Sunday's Game Means Major Risks for Gambling Addicts

HANOVER, Va., Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- When the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers go head to head on Sunday, millions of Americans will be betting on which team will take home the Lombardi Trophy. Unfortunately, no matter which team wins, the outcome will be a loss for problem and compulsive gamblers.

"The game on Sunday is the biggest sporting event of the year, but it's also a major event for gamblers," said Bob Cabaniss, executive director of Williamsville Wellness and recovering gambling addict. "Big games mean big bets and even bigger risks. All sports fans need to be aware of problem gambling's warning signs so we can protect and help our loved ones before their gambling becomes a serious issue."

There are more than three million problem gamblers in the U.S. and the number is growing. Gambling addiction is not an isolated illness. The staff at Williamsville Wellness also frequently treats depression, emotional disorders and substance abuse, as they are all commonly linked to gambling addiction. Identifying addiction warning signs can help identify whether a common pastime has slipped into a compulsive, dangerous addiction.

Gambling Addiction Warning Signs in Adults:

• Talks about betting frequently
• Commits financially driven crimes (ex: check forgery, tax fraud)
• Increase in tobacco, alcohol and drug use
• Reads sports pages compulsively
• Never admits to losing
• Borrows excessive money from friends
• Has multiple credit cards
• Does not pay bills on time or at all
• More irritable, restless and isolative than usual

Gambling Addiction Warning Signs in Adolescents:

• Frequent dice or card games at home
• Frequent school absences
• Withdrawal from family
• Drop in school grades and extracurricular activities
• Lies about whereabouts
• Increased irritability
• Excessive internet use

Those who identify with several of the symptoms above could be a compulsive gambler and should seek counseling and treatment.

Williamsville Wellness, based just outside of Richmond, Virginia, provides a rural setting where patients can focus on recovery without any distractions.  Williamsville Wellness is the only treatment facility in the United States licensed to treat gambling addiction. Alongside a highly-trained staff of psychologists, counselors and social workers, Cabaniss developed an Advanced Synergized Treatment method that combines eight different therapeutic modalities, focused entirely on the treatment of problem gambling.  No other treatment center in the U.S. offers this program.

SOURCE Williamsville Wellness

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