Gamblers Counseling Center

Resources

 

 

 

Action and Escape Gamblers – Described

Note: This article is an adaptation of a larger article from the Arizona Council on Problem Gambling, Inc. Web Site www.azccg.org.   Changes have been made in the text of this summary to fit the purposes of the Gamblers Counseling Center.

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. Most people who have come to know and work with pathological gamblers and their families know that this understanding is limiting and does not describe another broad group of gamblers which have been called “Escape Gamblers.”  For a larger description of these two types of gamblers you are invited to read the entire article at the web site of the Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling, Inc. – www.azccg.org.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ACTION COMPULSIVE GAMBLER

Action gamblers are usually domineering, controlling, manipulative and as a group are usually men even though at the Gamblers Counseling Center counselors have seen women Action Gamblers. They see themselves as friendly, sociable, gregarious and generous. 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 often begin to gamble for escape, medicating the pain they are feeling from the destruction created by their gambling with the narcotic-like effect of games that they see still requiring their “skill.”

Recovery among action gamblers will be more probable when: 1). the gambler receives help through a professional counselor who is trained and certified in the addiction of pathological gambling and its treatment and completes the program; 2). 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.

ESCAPE COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS

In 1999, 73% of all calls to the ACCG 1-800-Helpline were from or about Escape gamblers, up from 67% in 1998.  The rise of male Escape gamblers asking for help accounts for the difference.  At the end of 1999, 49% of the men asking for help were identified as Escape gamblers, in contrast to 37% in 1998.  Women Escape gamblers remained constant at near 95%.

The following deductions were made by the Arizona Council since 1997 as data has been collected from thousands of compulsive gamblers calling the 1-800-Helpline and information provided by gamblers attending the self-help program across Arizona.

Escape compulsive gamblers share some of the same characteristics as the Action gambler:

  • Low self esteem
  • Become liars
  • Manipulative
  • Evolve through four stages: Winning-Losing-Desperation-Hopeless (although their is no "Winning" stage for Escape gamblers, they do have winning episodes, but not phases. This is because Escape gamblers play "luck" and Action Gamblers playu "skill" games.

However, there are important differences. Understanding them can accelerate one’s recovery.

  • Gambling becomes a problem later in life, frequently after 30 or as late as 80.
  • Gamble at luck games; slot machines, video poker, bingo, lottery, other machines, Internet.
  • Gamble for different reasons than action gamblers.
  • Are numb, almost in a hypnotic like state while gambling. Gamble to escape problems.
  • Are free from physical and/or emotional pain while gambling
  • Nurturing, responsible individual majority of adult life.
  • Often victim of abuse
  • Does not like confrontation; in desperate need of empowerment
  • Often becomes compulsive almost immediately once predisposing factors emerge
  • Sometimes has winning episodes after becoming compulsive, but at this point winning is simply a means of gambling longer.
  • Usually seeks help for their gambling within 6 months to 3 years after becoming compulsive.
  • High probability of long term abstinence from gambling if able to become empowered by replacing gambling with other activity and regaining or developing coping skills
  • Probably codependent. Recovery greatly accelerated by recognizing and dealing with codependent issues.
  • Have a much more difficult time in early recovery. They don’t forgive themselves easily and have a deep sense of shame and guilt.
  • Spouses of women Escape gamblers are not likely to attend recovery programs such as GamAnon.
  • Have a better opportunity at long term recovery; become more involved in their own recovery.
  • Are more likely to seek professional help
  • Need empowering rather than humbling

THE PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF THE ILLNESS

Most escape gamblers begin by visiting a casino with friends or family once or twice as a social event, an opportunity to take a break from their problems and "have some fun". In other words, they gamble for recreation. However a few quickly step over the line into compulsive escape gambling. They rapidly fly through what is often referred to as the "winning" phase . However, for escape gamblers who gamble at games of luck, no winning phase exists.  It is more like an Introductory Phase.  On occasion there are winning episodes, but not phases. They may or may not have a big monetary win. For them, "winning" may have to do more with the empowerment that comes from entering a world which is free from outside controlling factors which provides a narcotic-like relief or escape from their worries. They are into phase two, the chasing stage, almost immediately and reach the third phase of desperation and fourth phase, hopelessness, within two to three years. They often seek professional counseling prior to attending their first self help meeting.

A common characteristics noticed at the Gamblers Counseling Center is that the “Introductory Phase” follows a life trauma – such as, the loss of a mate, job, meaning, etc.  Gambling becomes a way to cope with the pain of this loss.  Gambling becomes the means of compounding the loss – and then the shame takes over.

INSIDE the MIND of the ESCAPE GAMBLER

Typically, the escape gambler becomes enthralled with playing the slot, video poker or kino machine as noted by the Hotline of the Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling, Inc. It is exciting, it is fun, it does not talk back, it requires her full concentration. This gambler has to pay attention to the results of each roll; keep pushing the button or pulling the arm; Problems are forgotten for this time. After just a brief period of time at the machine an almost hypnotic trance occurs. The gambler now has found a way to completely forget about all problems. Life seems comfortable, happy, and free from turmoil. Most later report that, in retrospect, they know they were “hooked” from the very first play.

At the next return to the machine, there is again immediate relief from problems. By the second or third visit friends or family are not along. They want to leave after awhile; the gambler does not. She begins to go to the casino alone, stays for longer periods of time.  The casino is visited more often and the gambler may graduate rapidly to the dollar machine. While at the machine, there is no worry about anything except how to stay longer and play more often. No one is telling the gambler what to do, no phone calls, no one wanting this or wanting that, no demands, just freedom. Social needs are met. The change girl and other gamblers begin to be friends; other "regulars become friends as well. Life is very comfortable while at the casino. Other problems are forgotten and fun is at the casino. A favorite machine has been selected. There are also second and third favorites. The gambler begins to call it "my" machine. If someone else is at the chosen machine, the gambler is angry. The second machine becomes the grudging choice. The gambler may talk to the machine, telling it to "come on, pay up", or swear at it, and thank it when it pays. But this is the chosen machine – time and time again.  A lady recently said that she accused her machine of infidelity when she saw another lady win a jackpot at it. However, as soon as the winner left, she immediately returned to her machine, forgave its infidelity and continued the affair. Relationships with a machine are very real.


She begins to make plans about her next gambling trip, always specific about how much money she will gamble with, and how long she will stay. She vows that as soon as the money is gone or the time is up she plans on leaving. However, as soon as she sits down at the machine a trance like hypnotic effect takes place. She pulls the handle or pushes the button and all plans are abandoned. She will stay at the machine, often not even getting up to use the bathroom or eat, only leaving her machine to go to the ATM or to write a check, asking an employee or another gambler to watch her machine while she is gone. Even when she wins, she will continue to gamble until she has depleted all available resources at that session and leave only when she no longer has money with which to gamble. Winning at this point only means she can gamble longer. Money is not real; it is like play money and has no link to reality. While playing the machine, she may pray to God to just let her win, just let her get even.

When the escape compulsive gambler is finally out of funds, she is forced to leave the casino. She gets into her car feeling precisely like the action gambler who has just been taken out of action. She may pray, "Please never let me gamble again." She may swear that she will never gamble again, may curse God for allowing her to gamble; she may pound on the steering wheel, even scream and cry on the drive home and have thoughts about driving her car off of a bridge or into an oncoming vehicle (a thought she quickly abandons for fear of hurting someone else; as much as she wants to harm herself, she doesn't want it to appear self-inflicted and she doesn't really want to hurt a stranger). She will blame the casino, vowing never to return. But unfortunately, in order to escape the reality of the problems she already suffers and others she may have just created, she must gamble again.

Once home, she has already prepared lies about where she has been or what she has done, is already making plans about how to obtain more money to cover bad checks she may have written and to obtain money with which to win back her losses. She will probably be back at the machine the next day or very soon and the cycle will repeat itself again and again until finally her world comes crashing down.

It is the hope of the Gamblers Counseling Center that an increasing number of people will join a relationship with a real person and the payoff will be in respect, joy and empowerment.