How to Get Financial Help for Gamblers (20 Companies That Help)

Yes, there are ways to get financial help for gamblers.

If you or someone you know has problems with gambling, this article reveals how to get financial help for gamblers.

  

Why Financial Help for Gamblers?

As Kenny Rogers melodically instructs, “You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold them, know when to walk away and know when to run.” (The Gambler)

This is sound advice for an individual who has their gambling habit in check and is not chasing after their losses or throwing good money after bad.

Often, Hollywood depicts gambling as glamourous in such movies as Casino Royale, the rainmaker, and other movies where the gambler is cool, calm, and collected.

The gambler seldom loses and walks away from the gambling table a winner with a huge stack of chips to turn in at the cashier.

The unfortunate reality is that this is not often the case.

It happens on very rare occasions.

One only needs to look at the opulence and extravagance of casinos to realize that they are making money and therefore in all probability, their customers are the ones that are providing that money.

Speaking of money, let us look at some ways that gamblers can get help and some companies that will be able to help them in this effort.

 

Personal Story

In our geographical backyard, we have a casino run by a native American tribe.

I used to go there frequently due to my wife’s illness and this was my one significant release from the associated stress.

On one particular trip, I sat down at the blackjack table, and before I even had gotten my chips, I was waiting for the opportunity to play.

While sitting there I watched a player to my left pull out of his pocket five $100 bills and receive five black chips.

He placed the chips in one of the betting circles and then the dealing began and, you guessed it, he lost.

He then reached into his pocket again and pulled out another $1000 and proceeded to get 10 black chips and then play two hands and lost.

I watched him walk away and without casting any judgments, it certainly seems that he was chasing money.

I felt such empathy for him.

 

20 Best Tips & Companies/Programs to Help Get Financial Help for Gamblers

 

1. Know What Gambling Addiction Is

Gambling is an activity in which an individual anticipates or hopes for an expected result and in doing so makes a bet or a wager hoping a certain result will occur.

The motivation of a gambler is not only the thrill of receiving money based on that wager but also has emotional and mental rewards through the release of dopamine in the brain system due to the excitement of the activity.

Gambling addiction is a behavior demonstrated by an individual in which they are overwhelmingly compelled to gamble to the point of it adversely affecting all aspects of their lives.

Those aspects of their lives include relationships, their health, potential loss of job, and a negative impact on their financial situation.

A compulsive gambler thinks constantly about gambling to the point of being consumed by his or her unnatural compulsion to make the next wager.

 

2. Know How Gamblers Get Their Money

When talking about how to get financial help for gamblers, it is important to take a look at the aggressiveness of a gambler and the extent to which they will go to get the needed money.

A gambler will use their debit cards to drain their checking and savings accounts, utilize credit cards, take out loans, second mortgages, borrow money from friends and relatives, and so forth,

The lifeline of a gambler is their money, and they will do just about anything or say anything to get their next amount of money to gamble.

 

3. Reality

To get financial help for gamblers, it is important to get a strong dose of reality.

Driven by the uncontrollable compulsion to gamble is also the misplaced illusion that somehow their next bet is going to be a winner and things will begin to turn around.

The reality is that not many individuals have the necessary skill set to understand the odds and gambling probabilities nor do they have the necessary monetary stake to ride out the ebbs and flows of the reality of winning and losing in the gambling process.

Also, their compulsion overrides their logic, and rather than walking away during a losing streak they often increase their bets in hopes of gaining that money back and more.

There are not many professional gamblers that can be successful at earning a living by gambling.

Gambling is that classic definition of insanity as stated by Albert Einstein when he said, “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

 

4. Choosing to Quit

Another important decision that the gambler needs to come to grips with on getting financial help is that they need to make a conscious choice of endeavoring to recognize that they have a problem, commit to endeavor to stop gambling and seek help.

As with all challenges in our lives, the most important step to meeting that challenge begins in the mind and making a conscious choice to go in the direction that provides a solution to the challenge.

 

 

5. Cut Off the Funding

After an individual has made the conscious decision to approach and find a resolution to their gambling problem, the next step in getting financial help for an individual is by cutting off their financial stream of gambling money.

Some of those practical steps of cutting off the funding for a gambler could be the closing of credit cards that have been used to obtain money to gamble, not carrying or having an ATM card, having your banking institution require two signatures, etc.

 

6. Receiving Help

The best way to get financial help for a gambler is through practical support measures.

Specifically, there is a national 800 number that will connect the gambler to a personal counselor to help talk about their addiction and to potentially help sort out some of the confusion and guilt that the gambler is experiencing.

There are also treatment centers and clinics for individuals with gambling addiction.

Although these options are associated with the money required to receive the services, it is important to check with your health insurance whereas some of the coverage is required through the Affordable Care Act Mandate.

Also, some not-for-profits offer residential programs through a spiritual/work therapy program.

One such program is the adult rehabilitation center that is administered by The Salvation Army in various communities.

 

7. Support System

There is only one person that can help an individual who has a gambling addiction.

That one person is the gambler themselves.

However, despite any adverse treatment received, loyal family and friends will not turn their back on the gambler but fully embrace them as an individual.

The distinction is to support the individual but not support their destructive habits.

Also, there are many support groups available to help the compulsive gambler and these programs can be offered.

 

8. Don’t Enable

Another important way to get financial help for gamblers is to not enable them.

Often, well-meaning friends and family won’t give money for their gambling habit but will help to pay the rent, utilities, or other bills that come due during the month.

This simply alleviates the burden of the gambler and, quite frankly, frees up money that doesn’t need to be set aside for these bills and can be used for online gambling or at a casino.

It is also important for friends and family not to enable the gambler by paying off any indebtedness.

This does not allow for the proper negative impact of the gambling consequences to be placed squarely on the gambler’s shoulders and lets them “off the hook.”

 

9. Incentive

To get financial help for or as a gambler, another key factor is to be motivated or incentivized.

The best incentive is that you or the gambler would wish to do this for themselves.

Understanding the devastating effects on themselves personally and financially would be an epiphany that perhaps would help the gambler to stop or curtail their activities.

Another incentive could be for the individual to understand the devastating effects that it has on their loved ones and that this would add to their strong desire to at least seek help and move forward in treatment.

 

10. Software

If an individual likes to gamble from the comfort of their home, this compulsion is certainly accommodated through several gambling websites.

However, built into the software of some of these gambling programs is the ability to block the gambler from making wagers.

Specifically, some sites have a timeout function that allows you to block yourself from utilizing the site in a time range from one day on up to six months.

Also, there is software that can be downloaded on various technology devices that is at no charge to the individual and prevents the gambler from accessing gambling websites.

 

11. Candid Assessment

In seeking financial help for the addicted gambler, there needs to be a candid assessment of the financial situation.

Typically, if an individual is struggling with an issue, they often think that they can handle it on their own.

Additionally, phrases such as compulsive gambler or addiction have negative implications and many individuals will go down the road of denial.

Some telltale signs of compulsive gambling addiction include:

• Hiding gambling activity
• Betting larger amounts of money to compensate for losses
• Gambling dominates your thinking selling items to get more money for gambling
• Irritability when gambling is personally discussed
• Lying about gambling losses
• Financial problems associated with gambling
• And more

 

12. Credit Counselor

Many organizations are ready to provide practical assistance.

As part of seeking help in taking measures to help with a compulsive gambling problem, it is important to couple this action with the action of credit counseling.

A credit counselor will help to gauge the individual on how to best handle their finances and suggest or recommend what action steps to take as it relates to handling their budget.

This is an important step as it speaks to the individual’s desire to gain control back over their entire life and this is an indicator that that is a strong desire on their part.

A quality credit counseling organization is the NFCC. By accessing this non-profit’s services, the gambler will be well on their way to paying off debt, gaining assistance through budget preparation, and the provision of counsel to improve the individual’s financial health.

NFCC is an acronym that stands for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

 

13. Listing

This process of assessing the financial situation would include the writing down of all indebtedness.

This indebtedness would include amounts owing to credit card companies, loans, any “markers” that have been extended by a bookie or gambling institution, etc.

This process will serve to be an “in your face” representation of not only what is owed but the impact on your financial situation.

However, it is important not to allow this full representation of your financial situation to put you into the throes of depression.

Simply accept it for what it is use it to motivate you and as a reality check to move forward in taking control back of your personal and financial life.

 

14. American Gaming Association

The American Gaming Association has invested in individuals who struggle with a gambling addiction.

Through their $300 million a year investment, they provide support for gamblers through intervention and support programs.

Also, the gaming Association has launched a public service campaign.

It would appear that this campaign has been launched due to the increased gambling opportunities afforded to the American people especially as it relates to sports betting.

The intent of their campaign, Have A Game Plan Bet Responsibly, is focused more on responsible gambling rather than encouraging people not to gamble.

 

15. Consolidate Debt

Another opportunity to get financial help for a gambler is to consolidate their debt.

Consolidating one’s debt means that a loan is provided by a financial institution that provides a lower interest rate and the indebtedness is paid off and the recipient of the consolidated loan will have one payment to make to the loan company at a lower interest rate.

 

16. Create a Budget

In taking back control of your life and getting financial help for the gambler, it is important to also establish a budget.

A budget will not only contain the household’s ongoing debts and the streams of income coming to the household but will also have a specific line item that will reflect the amount of money that will be set aside to pay down the gambling debt.

It is important to realize that emergencies call for emergency actions.

Therefore, the expense side of your budget should be as barebone as possible which means the cutting out of certain activities to get your life your financial life turned around.

Some of the less critical items on the expense side of the budget could include those daily stops to the coffee shop, cutting the TV cable, removing excess streaming services, etc.

 

17. Debt Settlement

There are many companies available through the Internet that will help you to negotiate your indebtedness and make it more manageable.

These companies deal in debt settlement and will work with your creditors to pay what is owed them but negotiate a lower fee or perhaps get the interest on any outstanding balances waived.

Two such debt reduction companies include Nationaldebtrelief.com or Accrediteddebtrelief.com.

Also, there are nonprofit debt reduction companies such as Christiancreditcounselors.org.

 

18. Second Job

Another strategy to get financial help for gamblers will provide a dual solution to the indebtedness realized by the gambler.

A suggestion is to find a second job or a side hustle, the money that is earned can be set aside to resolve the gambling indebtedness.

Also, with a second job, your time and focus will concentrate on the performance of that job and help to keep you away from the Internet with your desire to gamble or from going to the local casino.

 

19. Bankruptcy

Another option to get financial help for a gambler is to take advantage of American bankruptcy laws.

This is a fairly drastic measure and should be considered only as a last resort.

Declaring bankruptcy, will eliminate unsecured debt but has a long-term impact on an individual’s financial condition.

Specifically, if choosing to go the bankruptcy route, the individual will have difficulty in securing loans in the future for a period of 7 to 10 years.

 

20. Low-Interest Credit Card

Another option to pay off indebtedness, if the individual’s credit score still permits it, is to apply for a low or no interest fee credit card.

This option, if exercised, should be closely monitored as it can be just another option for a gambler to obtain more money to feed their addictive gambling habit.

Check out the following related articles for more tips:

• The Impact of Gambling on Businesses
• What to do when Lost Money Gambling
• What to do when you have Gambling Debt
• Difference between Speculation & Gambling
• Difference between Investing & Gambling

 

Getting Financial Help for Gambling FAQs

 

What Is the Practical Outlook for an Individual Wishing to Recover From Gambling Addiction?

Close to 90% of individuals who enter into a gambling addictive program suffer some sort of relapse.

Many experts believe that the relapse is part of the process and should be anticipated and accepted as part of the recovery and journey.

Generally, it takes two or more treatment options for an individual to be firmly entrenched on the road to recovery.

 

Can a Gambler Just Make Up Their Mind to Stop?

There are of course those rare exceptions where an individual by sheer willpower can indicate to themselves that the gambling path that they are on is destructive and make the appropriate decision accordingly.

However, for the most part, gambling addiction is like any other addiction such as drug or alcohol.

Consequently, the addiction and compulsion involved with this behavior are more than what the individual can manage and often needs a recovery program with appropriate treatment to overcome the addiction daily.

 

You Can Do It

If you are a gambler there are a considerable number of helping organizations and agencies that understand what you are going through, and their commitment is to help.

If you are the concerned family member of a compulsive gambler there is also helpful for you as well in dealing with the emotional and psychological roller-coaster that you experience with this compulsive activity.

 

Conclusion

Compulsive gambling is a destructive disease and the individual that is enslaved by this addiction is most likely helpless to control their actions.

Fortunately, there is financial help available for the gambler who wishes to turn things around and all it takes is an act of the will to begin the process.

The reality is you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.