However, a simpler way of stating this definition is any gambling that causes harm to the gambler or someone else in any way. Now keep in mind there are several types of online gambling addiction for instance pathological gambling, however, let’s not focus on the problem itself but instead on how to fix the problem.

Most treatments for an online gambling addiction involve counseling, step-based programs, self-help, peer-support, or a combination of any one of these. Firstly let’s look at counseling; this is usually done by professionals who are specifically trained to deal with individuals who have an online gambling addiction. There are a couple of these services which are available for free by various organizations however they may vary depending on the country/state you live in so you could check it out. There are also telephone counseling services which provide the same counseling services as if you were to go in personally, again you need to check to see if these services are available in your country/state.

The second type of treatment for online gambling addiction is step-based programs. A popular step-based program is Gamblers Anonymous, this particular program uses a 12 step program that is similar to Alcoholics Anonymous and it also places an emphasis on peer-support. There are a couple of other step-based programs that are also used to treat individuals with an online gambling addiction. The third type of treatment for online gambling addiction is peer-support. This is a growing treatment because online gambling has advanced over the years – a couple of gamblers experienced this problem and were able to access various online peer-support groups to help in their recovery. This method not only provides anonymity it also helps individuals with the problem to seek treatment by letting their loved ones know. The final type of treatment for online gambling addiction is self-help. This type has shown promising results for individuals who have problems with online gambling who are truly dedicated to changing their bad habits but of course like everything else in life kicking an addiction is made easier with help. In closing, as you can see there are several different types of treatments for online gambling addiction and remember it’s okay to admit you have a problem and so is seeking help, but it’s not okay to deny it, so get help today.

If you’re considering rehab treatment, first check this ultimate guide on how to find the right rehab to make sure you are not choosing an expensive rehab centre and find that the reality doesn’t meet expectations.

By Sarah H
Sarah Harrigan is a professional casino player and reviewer. For straight talking honest advice on online casinos be sure to visit her website for comprehensive reviews on the most secure online casinos and winning casino strategies.