Gambling Addiction Treatment Center

What Is Gambling Addiction?

Gambling is, in short, the act of playing games of chance for money or other gains. Gambling addiction, on the other hand, is defined as persistent and recurring unwanted gambling behavior characterized by the inability to control gambling, to the extent that it disrupts a person’s individual, family, or occupational functioning.

People who struggle with gambling often carry a misleading sense of control over their gambling. This false sense of control may lead the individual to feel that they must solve their problems alone. As a result, the person continues gambling repeatedly to recover lost money, and losses often grow exponentially.

Spending a significant portion of the day gambling or thinking/planning about gambling, using gambling as an escape from daily problems, experiencing feelings such as restlessness, tension, or irritability when unable to gamble, gambling again to win back losses, lying about gambling times or the amount of money lost, being unable to stop gambling even after saying “I won’t play anymore,” repeated failed attempts to quit, gambling with money that doesn’t belong to them, relying on others to find financial resources due to losses, experiencing interpersonal problems due to gambling but continuing despite them—these are all signs that gambling behavior has reached the stage of addiction.

Today, all kinds of tools and platforms can become gambling objects, including casino games (poker, blackjack, roulette, slots, baccarat, keno, etc.), betting games (football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, cricket, rugby, esports, golf, horse racing, dog racing, cockfighting, ice hockey, water polo, etc.), lotteries (national lottery, scratch cards, number games, etc.), dice games, as well as stock markets and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Gambling addiction is a stage characterized by the loss of control over this behavior. From this point onward, the person is not fully aware of the harm they cause themselves and others. Although gambling is the source of all these problems, they still attempt to escape through gambling. Problems increase, and family and social circles begin to be affected. Therefore, gambling addiction is a chronic illness that requires treatment.

By establishing the Moodist Hospital Gambling Addiction Treatment Center, we have begun implementing a personalized treatment model based on collaboration between the patient, family, and treatment team.

The purpose of the center is to identify the individual’s gambling behavior, determine their risk level, and provide personalized treatment and therapy services. The program is based on coordinated work among the patient, treatment team, and family.

The main goals of the center are:

• Recognizing gambling addiction

• Determining risk level

• Identifying co-occurring psychiatric conditions and developing solutions

• Structuring life to prevent relapse

• Recognizing risky situations and learning coping strategies

• Learning healthy living

• Developing self-awareness

• Learning to manage desires, emotions, and thoughts

• Building skills such as acceptance, honesty, and distress tolerance

• Including the family—one of the most important components of treatment—into the process and ensuring they adopt supportive attitudes and behaviors

Within the scope of the Gambling Addiction Treatment Center, the aim is to prevent gambling behavior through a personalized and holistic approach including clinical evaluation, medication treatment, individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy. Another important feature of the gambling addiction treatment program is that, because it is individualized, it is suitable not only for face-to-face sessions but also for online treatment options.

How Is Gambling Addiction Treated?

Applications to the Gambling Addiction Treatment Center are evaluated by a psychiatrist or psychologist specialized in this field. Based on the evaluation results, the treatment program is determined together with the individual and their family.

Within the treatment program, decisions are made jointly regarding which evidence-based methods will be used, including:

• Inpatient or outpatient treatment options

• Medication treatment

• Individual therapy

• Group therapy

• Family therapy

• Family group therapy

• Support groups such as Gamblers Anonymous

In individual therapies, we apply the Personal Recovery Program and the Gambling Modular Intervention Program, which we developed based on international practices and our clinical experience.

In group therapies, we enable patients to benefit from each other’s positive experiences. In weekly group sessions guided by a therapist, individuals who have gone through similar processes have the opportunity to share their experiences with others.

Through individual family therapy and family group therapy, we include the family—one of the most important components of recovery—into the treatment process, ensuring they become active in both the recovery process and financial management. The family, which is heavily affected by the process, is also supported psychologically when necessary.

What Makes Our Gambling Addiction Treatment Center Different?

• Treatment is provided by expert professors, psychiatrists, and psychologists specialized in this field.

• A holistic evaluation is conducted.

• Both inpatient and outpatient treatment options are offered.

• A treatment approach combining medication, individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy is adopted.

• Each treatment has structured programs.

• Family is considered a key component of treatment.

• Follow-up planning is provided.

How Can You Tell If Someone Has a Gambling Addiction?

What Are Gambling Tools and Platforms?

Today, anything can become a tool for gambling. Platforms may be online or live. Individuals may switch between different types of gambling. Once gambling reaches the addiction stage, all types carry the same risk.

Betting games may include: football, tennis, basketball, horse racing, dog racing, virtual races, rapido, virtual golf, virtual hockey, virtual basketball, virtual badminton, Formula 1, cricket, and many more.

Casino games: poker, slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, dice games, and keno.

Lottery games: national lottery, number games, scratch cards, and similar.

Stock markets: Forex, derivatives markets, cryptocurrencies.

Stages of Gambling Behavior

1) Winning Phase

This stage usually begins with a “win.” Mental preoccupation, tolerance, and loss of control start to develop. Time and effort spent gambling increase. While hoping for luck, individuals start believing they are developing skills. The person begins to enjoy gambling and focuses on wins rather than losses.

2) Losing Phase

This phase begins with a major loss. The pursuit of recovering losses begins. Gambling increasingly becomes a priority. Borrowing and taking loans often start during this phase. A common pattern is paying off one debt with another. Any money won is used to pay debt and gamble again.

3) Exhaustion Phase

This is the stage where nothing is left. The gambler becomes unhappy. Depression and suicide attempts are high.

4) Giving Up Phase

This is the stage where everything has been lost. The individual continues gambling, but gambling behavior becomes chaotic. Co-occurring psychiatric problems increase during this phase.

How Is Gambling Addiction Diagnosed?

The evaluation process for patients who apply due to gambling behavior consists of two stages. In the first stage, the clinician takes a detailed history from the patient and their family. To assess how risky gambling behavior is in terms of addiction, the Gambling Risk Screening Scale (KURT) is used.

Scoring is:

• Never: 0 points

• Sometimes: 1 point

• Almost always: 2 points

Individuals scoring 9.5 or above on the total scale should be considered at high risk for gambling addiction. Risky gamblers should seek treatment support to prevent developing gambling addiction.

GAMBLING RISK SCREENING SCALE (KURT)

(The scale items follow in the original format.)

To diagnose gambling addiction, DSM-5 diagnostic criteria are used along with clinical evaluation. If an individual meets:

• 4–5 criteria: mild

• 6–7 criteria: moderate

• 8–9 criteria: severe gambling addiction

DSM-5 criteria include:

• Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to achieve excitement

• Restlessness or irritability when trying to stop

• Repeated unsuccessful attempts to control or stop gambling

• Frequent preoccupation with gambling

• Gambling when distressed

• Chasing losses

• Lying to conceal gambling

• Jeopardizing relationships, work, or education

• Relying on others for money due to gambling losses

How Is Gambling Addiction Treated at Moodist?

Although a large population gambles, the proportion that develops gambling addiction is estimated to be 1.2% to 7.1%, which is significant. Studies show that only about 10% of gambling addicts seek treatment. Early dropout and relapse rates are high. Combining the methods listed below increases treatment success.

Medication Treatment

Although there is no medication specifically developed for gambling addiction, medications may be used to reduce cravings and impulses and to prevent relapse. If gambling addiction is accompanied by depression, anxiety, or sleep problems, medication may also be used. Medication should be prescribed by a psychiatrist specialized in gambling addiction and used at adequate dose and duration.

Individual Therapies

These are therapies conducted with the person experiencing gambling problems. Individual therapies include three modules:

1) Personal Recovery Program

This program consists of 3 stages and 36 exercises. It includes foundational work such as raising awareness, preventing relapse, and structuring life.

(The detailed modules and stages continue in the same order.)

2) Gambling Modular Intervention Program

A structured, client-focused, interactive program designed to treat gambling addiction and related issues.

Purpose:

• Provide information about gambling addiction

• Identify risks related to gambling behavior

• Increase awareness of its effects

• Recognize cognitive traps and false beliefs

• Identify relapse risks and take precautions

• Support motivation and change

• Work with the family

Key Features:

• Consists of 10 modules

• Individual therapy format

• Psychoeducation-based feedback model

• One module per session

• Weekly sessions recommended

• Suitable for online delivery

• Includes family psychoeducation

• For individuals aged 16+

Group Therapies

Interactive, learning-based therapies led by a specialist and attended by others who struggle with gambling. Participants learn from each other’s experiences and gain insight.

Topics may include:

• Awareness

• Understanding gambling

• Delaying immediate action

• Managing urges, emotions, and thoughts

• Cognitive distortions

• Triggers and high-risk situations

• Rebuilding family relationships

• Structuring time

• Stress and anger management

• Self-care

Family Therapies

Therapies that include the families of people with gambling problems. Conducted in two ways:

• Individual family sessions

• Family group therapies

Self-Help Groups

Gamblers Anonymous self-help groups are widespread worldwide and enable individuals to maintain recovery. People who have managed their gambling up to a certain level guide newcomers while continuing their own recovery.

Inpatient Treatment

In cases where the person may harm themselves or others—especially when there are suicidal thoughts—or when they cannot control their gambling urges, inpatient treatment may be chosen together with the patient.

In inpatient treatment, the following may be implemented:

• Evaluation battery

• Medication treatment

• Gambling personal recovery program

• Daily gambling inventory

• Gambling psychoeducation cards

• Family psychoeducation

• Group therapy

Ways to Change Gambling Behavior

• Do not rely on gambling to make money.

• Never borrow money to gamble.

• If you have reached the addiction stage, stop gambling entirely.

• Do not gamble to cope with distressing emotions or stress.

• If you lose money, do not gamble again to win it back.

• Learn to manage gambling thoughts (your mind will set traps).

• Seek support to recognize cognitive traps.

• Avoid gambling environments (casino, cafes, betting shops) and digital platforms.

• Carry only enough money for daily needs; avoid using credit cards and ATM cards.

• Change your lifestyle; replace harmful habits with positive behaviors.

• Continue long-term treatment, as relapse may occur even after long periods.