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Gambling addiction is a serious condition that can lead to severe consequences. It manifests in various ways, each sign as concerning as the next.

One of the first signs is a preoccupation with gambling. This involves constant thoughts about past, present, or future gambling experiences. As the disorder progresses, there is a need to gamble with greater amounts of money to achieve the same level of excitement, a phenomenon known as tolerance.

The addiction becomes more evident when there are repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling. This struggle is often accompanied by restlessness or irritability when trying to reduce or stop gambling, a condition known as withdrawal.

As the addiction deepens, the individual may start chasing losses, trying to recover lost money by gambling more. This is often coupled with deception, where the individual lies to family members or others to hide the extent of the gambling.

The disorder can lead to the individual risking significant relationships or opportunities. They continue to gamble despite the risk or actual loss of important relationships, job, or other opportunities. In desperate situations, they may rely on others to provide money to relieve the financial strain caused by gambling.

Neglecting responsibilities is another sign of this disorder. The individual may avoid work or other commitments to gamble. In extreme cases, they may resort to selling personal items to fund gambling.

These signs can vary in intensity and may not be present in all individuals.

Recovery from gambling disorder is possible with the right support and tools.

Compulsive gambling, compulsive retail therapy, and compulsive overeating may seem like distinct issues, but they share a common thread: the brain’s reward system. At the heart of these behaviours lies the release of feel-good chemicals, such as dopamine, which drive the compulsion to engage in these activities.

When a person gambles, the anticipation of a win triggers a surge of excitement, similar to the satisfaction one feels when purchasing something they love but cannot afford. Whether it’s a piece of jewellery or a sprawling mansion, the brain’s reward system links this feel-good factor to the act of acquiring something, creating a powerful urge to repeat the behaviour.

For compulsive addicts, the chase often becomes more thrilling than the actual win or acquisition. This relentless pursuit can lead to significant personal and financial losses, as the addict continues to chase the high at all costs. The key to breaking this cycle is recognizing when to stop. Each step further down this path increases the risk of social decline and poverty.

Understanding the science behind these behaviours can help develop better strategies for managing and overcoming them. By acknowledging the similarities between different types of compulsive behaviours, we can create more effective interventions and support systems for those struggling with addiction.

A report in The Guardian cites Jenny, a woman who once achieved her dream of owning a home through hard work and determination, only to lose it all to online gambling.

Jenny, a successful accountant, bought her own home in 2016. However, her life took a drastic turn when she started playing online slots to help a friend in financial trouble. Initially, Jenny viewed gambling as harmless fun, but she soon found herself spending up to £5,000 a day.

Her addiction escalated rapidly, consuming her disposable income and leading to severe consequences. By January this year, Jenny had lost her home and job, and was facing legal proceedings for embezzling £275,000 from her previous employer to fund her gambling losses.

The advent of highly addictive online gambling products has led to an increase in similar cases. National figures reveal that an estimated one in 40 people face serious harms due to gambling, including criminal activities, relationship breakdowns, and homelessness¹.

Jenny’s addiction worsened during the COVID-19 lockdown in spring 2020. She was constantly chasing losses, trying to win back the money she had lost. The death of the friend she had been trying to help further pushed her into the clutches of gambling.

Despite the severity of her situation, Jenny was never asked for proof of income or encouraged to take a break by the gambling platforms. Once her money ran out, she began transferring funds from her workplace, fully aware of the wrongness of her actions.

When her employers discovered the missing money, she was suspended but couldn’t stop gambling. In December, she attempted suicide. In January, she finally decided to seek help.

The Gambling Survey for Great Britain found that about one in 20 adults who considered suicide said it was related to gambling. Liz Ritchie, co-founder of the charity Gambling With Lives, believes these figures could help remove the stigma around gambling addiction.

Jenny found help from the charity GamCare, which provides support and resources for those affected by gambling addiction. Her story is a stark reminder of the devastating impact gambling disorder can have and the importance of seeking help early.

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Martin Haijer, Secretary-General of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), has stirred controversy by urging Iceland to open its gambling market and dismantle the existing monopoly.

In Iceland, gambling options are highly restricted, with only a few types permitted and a limited number of operators authorised to offer them, provided their mission is to finance general interest causes. For instance, slot machines are operated by Islandsspil, which sponsors the Red Cross and search and rescue programmes, and by the University Lottery, which has funded the construction and maintenance of nearly all University of Iceland buildings.

Two other operators, Icelandic Getspá and Icelandic Sweepstakes, offer both online and physical gambling. They redirect their profits to benefit youth and sports associations.

According to Haijer (pictured above), these regulations have restricted legal gambling options, driving Icelanders to seek out unlicensed operators. As a result, the black market for gambling has flourished, he notes in a column published in an Icelandic newspaper.

"It is the nature of monopolies to limit consumer choice," Haijer said. "Online gambling is a price-driven market. People play with their own money and naturally want to maximise their potential returns. Attempts to limit consumer choice through monopolies therefore create more problems than they solve. Those who want to bet on the outcome of sports matches or engage in other forms of gambling look for options that offer better returns than the monopoly companies. That search sometimes leads them to unsafe websites run by dubious operators."

A report earlier this year by Iceland Review magazine claimed that Icelanders spend about ISK 20 billion ($146 million) on unregulated foreign gambling websites annually.

Haijer is advocating for Iceland to consider adopting a model similar to those in Denmark and Sweden. Denmark regulated its market in 2012, and Sweden followed suit in 2019.

"The experience from both countries shows that ending monopolies and introducing a licensing system had a positive effect on the market and did not lead to an increase in unhealthy online gambling," he wrote.

Addressing concerns about the potential social impacts of opening the market, Haijer wrote: "On the contrary, such a change is about creating a regulated environment that is safer for players than the current environment in Iceland."

Pétur Hrafn Sigurðsson, chairman of Breiðablik's basketball league, town representative, and information officer for Icelandic Getspá/Sweepstakes, responded to Haijer. He pointed out that Haijer is “the managing director of an association representing six betting companies, all of which are known to violate Icelandic laws.”

Sigurðsson asserted that licensed operators like Icelandic Getspá and Icelandic Sweepstakes make “well-considered decisions with responsible gaming in mind,” aimed at preventing gambling-related harm. In contrast, he criticised the foreign companies Haijer advocates for, recounting their history of creating gambling-related issues. These problems, he wrote, are linked to aggressive marketing practices, such as offering bonuses to attract younger and new customers.

He further explained, “Foreign illegal betting companies offer hundreds of games. Research indicates that gambling addiction is influenced by the number of games available and the feedback provided to bettors. To mitigate this risk, Icelandic Sweepstakes has chosen to offer only 12 to 25 games per day, all of which can be bet on only during the game itself, with no games available at night.”

Opposing firmly Haijer's proposal, he concluded: "Those who play at these betting sites (unlicensed in Iceland) are fourteen times more likely to develop a gambling problem and gambling addiction than those who do not".

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is set to make history as the first professional basketball league to introduce a 4-point shot. This bold move aims to refresh the game. However reactions from the basketball community have been divided with some fans viewing it as an exciting innovation, while others see it as a short-lived trend. Indeed this decision has ignited a national debate in the Phillipines and passionate opinions are flooding social media and newspapers.

Amidst the ongoing debate, the PBA recently received support for its decision to introduce the 4-point shot into official games. The approval comes from the Harlem Globetrotters, the team that first popularised the 4-point shot during exhibition games.

In a press conference held at Novotel Manila on 29 July, Moose Weekes of the Harlem Globetrotters expressed his support for the PBA’s move, stating, “All I can say is it’s about time.”

“But you know we introduced that (4-point line) in 2010…so we’ve been doing this for over a decade. So just to see a professional league to actually add it is amazing. Just shows how far we’ve come to,” Wham Middleton, whom Weekes claimed to be the 4-point specialist of their team, added.

The PBA first brought in the 4-pointer during the 2023 All-Star Game in Passi, Iloilo and again in last season’s edition in Bacolod.

The 4-point shot could fundamentally alter the game, injecting a new level of excitement. Initially, it may serve as an emergency tool for teams trying to catch up. But it might also evolve into a regular feature of offensive game plans. This innovation could add a thrilling new dimension to the sport and potentially become a global trend, as it is sparking the interest of basketball enthusiasts worldwide.

Alfrancis Chua, who was recently elected Vice Chairman of the PBA Board, voiced his support for the rule change stating that the new rule opened up defensive formations, and increased the overall pace of the game.

Critics have been expressing doubts about the necessity of a 4-point shot as it may impact the speed of the game. Some studies suggest that focusing on officiating rules may be a more effective approach.

Despite scepticism, the 4-point shot will surely lead to strategic thinking in basketball. Coaches will need to rethink their defensive schemes to cover the new 4-point line with players refining their skills to avoid costly fouls. The new rule could also add another layer to fast breaks and overall game strategy, inviting a deeper level of engagement from players and coaches alike.

As the season unfolds, fans and players will witness the impact of this bold experiment on the game they love.

The PBA will introduce a 4-point shot as a new scoring option in the upcoming season, which begins on 18 August. The new rule will establish an arc 27 feet from the rim, allowing players to earn 4 points for shots from beyond this distance. This decision was made during the league’s annual planning session in Osaka, Japan, and is part of several new rules to make the game more exciting for the 49th season.

The 4-point shot isn’t entirely new. In the 1980s, it was used as a reward for consistent three-point shooting, offering extra points.

The first professional league to use a 4-point basket was the defunct American Basketball Association (ABA) in the 2000s, where half-court shots were valued at 4-points. The ABA also introduced the three-point shot in the 1970s, which was initially met with scepticism but later became integral to the game. In 1998, the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) experimented with alternative scoring rules, offering an uncontested three-point attempt instead of two free throws. This highlighted the potential impact of the PBA’s new 4-point shot rule.

In 2018, NBA teams like the Milwaukee Bucks began incorporating 4-point lines into their practice facilities. The concept was even integrated during the 2019 All-Star Celebrity Game.

Making the 4-point shot a regular thing quickly became the talk of the town upon confirmation of the development, drawing mixed reactions.

Some fans questioned why it was quickly approved when they think there are better ways to attract a live audience again.

For example, notable figures like Coach Tim Cone has expressed reservations, while WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu has shown support. Former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala called for patience, suggesting that the league should address more pressing issues like farm teams and salary caps.

With the introduction of the 27-foot 4-point line, the dynamics of long-distance shooting in basketball will without doubt experience transformations. Historically, women have demonstrated higher accuracy from long distances due to their shooting technique, which relies on a push-up style. The increased distance with the introduction of the 4-point line may necessitate male players to modify their shooting techniques for the same level of accuracy and effectiveness. This adjustment could have a significant impact on the style and strategy of the game.

Many people support this idea because they believe it could increase competition among the top three-point shooters in the league, encouraging them to expand their shooting range. It could also lead to big men extending their perimeter defence, giving them more opportunity to dominate the area near the basket.

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A new study finds that marginalised and socially excluded groups are more likely to gamble and use it as a way to cope with discrimination and loneliness. The study was funded by GambleAware, a well-known UK charity that aims to reduce gambling harms in the country.

The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), commissioned by GambleAware, explored how socially excluded groups are affected by gambling. The target groups were impoverished people at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness, older adults, people living with disabilities or mental health challenges, criminalised or marginalised communities (including sex workers and people who use drugs), people with experience of unemployment or insecure employment, and migrants living in precarious situations.

Despite their differences, these groups shared a common trait: they used gambling as a way to cope with social exclusion and issues such as loneliness, mental health challenges, stress related to migration and assimilation, unemployment, job security challenges, and poverty.

Gambling is viewed by these populations not only as a distraction from their problems but also as a potential solution, with the hope of winning a significant amount of money.

The study also revealed a “disproportionate concentration of gambling venues in more deprived areas in Great Britain,” thereby creating an incentive to play for those populations and offering entertainment in places where other activities are scarcer.

Gambling venues are often seen as accessible and inclusive compared to other social or entertainment options that may exclude people from these communities due to physical mobility issues, health concerns, language barriers, etc. For some individuals, such as those experiencing homelessness, these venues can also provide a safe and warm space.

There is some evidence that the gambling industry’s actions, like marketing techniques, exacerbate these drivers.

Financial motivations also play an important role, especially for those with no or low incomes, pensions, or financial responsibilities like caring for dependents in another country and for people who experience or are at risk of homelessness.

For older adults and other marginalised groups suffering from loneliness, gambling was described as a way to cope with the need for social connection and entertainment.

For most of these groups, the risk of gambling harm is greater than for the overall population, reads the study.

Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive of GambleAware, explained: “Our new report shows how people from marginalised communities, who are already dealing with many different issues in their lives, struggle with gambling harms. There needs to be more engagement with these communities to build awareness around the risks of gambling harm, and service providers need to ensure they can appropriately meet the needs of people in different circumstances.”

These populations are less likely to get help when they confront gambling harms, reveals the study. One reason is that they face stigma associated with their situations, such as being drug users or homeless, which makes them less likely to seek or receive help when needed.

Another barrier to accessing gambling support is the fear arising from past negative experiences with other healthcare or support services.

The study suggests addressing this issue by integrating gambling harm treatment into existing services rather than adding more points of contact. This approach involves training workers in public health services, charities, and social care to handle gambling-related issues. Overall, the study explains that services should be more inclusive and accessible, taking into account the socio-economic factors contributing to gambling harms rather than solely focusing on individual responsibility.