¡No estás solo! Muchas familias, seres queridos y amigos de jugadores problemáticos pueden verse gravemente afectados mental, física y financieramente por esta adicción oculta. Es crucial que establezcas límites y cuides de ti mismo. Al igual que cuando escuchas las instrucciones de seguridad en un avión, dicen que te pongas tu propia máscara primero, porque no puedes ayudar a los demás sin haber garantizado tu propia seguridad primero. Sigue leyendo este artículo para ver qué puedes hacer por ti mismo para enfrentar el estrés causado por esta adicción y ayudar al jugador compulsivo en su proceso de recuperación.

Para comenzar, es importante entender que esto no es una batalla entre el ser querido y el jugador problemático, es una batalla que se pelea juntos contra la propia adicción. Es importante entender que, la adicción en sí misma puede cambiar drásticamente el comportamiento y el carácter del jugador compulsivo. Es posible que ya te hayas sorprendido por estos mecanismos de defensa, como la negación, la transferencia de culpa, la manipulación y el efecto secundario de la mentira patológica. En primer lugar, debes mantenerte a salvo mientras lidias con esta persona. La triste realidad es que el juego problemático también puede llevar al abandono y a la violencia doméstica. Esto podría significar amenazarte verbalmente, físicamente o incluso volverse violento arrojando objetos o golpeándote. El abuso también puede presentarse en forma de “gaslighting”, lo que significa que mienten o te dicen cosas una y otra vez hasta que dudes de ti mismo, en pocas palabras, manipulación. La Línea Nacional contra la Violencia Doméstica es 1-800-799-7233[1], la Línea de Violencia Doméstica de la Florida es 1-800-500-1119 y la Línea Directa de Abuso de la Florida es 1-800-962-2873[2]. Todas están disponibles las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana. Si te encuentras en una situación en la que temes por tu seguridad, no dudes en llamar al 911.

Ten en cuenta que existen recursos adaptados a seres queridos afectados por el juego compulsivo, disponibles en cualquier momento del día o la noche en la Florida a través de la Línea de Ayuda 888-ADMIT-IT. Especialistas experimentados están listos para conectarte con las reuniones de apoyo de “GamAnon” para seres queridos de jugadores problemáticos, los Cuadernos de Recuperación para seres queridos del FCCG “A Chance for Change”, el Kit de Deuda Financiera y Presupuesto del FCCG, referencias de consejería de nuestra red de proveedores de tratamiento de adicciones al juego con licencia y certificados, el Programa de Conexión entre Pares del FCCG y mucho más. La ayuda y la esperanza están a solo una llamada o mensaje de texto de distancia.

Aquí hay algunas formas de ayudarte a ti mismo durante este difícil momento:

• No te culpes a ti mismo: En primer lugar, debes saber que no eres culpable de la adicción de tu ser querido. Protegerte a ti mismo y a tu familia de más dificultades financieras es importante. Necesitas cuidarte y cuidar a tu familia. No tienes control sobre el jugador compulsivo, solo puedes alentarlo a buscar ayuda llamando a la Línea de Ayuda 888-ADMIT-IT; esta Línea de Ayuda también puede apoyarte a TI durante estos tiempos desafiantes.
• Cuídate a ti mismo: Vivir con un jugador compulsivo puede poner una inmensa presión en una relación. Esto puede causar ansiedad, depresión y dolor. Un ser querido puede comer en exceso, beber en exceso o gastar en exceso como reacción al problema, intentando limitar el acceso del jugador al dinero agotando los ahorros, un enfoque destructivo por sí solo. Los seres queridos pueden incluso pensar que, si van a jugar con la persona afectada, pueden controlar mejor la situación, pero esto simplemente no es cierto. Es comprensible que te sientas perdido sobre qué hacer, y eso es natural. Por eso, la Línea de Ayuda 888-ADMIT-IT está lista y dispuesta a conectarte con una amplia gama de recursos que abordan casi todas las situaciones causadas por el juego problemático, todo sin sacrificar tus propias necesidades.
• Céntrate en tu familia: En casos extremos, el juego compulsivo puede llevar a problemas financieros de emergencia que amenazan las necesidades básicas como la comida y la vivienda, especialmente preocupante cuando hay niños en el hogar. Si ya te encuentras en esta situación o temes estar cerca de ella, comunícate de inmediato con la Línea de Ayuda 888-ADMIT-IT para conectarte con recursos locales de vivienda temporal, bancos de alimentos y otros apoyos financieros de emergencia. Los impactos de la adicción al juego también pueden afectar la salud mental de un niño, ya que él o ella es testigo de discusiones familiares, tensión, violencia familiar o desintegración. Puedes apoyar emocionalmente a tus hijos alentándolos a compartir sus sentimientos cuando estén listos para hacerlo. Asegúrate de que sepan que no son responsables y céntrate en involucrarlos en actividades grupales y en sus pasatiempos favoritos.

Busca apoyo inmediato llamando o enviando un mensaje de texto a la Línea de Ayuda para Problemas de Juego 888-ADMIT-IT, que está disponible las 24 horas al día, 7 días a la semana, es Confidencial, Multilingüe y está atendida por especialistas altamente capacitados. Nunca es demasiado tarde ni demasiado pronto para comenzar tu propia recuperación como ser querido afectado por el juego compulsivo.

[1] “Safety and Protection.” Florida Department of Children and Families, www.myflfamilies.com/services/abuse. Accessed 30 Aug. 2023.

[2] “National Domestic Violence Hotline.” The Hotline, National Domestic Violence Hotline, 27 Apr. 2023, www.thehotline.org/.

You are not alone! So many families, loved ones, and friends of problem gamblers can be severely mentally, physically, and financially impacted by this hidden addiction. It is crucial that you set boundaries and take care of yourself. Much like when you are watching the safety presentation on an airplane, they say for you to put your own mask on first, because you can’t help others without ensuring your own safety first. Read on to see what you can do for yourself to cope with the stress caused by this addiction and help support the problem gambler in finding recovery.

To begin, it is important to understand that this is not a battle between the loved one and the problem gambler. It’s a battle fought together against the addiction itself. It is important to understand that the addiction itself can dramatically change the behavior and demeanor of the compulsive gambler. You may have already been taken aback by these defense mechanisms acting out, like denial, shifting blame, manipulation, and the side effect of pathological lying. First and foremost, you must keep yourself safe while dealing with this person. The unfortunate reality is that problem gambling can also lead to family neglect and violence. This could mean threatening you verbally, physically, or actually getting violent by throwing things or hitting you. Abuse can also come in the form of gaslighting, meaning they lie or say things to you over and over again until you doubt yourself – simply put; manipulation. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233[1], the Florida Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-500-1119, and the Florida Abuse Hotline is 1-800-962-2873[2] – all are available 24/7. If you are in a situation where you fear for your safety, call 911.

Know that resources tailored to loved ones impacted by problem gambling are available any time of day or night in Florida through the 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine. Experienced Specialists are standing by and ready to connect you with the GamAnon Self-Help Support Meetings for loved ones of problem gamblers, FCCG’s A Chance for Change Recovery Workbooks for Loved Ones, the FCCG’s Financial Debt & Budgeting Toolkit, counseling referrals from our network of licensed and certified gambling addiction treatment providers, the FCCG’s Peer Connect Program, and so much more. Help and hope are just a call or text away.

Here are a few ways to help yourself through this trying time:

• Don’t blame yourself: First, you must know you are not to blame for your loved one’s addiction. Protecting yourself and your family from further financial hardships is important. You need to care for yourself and your family. You have no control over the compulsive gambler. You can only encourage the problem gambler to get help by calling the 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine, and the HelpLine can also support YOU during these challenging times.
• Take care of yourself: Living with a compulsive gambler can place immense strain on a relationship. This can cause anxiety, depression, and grief. A loved one may over eat, over drink, or over spend in reaction to the problem, attempting to limit the gambler’s access to money by depleting savings – a destructive approach on its own. Loved ones may even think if they go gamble with the affected individual, they can better control the situation, but this simply isn’t true. It is understandable that you may feel at a loss for what to do – and that’s natural. That’s why the 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine is standing by and ready to connect you with a wide range of resources that address nearly every situation brought about by problem gambling, all without sacrificing your own needs.
• Focus on your family: In extreme cases, problem gambling can lead to emergency financial problems that threaten basic needs like food and shelter, especially concerning when there are children in the household. If you are already in or fear you are nearing this situation, contact the 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine immediately for connection to local resources for temporary housing, food banks, and other emergency financial supports. The impacts of gambling addiction can also take a toll on a child’s mental health, as he or she witnesses family arguments, tension, family violence, or breakdown. You can support your children emotionally by encouraging them to share their feelings when they are ready to do so. Be sure they know they are not responsible, and focus on engaging them with group activities and their favorite hobbies.

Reach out for immediate support by calling or texting the 24/7, Confidential, and Multilingual 888-ADMIT-IT Problem Gambling HelpLine, and get connected to resources from highly trained Specialists. It is never too late or too soon to begin your own recovery, as a loved one impacted by problem gambling.

[1] “Safety and Protection.” Florida Department of Children and Families, www.myflfamilies.com/services/abuse. Accessed 30 Aug. 2023.

[2] “National Domestic Violence Hotline.” The Hotline, National Domestic Violence Hotline, 27 Apr. 2023, www.thehotline.org/.

Posted on September 13, 2023 by Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling under Mental Health, Problem Gambling Awareness

Recently in Las Vegas, there was a local pub offering a nice promotion between 1 a.m. and 8 a.m. several days a week. Not a great promo and not likely to be repeated, but I’m not interested in providing more details about it than I already have. Suffice it to say it was close enough to where I live and juicy enough that I arranged my sleep schedule so that I was there during the requisite hours most of the days it was offered. 

A friend, “George,” told me about a different play somewhere else. In exchange, I told him about the graveyard shift promo. A lot of players share information on a quid pro quo basis, where we each share information useful to the other, and that was the case here. 

George told me that yes, it was a nice promotion, but that he was seldom out of bed during those hours. His sleep schedule is his business, but that got me to thinking.

Over the decades I’ve been in Vegas, I’ve adjusted my sleep schedule thousands of times to take advantage of a play with profit potential. (They didn’t always turn out to be profitable, of course, but that’s the way gambling goes.) The idea of a “regular sleep schedule” is anathema to me. I can nap any time and be ready to go at any hour, provided I’ve had sufficient warning. I indeed need my sleep like anybody else, but whether it’s at 2 a.m. or 2 p.m. is of little consequence to me. Occasionally I can go 24 hours if need be. Not as often as I used to be able to do it, but it’s still possible.

There’s always location, location, location, of course. I live in Vegas, where there are more than one hundred places to gamble — including small bars — and they all have promotions some of the time. Most of these promotions aren’t interesting to me, but sometimes . . . While it does take a considerable amount of scouting and networking to stay on top of which place is having which promotion when, many of my readers don’t live in or near a casino city — or perhaps only have a few places within easy driving distance.

Showing up somewhere at an odd hour is not so easy for people with regular full-time jobs or other responsibilities. If they have to be present and alert from nine to five (or any other set time), that eliminates the possibility of many plays. Sometimes because they are working at the time a promotion is going on. Sometimes because they need to prepare for later things.

There is also interaction with the regular world. Doctors, manicurists, restaurants, and other establishments are not typically open at 4 a.m. I know of the local markets that are open 24/7. Bonnie doesn’t drive anymore, and I take her places when I can. (She knows how to use Uber and Lyft.) This eliminates some plays, but not others. We also try to schedule our stops efficiently, so we go to places near each other back-to-back.

I think my time flexibility is one of my “secrets to success.” It’s not one of the usual secrets I mention (being able to learn and execute strategies well, obtaining and keeping a bankroll, keeping my welcome in as many places as possible, etc.), but it’s an important one nonetheless. 

Longtime readers and listeners to the former GWAE podcast know that I regularly study health-related information. Some of the doctors I’ve read say a regular sleep schedule is an important part of good health. It’s possible they’re correct. It’s possible that’s just something they do, and they think it’s part of the secret to good health. I’m not sure. But I’m willing to sacrifice that particular technique. The alternative is simply too valuable to pass up.

The fact that my friend George isn’t interested in having a flexible sleep schedule (which is cutting his bankroll short) is up to him. As is his comment, “I don’t like to eat vegetables,” which I think is cutting his life short. I’ll make sure he knows about this article (I’ll send him a “I wrote a blog about you” email) and he can do with it what he wishes. 

Septiembre es el Mes Nacional de Concientización sobre la Prevención del Suicidio. Lamentablemente, los datos provisionales de 2022 revelaron la cifra más alta de muertes anuales por suicidio registrada. Tras ajustarla por el crecimiento de la población y la edad, la tasa de suicidios ha aumentado en un impactante 16% desde 2011 [1].

El FCCG está creando conciencia sobre la relación con el juego problemático, que tiene la tasa de suicidio más alta entre todas las adicciones. Las estadísticas muestran que 1 de cada 5 jugadores compulsivos intentará el suicidio.

Primero, ¿por qué están aumentando las tasas de suicidio a nivel nacional? Los expertos aún no han llegado a una conclusión definitiva, pero han señalado la importancia de los síntomas de salud mental durante la pandemia de COVID-19, el aumento de las tensiones financieras (especialmente debido a la creciente inflación) y la dificultad para acceder a la atención de salud mental necesaria [1]. Después del inicio de la pandemia en 2020, el FCCG también destacó sus impactos en los problemas de juego, tal como se observó a través de los contactos con su Línea de Ayuda.

Mas allá de lo que puedan revelar las estadísticas agregadas, el suicidio es una preocupación personal primordial y la ayuda y la esperanza nunca están lejos. Cualquier persona en crisis puede comunicarse con la Línea Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio y la Crisis 988, en cualquier momento del día o la noche.

Una Crisis dentro de una Crisis: El Juego Compulsivo como Causa Raíz

Si el juego problemático es un factor, la causa raíz de las ideas suicidas es una crisis por sí sola que requiere atención urgente. Si se ignora, la adicción al juego llevará a la persona una y otra vez a la crisis, ya sea suicida o de otro tipo, a medida que las presiones aumentan y disminuyen. Por eso, la Línea de Ayuda 888-ADMIT-IT ofrece apoyo y recursos dedicados para los floridanos que sufren esta adicción oculta, las 24/7.

La adicción al juego es única en el sentido de que puede salirse rápidamente de control y causar problemas graves en todas las áreas de la vida, incluyendo la financiera, la relacional, la espiritual, la profesional y la emocional. Cuando una persona se ve atrapada en el juego compulsivo, puede perderse a sí misma, sentir que su vida está completamente fuera de control y concluir que no hay salida. Pero la realidad es que esto no podría estar más lejos de la verdad: ¡la recuperación es posible para aquellos con problemas de juego y el tratamiento está disponible! Cada año, miles de personas encuentran ayuda y esperanza a través de la línea de ayuda 888-ADMIT-IT.

El Informe Anual de la Línea de Ayuda del FCCG, reveló aumentos en todas las áreas relacionadas con la salud mental, emocional y doméstica durante el año, lo cual refleja tanto la magnitud como la gravedad de las dificultades experimentadas por los jugadores con problemas de juego. Los datos anónimos recopilados a partir de los contactos con la Línea de Ayuda 888-ADMIT-IT, revelaron niveles más altos de ansiedad (62%), depresión (63%) y trastornos neurológicos (20%) en comparación con el año anterior. Es importante destacar que casi una cuarta parte (24%) informó haber tenido ideas suicidas o intentos previos por parte del jugador, lo cual refleja un aumento del 50% respecto al año anterior. Al examinar los problemas de salud mental, emocional y doméstica en ambos géneros, los contactos con la Línea de Ayuda este año reportaron niveles más altos de dificultades de salud mental y emocional debido al juego experimentado por mujeres, en comparación con los jugadores hombres, tales como ansiedad y depresión. [2]

Si tú o alguien que conoces está experimentando pensamientos suicidas como resultado de la adicción al juego, ten en cuenta que estás en manos profesionales si llamas o envías un mensaje de texto a la Línea de Ayuda 888-ADMIT-IT. El suicidio es una respuesta permanente a un problema temporal. Siempre hay una salida a la desesperación que tú o un ser querido puedan sentir.

[1] Saunders, Heather, and Nirmita Panchal. “A Look at the Latest Suicide Data and Change over the Last Decade.” KFF, 21 Aug. 2023, www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/a-look-at-the-latest-suicide-data-and-change-over-the-last-decade/

[2] “2021–2022 24-Hour Problem Gambling Annual HelpLine Report.” Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, February 2023.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Sadly, provisional data for 2022 revealed the highest number of annual deaths by suicide on record. After adjusting for population growth and age, the suicide rate has risen by a shocking 16% since 2011. [1]

FCCG is raising awareness about the relation to disordered gambling, which has the highest suicide rate among all addictions. Statistics show that 1 in 5 compulsive gamblers will attempt suicide.

First, why are suicide rates increasing nationally? Experts have yet to come to a definitive conclusion but noted the significance of mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, rising financial stressors (particularly in light of rising inflation), and difficulty in accessing needed mental health care. [1] Following the onset of the pandemic in 2020, FCCG also highlighted its impacts on the issue of problem gambling as observed through contacts to its HelpLine.

Regardless of what the aggregate statistics may reveal, suicide is a personal concern first, and help and hope are never far away. Anyone in crisis can reach the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline any time of day or night.

A Crisis within a Crisis: Problem Gambling as the Root Cause

If problem gambling is a factor, the root cause of the suicidal ideation is a crisis of its own which requires urgent attention. If left unaddressed, gambling addiction will lead the individual to back to crisis again and again, whether suicidal or otherwise, as pressures ebb and flow. This is why the 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine provides dedicated supports and resources for Floridians suffering from this hidden addiction, 24/7.

Gambling addiction is unique in that it can soar out of control rapidly and cause serious problems in all areas of life, including financial, relational, spiritual, career wise, and emotionally. After compulsive gambling takes hold, the affected individual may at times not recognize him or herself anymore, feel like his or her life is completely out of control, and conclude that there is no way out. The reality is this could not be further from the truth: recovery is possible for disordered gambling, and treatment is available. Thousands find help and hope each year through 888-ADMIT-IT!

The FCCG’s HelpLine Annual Report showed increases across all types of mental health, emotional, and domestic areas during the year, reflecting both the magnitude and severity of difficulties experienced by problem gamblers. Anonymized data collected from 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine contacts revealed higher levels of anxiety (62%), depression (63%), and neurological disorders (20%) compared with the previous year. [2] Of significant note is that almost one-quarter (24%) disclosed suicidal ideations or attempts by the gambler, reflecting a 50% increase from the previous year. When examining mental health, emotional, and domestic problems across genders, HelpLine contacts this year reported higher levels of mental health and emotional difficulties due to gambling experienced by female gamblers, when compared to male gamblers, such as anxiety and depression. [2]

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts as a result of gambling addiction, know you are in professional hands if you call or text the 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine. Suicide is a permanent response to a temporary problem. There is always a way out of the hopelessness you or a loved one may feel.

[1] Saunders, Heather, and Nirmita Panchal. “A Look at the Latest Suicide Data and Change over the Last Decade.” KFF, 21 Aug. 2023, www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/a-look-at-the-latest-suicide-data-and-change-over-the-last-decade/

[2]“2021–2022 24-Hour Problem Gambling Annual HelpLine Report.” Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, February 2023.

In a recent blog post I wrote:

Another factor that is true for me that isn’t universally true for other players is that I have the ability to figure out and master strategies and I enjoy doing so. Thinking about, writing about, studying, and playing video poker occupies a much larger part of my waking hours, even after about 30 years of doing this, than these things occupy in the lives of most other players.

A poster named Jerry apparently thought I was too full of myself and responded:

No offense, but what you do is really not that special. But keep thinking it is if that is what floats your boat.

I didn’t make the original statement in the sense of, “Hey! Look at me! I’m so clever!” I am not contending that being a competent video poker player makes me unique, or worthy of a Nobel Prize, or anything of the sort, but I do think skill level is something that differentiates me from most other players.

In my classes, I’d get a large number of players who would come up and tell me they practiced on the computer all the time and the best they could do was 98% accuracy. They’d want to know if that was good enough.

My answer was that it was plenty good enough if they wanted to enjoy video poker for a hobby and were playing for relatively small stakes considering to their bankroll. But at that accuracy level, they were playing a losing game. If their ambition was to make money at video poker, 98% was nowhere near a level that would help them attain that goal.

I don’t have any accurate numbers on how many players are net winners. Tax data is the only place such information is collected and I don’t have access to it. Plus, every player has an incentive to understate wins and overstate losses. And every player decides for himself how to keep records. (Do you, for example, report every bit of free play, or all wins of less than $1,200? I suggest you’re in the minority if you do, even though the IRS rules say you should do both of these things. And do you consider comps as winnings? Or free meals? Or . . . ?)

Given that every estimate somebody makes on this sort of thing must be taken with a huge grain of salt, my experience is that less than 20% of players are actually winners at this game on a long-term basis.

But let’s say 20% even. The players who are in this more-successful 20% have skills that the other 80% don’t. Different people have different skills, of course. I listed a few skills in the original quotation, but we could also include such things as the ability to obtain and retain a bankroll, the psychological ability to put up with losing sessions and losing streaks, competence in a number of different games, access to good games, the willingness to scout, a network of other players where you talk about opportunities at various casinos, the ability to figure out promotions, and the ability to adjust your sleep schedule so that if there is a juicy promotion on the graveyard shift, you’re able to take advantage of it. Knowing the correct play on every hand when you study it as a test question is one thing. Correctly executing that play when you’re in the casino playing quickly is another. Playing progressives properly is an entirely different skill than playing games with a 4,000-coin royal.

To be successful at video poker, you don’t have to be good at all of those things — but it helps if you are. High intelligence isn’t mandatory. But it helps.

 I don’t know who the poster “Jerry” is. Perhaps I know him under a different name. Perhaps I would recognize him if I saw him. Maybe he’s in the successful 20%. I don’t know. But somebody who is in that 20% and has been so for decades is a relatively rare individual. And such a player can master a strategy better than players who are not in that 20%.

That’s what I was trying to say.

I had a conversation with a strong player, and he posed a series of ethical questions. He estimated that if I asked this question in a crowd of people, at least 75% of players would claim they would do the right thing in each situation. But if nobody else were around, less than 50% would actually do the right thing.

I’m not sure about his percentages, but they sound approximately right, more or less. So, let’s look at the questions.

CASE 1:  George starts by buying ten $1,000 TITO tickets because he will be playing $5 video poker at a bar during a promotion, and he doesn’t want to waste time inserting hundred-dollar bills into the acceptor. He’s playing a game where he gets a taxable for every quad, straight flush, or royal. After a half hour of play or so, he hits one of these jackpots. Since he expects the service will be slow because of the number of players playing the promotion, he moves to an adjacent machine where the same game is available.

This is when he notices that this new machine has $200 in credits left over from a previous player. The player left at least a half hour ago because nobody has been there while he was playing.

He inserts a $1,000 ticket into the machine (giving it $1,200 in credits) and begins to play. By the time his jackpot has been paid off and he’s signed the W-2G, his credits are down to $975. He cashes out these credits, puts the new TITO into his pocket, and resumes playing on his original machine.

About 15 minutes later, George hears somebody approach the machine and say to somebody else, “It shows $975 was cashed out.” He assumes this was the person who left the money in the machine in the first place. He continues to play without saying a word and the people go away. He didn’t even look at the person. Not knowing who he “ripped off” was easier to deal with than putting a face on the victim.

Would you have acted the same as George? Returned the money immediately when you discovered it on the machine? Or when you found out who the money belonged to, forked it over?

CASE 2:  Same as before, but now the amount left on the machine is $900. George has the money to play a $5 game, and for that, $200 is basically pocket change. But also on these machines is $1 blackjack and $900 is a lot of money to most people. The scene plays out as before.

Does the amount of money make a difference in your actions?

CASE 3:  Same as before, but now George is behind $2,500 when he finds the abandoned credits.

Does being behind today make you more likely to keep quiet?

CASE 4:  Same as CASE 1, except an hour or so later, the slot supervisor comes up and says, “Somebody reported they left $200 on the machine next to you. We looked at the camera feed and we saw you inserted a $1,000 ticket and kept playing. Technically, we cannot force you to return the money because it was abandoned. But I think it would be a nice thing if you gave the $200 back.”

What would you do now?

I think most of us will agree that “doing the right thing” means not keeping the money in any of these cases. Believing that to be true in general and actually doing that when the opportunity presents itself are very different things.

Part of this depends on your moral beliefs. Part of this depends on your circumstances. When I started in Vegas 30 years ago and was struggling to support myself, I almost certainly would have kept the money. Today, since I am not struggling financially and am more concerned with casinos letting me play rather than running out of bankroll, the only thing to think about is whether to give the $200 to the bartender or the floor person.

The thing is, while I’m interested in what the rest of you think about this, any claims of “I’d definitely return the money no questions asked!” will be met by a certain degree of skepticism. Many of you will be telling the truth; others not so much.  And since I don’t know most of you, I don’t know which of you are which. People in general profess to a much higher level of moral rectitude than they actually live by.

La sociedad nos ha inculcado creencias y valores falsos e insanos sobre nuestra relación y mal uso del dinero, llegando al punto de avergonzarnos. Nos enseñan a no hablar de dinero: es un asunto personal. Desde la infancia, nos transmiten creencias y valores sobre el dinero por parte de quienes nos rodean, a menudo sin comprender completamente cómo esto moldea nuestra relación con él. El juego compulsivo consume dinero y lleva a las personas afectadas a perder cualquier respeto o conexión con él.

La relación de una persona con el dinero puede cambiar a lo largo de su vida y cuando el juego problemático es un factor, esto es un eufemismo. El dinero puede generar incomodidad emocional, lo que a su vez puede llevar a los jugadores compulsivos a deshacerse de él lo más rápido posible, apostándolo, lo que con el tiempo puede desencadenar una reacción en cadena de problemas financieros, conflictos en las relaciones, ansiedad, depresión, problemas legales e incluso pensamientos suicidas.

Para alguien que sufre de juego problemático, el dinero es solo un medio para obtener la emoción que necesita del juego. Muchos jugadores compulsivos explican esto como “no tener ningún apego al dinero” mientras apuestan. No tienen conocimiento de cuánto han gastado, ganado o perdido y ya no se trata del dinero, ni siquiera de la victoria, se trata simplemente de seguir involucrados. Los jugadores problemáticos también experimentan distorsiones cognitivas (“pensamiento mágico”), que generan expectativas poco realistas para el juego, como creer que tienen control sobre los resultados del mismo o verlo como una solución a problemas financieros.

Tener acceso al dinero es un desencadenante para apostar, por lo tanto, establecer barreras al dinero puede ayudar en el camino hacia la recuperación del juego compulsivo. Encontrar formas de bloquearte cuando estás experimentando un impulso puede ser efectivo, y contar con información sobre los Programas de Autoexclusión de Acceso a Efectivo disponibles a través de la Línea de Ayuda 888-ADMIT-IT pueden ser fundamentales para lograr el éxito. Aquí tienes algunas cuestiones en las que puedes reflexionar:

• ¿Cómo puedes limitar tu acceso al dinero en cualquier momento?
• ¿Cuándo recibirás tu próximo pago? ¿Se depositará automáticamente?
• ¿Cuál puede ser un plan de seguridad para bloquear tu acceso?
• ¿Cuánto necesitas realmente en un día? ¿Para un café? ¿Almuerzo? ¿Cena?
• ¿Cuál es la cantidad mínima de dinero que necesitarías para apostar?

Encuentra una cantidad que cubra tus necesidades diarias y que esté por debajo de la cantidad mínima para apostar. Esa es la suma que deberías llevar contigo. Nadie necesita más de una tarjeta de crédito en todo momento, incluso en caso de emergencias. Recuerda que cuanto menos acceso tengas al dinero contigo en un momento dado, más limitada estará tu capacidad para actuar ante los impulsos de apostar. Los paquetes gratuitos de literatura de autoayuda disponibles a través de la Línea de Ayuda 888-ADMIT-IT, que incluyen los cuadernos de trabajo del FCGG Una Oportunidad para el Cambio, son solo uno de los muchos recursos valiosos que pueden ayudarte a establecer y seguir un plan realista para superar los problemas relacionados con el juego compulsivo.

¿Sabías que existe una segunda, y especialmente peligrosa, “euforia” asociada al juego compulsivo? Este fenómeno conocido como “el arte de salir del agujero”, representa el desafío y la emoción de salir de una situación provocada por el juego problemático. Las emociones y la dopamina, la hormona del “bienestar” que forma parte del sistema de recompensa del cerebro, se disparan hasta que el jugador problemático logra “salir del agujero”, ya sea persiguiendo pérdidas, recibiendo ayuda financiera de un amigo o familiar, o cometiendo un delito como fraude o robo. Este estado elevado también puede desencadenar otro episodio de juego y así comienza nuevamente este ciclo peligroso.

¿Puedes Escapar?

¿Puedes escapar? ¿Puede hacerlo un ser querido? La ayuda y el apoyo confidencial y multilingüe están disponibles las 24 horas, los 7 días de la semana en la Florida a través de la Línea de Ayuda para el Juego Compulsivo 888-ADMIT-IT. Acceder a recursos gratuitos es tan fácil como llamar o enviar un mensaje de texto al número de la Línea de Ayuda, iniciar un chat en vivo en gamblinghelp.org o enviarnos un correo electrónico a [email protected]. La recuperación es posible y hay tratamientos disponibles.