Online betting and gambling addiction: signs, debt and what families can do

Is betting really an addiction?

Yes. Gambling addiction, whether through betting apps or online casinos, is what doctors call "gambling disorder": a recognized mental health condition in which a person keeps betting money again and again, even though it is clearly causing problems with their money, work and family. The American Psychiatric Association explains, on a page reviewed in 2024, that the diagnostic manual of mental disorders (DSM) places it among the behavioral addictions, because it resembles substance addictions in its symptoms, in its roots in the brain and in the way it is treated.

It is not a moral weakness or a lack of faith. According to a scientific review published by Rash and colleagues in 2016, research suggests that gambling and drugs act on the same reward system in the brain, which is linked to the chemical dopamine, although the picture is not yet complete. Cleveland Clinic (2025) explains that over time the brain becomes less responsive, so the person needs bigger bets to feel the same thrill, and feels upset or angry, with a strong urge to bet, when they try to stop.

And it is not rare. In a fact sheet published in December 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 1.2% of the world's adults have a gambling disorder, and that the harm spreads to the people around them: for every person who gambles at high-risk levels, an average of six others are affected, most of whom do not gamble at all.

How do betting apps hook young people, and why is chasing losses the trap?

Many families find out suddenly: a young man in his twenties, or even still at secondary school, is betting on football matches or playing casino games on his phone. WHO (2024) notes that online gambling is accessible almost anywhere and at any time, even in countries where gambling is banned, and that heavy promotion online and through sport risks making it seem normal to young people.

A 2023 paper by Marionneau and colleagues in the Harm Reduction Journal describes features of the online environment that raise the risk, and names young age and being male as risk factors, particularly for online gambling:

• Available around the clock: the phone is in your pocket, so there is no place to leave and no closing time.
• Speed: fast, back-to-back bets during the match itself leave less time to think or to stop.
• Bonuses and offers: visible bonuses and promotions encourage people to keep playing.
• Targeted advertising: messages and offers tailored to each user's data, and a great deal of advertising on social media.
• Game-like features: levels to climb and online communities built around the app add to its appeal, and to its harm.

The biggest trap, though, is chasing losses: after losing, the person convinces themselves that one more bet will win back what is gone. The American Psychiatric Association (2024) counts this behavior among the diagnostic criteria, and MedlinePlus (2026) notes that people often chase their losses with bigger bets. So the losses grow, they need more money, they borrow, then they bet to pay it back, and the spiral turns faster.

Signs of gambling addiction: what might the family notice?

Many people do not admit there is a problem, so the first signs are often indirect. Signs described by the American Psychiatric Association (2024) and healthdirect, the Australian Government's health information service (2024), include:

• Secrecy about money: hiding their phone and apps, and not explaining where their salary or allowance went.
• Frequent borrowing: often asking family and friends for money with different excuses, or piling up loans and unpaid bills.
• Money or valuables going missing from home.
• Lying: about the time spent betting or how much has been lost.
• Mood changes: a clear change in mood or personality, and pulling away from the family.
• Constant preoccupation: thinking about betting a lot, reliving past bets or planning the next one.
• Irritability when trying to stop: becoming tense or quick to anger when trying to cut down or stop.
• Escape: betting more when feeling sad or under pressure.
• Life slipping away: neglecting study or work, and conflict with a wife or the family.

One sign on its own does not mean a diagnosis; that is made by a doctor or specialist after a full assessment. But several signs together that keep going are reason enough to ask for an assessment, without accusations or humiliating searches.

Gambling debt and its emotional weight: when does it become a danger to life?

Debt is not only a money problem. Someone drowning in gambling debt may live with deep shame, fear of being found out and a feeling of having let their family down. MedlinePlus (2026) lists depression, anxiety, financial and legal problems, and suicide attempts among the possible complications of compulsive gambling.

WHO (2024) cites a study from Sweden which found that people with gambling disorder were about 15 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. The 2025 guideline from the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) asks professionals to treat gambling and its harms as a risk factor for suicidal thoughts that can be a dominant one, even when there are no other risk factors, and to ask the person directly about these thoughts. It warns that the risk may be highest immediately after a gambling episode, and that a relapse can cause severe distress that raises the risk.

A scientific review published by Dazzi and colleagues in 2014 found that asking someone about suicidal thoughts does not increase those thoughts. To learn the early warning signs and how to talk with someone in crisis, read our article on suicide warning signs.

Practical steps for the family: money and access to betting

The family's role is big, but the goal is protection, not punishment. The American Psychiatric Association (2024) advises families to stay calm when they talk, to tell the person clearly how the gambling is affecting them, and to set boundaries around money and review bank statements, while avoiding preaching and lectures, shutting the person out of family life, or bailing them out by paying their debts. Practical steps include:

1. Choose a calm moment to talk: not right after a big loss and not in the middle of an argument. Talk about what you see and feel: "I'm worried about you", not "You're a failure".
2. Protect the household's money: take over managing the family's finances, separate joint accounts, keep cards, savings and important documents safe, and pay the essential bills first.
3. Don't pay off their debts straight away: a sudden payoff may ease the pressure for a while, but it can open the door to new bets. It is better to agree on a clear repayment plan, followed up alongside treatment. But if the debt has driven them to despair or to talk about ending their life, their safety comes before any money: get help immediately, as in the emergency box above.
4. Reduce access, by agreement with them: the NICE guideline (2025) recommends discussing practical measures with the person, such as software that blocks gambling sites and apps, blocking marketing messages, asking the bank to block gambling payments, and agreeing that a family member will manage the money. The services available differ from country to country and from bank to bank, so ask your bank what it offers.
5. Get help for yourself too: the family's worry and anger are real, and you can come to a session on your own first.

For more on the difference between supporting someone and shielding them from the consequences of their behavior, read how families can support without enabling addiction.

Gambling disorder treatment: what does it involve?

The good news is that treatment exists and it works. WHO (2024) considers long-term cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or motivational interviewing to be the most effective treatments so far. Treatment usually includes:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy: in a group or individually, as the NICE guideline (2025) recommends. It helps uncover thoughts such as "I'll win it back" or "I know football, I can read these matches", and teaches ways to handle urges and stressful situations.
• Relapse prevention: the NICE guideline (2025) recommends that treatment includes a part on dealing with triggers and what to do if a relapse happens.
• Help with money and debt: the same guideline recommends that support includes practical help with debt and financial matters, alongside psychological therapy.
• Treating what comes with it: depression and anxiety are common alongside gambling addiction; a doctor treats them, and medication may be needed, which the doctor decides on.
• Involving the family: family therapy and support groups are among the options mentioned by the American Psychiatric Association and Cleveland Clinic.

There is still no medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for gambling disorder, according to Cleveland Clinic (2025). The NICE guideline (2025) says a specialist doctor may consider a medicine called naltrexone if relapses keep happening despite an appropriate course of psychological therapy. It should be started by a specialist and monitored regularly, because it needs tests before it is started and is not suitable for anyone taking opioid medicines or drugs, such as tramadol. This is purely a medical decision, and no medicine should be started or stopped without a doctor. And if a relapse does happen, it is not the end of the road but a chance to adjust the plan; you can read more in our article on relapse prevention.

When to seek help, and how to start treatment discreetly

Seek help if they have tried to stop and couldn't, if the debts are piling up, if they have started lying, borrowing or taking money that isn't theirs, or if signs of depression or anxiety appear. Don't wait for them to "decide on their own": according to the American Psychiatric Association (2024), only one in ten people with gambling disorder seek treatment, and WHO (2024) notes that stigma and shame often stop people from asking for help. In Egypt and much of the Arab world the shame can be even heavier, because gambling is rejected on religious and social grounds, so it helps for the person to hear from their family that asking for treatment takes courage and is not a scandal. If they talk about ending their life or seem to be in danger, don't wait for an appointment: don't leave them alone, and call an ambulance on 123 straight away or take them to the nearest emergency department. You can also get support from the mental-health hotline on 16328 or Oxygen's emergencies line on +20 100 006 6752; these lines are extra support alongside the ambulance, not instead of it.

You can start with a small, quiet step: an appointment with a psychiatrist, or a single therapy session to assess the situation. Doctors and therapists keep what is said in the appointment or session confidential, with few exceptions, the most important being a serious risk to the person's life or to someone else's. If the person refuses at first, the family can come alone first to learn how to talk with them and how to protect themselves.

What does Oxygen Center offer for gambling addiction?

To be clear: Oxygen does not have a dedicated treatment program for betting and gambling addiction. But many people who struggle with it also have another mental health condition. According to a review of 36 studies published by Dowling and colleagues in 2015, about three in four people seeking treatment for gambling had another mental health condition, including depression in about 30% and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in about 9%, with large differences between studies. This is where an outpatient appointment with a psychiatrist, or psychotherapy sessions with a therapist, can help. These services are available to men and women aged 15 and over, with a guardian's consent for anyone under 18.

Cleveland Clinic (2025) lists impulsiveness and thrill-seeking among the risk factors for gambling disorder, and you can read about attention problems and impulsiveness in our article on ADHD in adults. If alcohol or drug use comes with the betting, that is assessed in the appointment too; note that inpatient addiction treatment at Oxygen is for males only, aged 15 and over. To book or ask a question: mobile and WhatsApp +20 101 687 0711, or landline +20 45 320 0011. Recovery from gambling addiction is possible, and asking for help today is a brave step toward a calmer life for you and your family.