"Action"
Compulsive Gamblers
Until the 1990s, most
clinical studies relating to pathological gambling were conducted using
male compulsive gamblers; thus, much of the information available about
the disease is specific to male "action" pathological gamblers. Current
data indicates a surge in Arizona of another type of compulsive gambling
which we call escape gambling. Escape gamblers have a much
different profile than the traditional action gambler and include men as
well as women. (See article - Escape Gambler)
CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE ACTION COMPULSIVE GAMBLER
Many "action" gamblers
are domineering, controlling, manipulative men with large egos. They see
themselves as friendly, sociable, gregarious and generous. Their average
IQ is over 120. They are energetic, assertive, persuasive and confident.
In spite of all this, they usually have low self esteem. Historically
they started gambling at an early age, often in their teens, by placing
small bets on sporting events or playing cards with friends or
relatives. They progress through the four phases of the disorder over a
ten to thirty year time span.
TYPES OF
GAMBLING PREFERRED BY ACTION GAMBLERS
Action compulsive
gamblers gamble primarily at "skill" games such as poker or other card
games; craps or other dice games; horse and dog racing and sports
betting. Both legal and illegal sports betting is dominated by these
gamblers. They gamble to beat other individuals or the "house" and often
believe they can develop a system to achieve this goal. During the
desperation phase of the disease, action gamblers many often begin to
gamble specifically for escape, medicating the pain they are feeling
from the destruction created by their gambling with the narcotic-like
effect of slot or more likely, video poker machines.
Gender note:
To make the articles
easier to read, the pronoun "he" will be used to describe the action
gambler while escape gamblers will often be referred to as "she". This
is not intended to imply that all action compulsive gamblers are male
nor that all escape compulsive gamblers are female.
THE FOUR PHASES OF ACTION COMPULSIVE
GAMBLERS
The Winning Phase:
During the winning phase (frequently 3 to 5
years) of the disease, these gamblers won more often than they lost;
probably had a "big win", an amount equal to at least a month’s normal
salary and sometimes as much as a year's normal salary or more.
This winning phase and specifically, a major
early win, justified to these gamblers their opinion of being smarter
than others and, of course, superior gamblers. These gamblers frequently
believe that they are capable of becoming "professional" gamblers and
may even perceive themselves to be one.
As these gamblers progress through the winning
phase, they begin to spend more time gambling, and begin to gamble more
often and for larger amounts of money. Eventually, they begin to lose.
The Losing Phase:
In the losing phase, which usually lasts more
than five years, the action gambler begins betting even larger amounts
and gambling even more. He starts to believe that he is simply on a
losing streak, and starts to double up on bets and to stay in hands when
he knows he should fold. He bets on "longshots" which he knows don’t
have much of a chance but will pay big. He starts losing much more often
than he wins. These frequent losses cause him to gamble even more in
order to win back his losses.. (He is now "chasing" his losses). He
borrows money with which to gamble; the lying has already begun; he must
lie in order to cover his tracks. He must lie in order to convince
people that he is still the "happy go lucky gambler," and all around
"good guy." He begins to lie about everything, often when the truth
would better serve him. He continues to boast about his skills at
gambling; talks often about his wins, rarely about his losses.
At some point he has his first major
"set-back." Deep in financial trouble, he may convince his family or
employer of some phony major catastrophic disaster which requires a
loan. He probably is able to obtain this first "bailout," and probably
asked for more than he needed to settle up his gambling losses,
therefore, providing extra "gambling dollars". He considers that
"bailout" as a win. He is back in action and gambling even more
feverishly than before.
These bailouts may occur numerous times;
eventually, it is almost impossible to persuade others to again provide
a loan. He seems to lose almost all the time now. His life has become
unmanageable, and his family life is rapidly deteriorating.
The Desperation Phase:
The Desperation Phase can last for
a short time or many years. During the desperation phase, the majority
of the gambler’s time is spent thinking about gambling, planning
gambling or in action. He no longer has control over his gambling. In
order to relieve the inner pain he must gamble; he knows he will lose,
but it does not matter. His lying is completely out of control. When
others don’t believe his lies, he becomes angry with them, blaming
others for his problems.
He must obtain the money
with which to gamble at all costs. His family is in shambles. They have
possibly already left or are on the verge of leaving. Illegal activity
may be occurring; the gambler may be embezzling money or stealing it in
other ways. He will consider these as loans which will be paid back soon
from the big win he believes he will have. He is still often able to
present an outward appearance of being in control.
His wife and kids (if they are
still there) are suffering in many ways: the rent or house payment is
behind; the utilities may have even been turned off; few of the
relatives even speak to them anymore; they are now on a cash only basis
everywhere. Credit cards are "maxed"; the wife doesn't know what is
wrong. She knows he is gambling. She knows he continually lies. She has
heard him say a thousand times that he will stop, that everything will
be okay. She is suffering from depression, but because she still has a
sense of false pride, she doesn't want anyone to know how desperate they
are, and pleads with him to just stop. Yet he still continues to gamble.
She is afraid to answer the phone, fearing it will be still another bill
collector, or worse, her relatives, wanting their money or wanting
information. Their life is spiraling downward toward an unknown end. She
is frequently convinced that it is somehow her fault. The gambler often
has an outward appearance, even at this stage, of being in total
control. He is still convinced that everyone believes his lies. He even
becomes angry when they don't. Outwardly he blames everyone but himself
for the unfortunate circumstances now occurring. Inwardly, the gambler
is in severe anguish. He truly loves his family and wants things to be
like they used to be. He wants respect and stability, but he has to
gamble. He can't tell you why, but he has to gamble. He has to be in
action. He is living in a dream world, knowing he can't win. Punishing
himself, he wants it to end. He thinks often about self destruction, and
probably more often than most would like to believe, does attempt
suicide. He has to gamble because it is the only way he can relieve the
pain.
His significant other’s pride and
lack of knowledge about the disorder will not allow her to face the fact
that she must take action. It may take something like an arrest of the
gambler, a suicide attempt, or some other traumatic event to take place
before she finally offers an ultimatum, plans an intervention, or takes
the kids and leaves the gambler.
Once the action gambler enters
stage three of the disorder, the desperation phase, he and the escape
gambler share many of the same symptoms. They no longer have any control
over gambling. Gambling itself now has the control. In the latter stages
of this phase the action gambler is then gambling primarily for escape.
When a typical action gambler
enters a self help recovery program, he often believes that his family
should immediately rally to his aide, expecting them to forgive him
instantly for his misdeeds. He frequently still blames others for his
actions, and usually does not face the facts squarely. Often he wears
the fact that he has stopped gambling as a badge of honor and his ego is
once again inflated. Not taking the recovery program seriously, he only
stops gambling. He does not involve himself in the recovery program and
before long, after a few meetings, after he has convinced his family
that he is once again a "hero," he stops attending the program. Before
you can wink an eye he is back out gambling and back into phase three of
the disease on a progressive slide downward, right where he left off.
After this relapse, again out of marbles, he returns to the recovery
program and may finally take his gambling disease seriously.
When this occurs, he has a better
chance at recovery. Yet, often the action gambler attends meeting,
gambles, returns to meetings and gambles again. This cycle may last for
years. This type of periodic recovery and periodic compulsive gambling
often leads to criminal activity and imprisonment or even death.
Hopeless Phase:
Until the 1990s only three phases
of pathological gambling were noted. Many clinicians and experts who
treat pathological gamblers now say a fourth phase exists for both
action and escape gamblers.
Once the gambler
has been through the desperation phase, it would seem that everything
bad had occurred. However, in the hopeless phase, both types of
pathological gamblers have "given up". They believe nothing can help;
they don’t care if they live or die. In fact, for many the latter is the
preference. They will all consider suicide during this phase. Most will
commit actions which could place them in jail or prison. Clinical
depression is a given. In their minds, no one cares, no hope is
available.
RECOVERY RATE
A very small percentage of action pathological
gamblers succeed in remaining in Gamblers Anonymous for the first year;
rarely does the action gambler remain in recovery for five years (these
percentages reflect only gamblers seeking assistance in programs with
which I am familiar.)
Recovery among action gamblers will be more
probable when: the gambler receives help through a professional provider
who is trained and certified in the addiction of pathological gambling
and completes the program; the family is involved in treatment, and the
gambler and his spouse enter and continue in a twelve step recovery
program. The twelve step program for the gambler is Gamblers Anonymous &
the program for family members or significant others is Gam-Anon.
(Note) No statistics are available in Arizona
with regard to professional treatment by a certified professionals or by
attending the Gamblers Anonymous program.
Information Provided
By: Arizona Council on Compulsive
Gambling
