Care for Gambling Addiction at University of Colorado Hospital/ CeDAR
What is Gambling Addiction?
Gambling addiction, also known as compulsive gambling disorder, may start quietly, but over time it takes over a person's ability to control the urge to gamble. A person may have a gambling problem if it causes disruption in any major part of their life: psychological, physical, social or vocational. Gambling is a serious problem if it interferes with finances, relationships or work.
Signs of progressive addiction include:
- An increasing preoccupation with gambling
- A need to bet more money more frequently
- Restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop
- "Chasing" losses
- A loss of control leading to continued gambling in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences
Anyone who gambles can develop problems if they are not aware of the risks and do not gamble responsibly. The frequency of a person's gambling is not the only sign of gambling. A problem gambler may only go on occasional binges but is not able to control the behavior.
Though gambling is not always an indication of other addictive behavior it is generally accepted that people with one addiction are more at risk to develop another. Like alcohol or substance addiction, gambling alters a person's mood and the gambler repeats the behavior to achieve the same effect. But as with drugs and alcohol, a level of tolerance develops and the gambler is increasingly unable to resist as cravings grow in strength and frequency.
Departments Supporting Gambling Addiction
CeDAR – Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation
University of Colorado Hospital
1693 North Quentin St.
Aurora, CO 80045
Toll-free: 1-866-464-0052
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6510
Aurora, CO 80045