Betting is defined as the act of gambling any amount of money, possession, or time on the outcome of something, usually, a game, race, or any event where the result is uncertain. Betting, in most cases, goes hand in hand with gambling. Gambling is often a big problem in a person’s life as it slowly consumes all their possessions and has driven people to madness, bankruptcy, or worse, death.

It should be well known that the betting problem is not a recent one. Betting and gambling have been prevalent in our society ever since the days of Mesopotamia (roughly from 3000 B.C.). Yet another similar instance can also be seen in epics like Mahabharata.

There are various forms of betting. In sports, the most common types of bets are themoney line bets (where you bet on a particular team or an individual to win)& the point spread (when you bet on the margin of victory.)

Why is it addictive?

Gambling addiction has been recognized by medical professionals around the world and has an official term ‘compulsive gambling’ which is also known as a gambling disorder.

A person diagnosed with this disorder can often develop an uncontrollable urge to continue the act of betting and not think about the aftermath that follows. It stimulates the brain with a chemical known as dopamine which gives you a short burst of satisfaction if you win even once.

A person who suffers from this problem may go to any lengths to hide and fuel their addiction by putting up all their savings on bets, creating debt, and resorting to crimes like theft or fraud.

Common symptoms of a betting addiction:

• Getting a strong feeling of restlessness when you take a break from regular sessions
• The urge to gamble higher amounts of money to attain satisfaction
• Trying to recover the money that you have lost previously
• Turning to friends or family for short informal loans to deal with your financial problems or simply to gamble

How can one stop?

There is not any proven method that can prevent the problem of excessive betting, however, there are some ways that may help in battling it. Trying to overcome an addiction can be an extremely big challenge, especially if the addiction has a stronger hold on you and dictates how you act and behave. Nonetheless, there are a variety of resources available online and you can approach a medical health professional. Your primary aim should be to cut off any future involvements and engagements for betting. Avoid any social interaction that has the chance to involve the possibility of gambling. Talking to a trusted friend or family member can also help. One can also ask them to ensure that you don’t indulge in any gambling activities if it is a social commitment, you simply can’t avoid.

It is important to remember that one should not try to rationalize their addiction and should seek help immediately.