Pathological or compulsive gambler: definition

The pathological gambler, also known as a compulsive gambler, is a person who has lost control of his or her gambling relationship, for whom gambling is no longer a pleasure, but a need that mobilizes all his or her energy and causes him or her such suffering that he or she wishes to stop, but is unable to do so without help. This is the extreme phase of a generally long process, during which the gambler will have denied all warning signs. Over time, his or her situation has deteriorated further and further, particularly in social, family, professional and, of course, financial terms. "Gamblers Anonymous" define a compulsive gambler as "someone whose gambling has created repeated and increasingly serious problems in any area of his or her personal and relational life."

Quite often, the compulsive gambler suffers from a problem of distorted perception of reality. When they lose, they don't perceive themselves as being in the loss phase, but as being at a standstill in the gain phase. He's sure that the winning phase will return, and maintains the illusion of defeating the system.

Most gambling associations and help services list the main symptoms and offer tests that attempt to concretize the question "Do I have a problem with gambling?". Take the test!

It's estimated that over 1% of the European population corresponds to the definition of a pathological gambler! Although it is not generally recognized as an illness, scientists have clarified the neurobiological aspects which are the same as for dependence on psychotropic drugs. The comparison with drug or alcohol use is apt. Compulsive gamblers talk about it in these terms. In fact, just as abstinent alcoholics never claim to be cured, even after several years of withdrawal, pathological gamblers remain hypersensitive to incentives to gamble.

It should also be noted that pathological gambling is recognized as an illness in the DSM, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.