Spending hours inside a dimly lit room, filled with cigarette packs in front of the system and tangled cables, the 24-year-old man was diagnosed with severe gaming and gambling addiction. From focusing more on games to skipping baths and shaving his beard, he went on to become aggressive when tried to talk to him or even enter his room.
The man who resides in Mumbai was an avid gamer since childhood which later became an addiction during his teenage years. His parents could not identify the addiction at an early stage which later led him to get addicted to online gambling.
His psychiatrist, Dr Fabian Almeida, Fortis Hospital, Mumbai said that he did not have a job and had stopped all other activities. “He was focused only on video games and had started to put his money on online gambling. He would participate in multiple competitions where he would put his money on bets and lose them. He used to react aggressively at home and stopped interacting with his family.” he said.
Dr Almeida said that his parents had taken him to a psychiatrist, but he stopped following up which resulted in the addiction becoming even worse. His addiction became too severe and had to be sent to a de-addiction centre.
Online gambling in the form of gaming
Dr Gautami Nagabhirava, Consultant Neuropsychiatrist, Kamineni Hospital, Hyderabad said, gambling is when someone is willing to risk something that they value the most with the hope to get something even better. She says, “The relationship between video gaming and online gambling has been examined in multiple studies. Those who engage in both video gaming and online gambling, tend to have similar demographic features, impulsiveness, and higher rates of psychological problems”.
Pay-to-Win gaming is a common type of video game designed for the e-players for which they need to pay to advance in the game. A study recently published in the Journal of Gambling Studies, titled, Pay-to-Win Gaming and its Interrelation with Gambling: Findings from a Representative Population Sample, stated that the frequency and value of payments are unlimited, and payments are linked to players’ competitiveness or progress in the game, which can potentially facilitate problematic behavioural patterns, similar to those known from gambling.
The study found that 81 per cent of the participants who had made at least one payment on pay-to-win games, did so to progress in the game. Pay-to-Win gamers are a distinct consumer group with considerable attraction to gambling. Common ground for Pay-to-Win gaming and gambling is the facilitation of recurring payments.
Effects of gaming and gambling
Dr Almeida said that individuals with gaming addiction show a strong attachment towards the mobile or computer and that becomes their priority. “Their sleep cycles are affected as they tend to play games all night and their eyes turn red with dark circles which are also some of the noticeable signs of initial addiction. Their relationships are affected as they prefer gaming more than the people around them. All their attention and focus will be on gaming and show heavy mood swings. They start to neglect themselves and skip daily activities such as food, taking baths, shaving their beard, meeting friends and even interacting with family members,” he said.
He added that in severe cases of addiction, they witness behavioural changes, depression, anxiety and aggression.
A study on Pathological video game use among youths stated greater amounts of gaming, lower social competence, and greater impulsivity seemed to act as risk factors for becoming pathological gamers, whereas depression, anxiety, social phobias, and lower academic performance seemed to act as outcomes of pathological gaming.
Dr Nagabhirava said that gambling has severe effects on one’s mental health. “Issues such as distress, anxiety, depression, migraine, obsessive disorders, intestinal disorders, and even personality disorders are seen among gamblers. Gambling can worsen the symptoms of individuals with existing mental health conditions. For some individuals, it leads to self-harm and suicidal thoughts, especially when they are in desperation. It can also lead to other substance addictions,” she said.
Difference between online and offline gambling
Dr Nagabhirava said that with online casinos offering live casino games and a realistic gaming experience, players are getting easy accessibility and preferring online to offline. “However, some still prefer land-based casinos to get excitement and the social atmosphere along with food and drinks which are missing online. When it comes to offering responsible gambling features, online casinos are the best. They have many features where you can limit your betting amount, gameplay time, deposit, and many others. Such functions are not available at offline casinos,” she said.
Treatment of gaming and gambling
Dr Almeida said that gaming addiction is mostly seen among youths and gambling is seen at a later age. “Youths with mild gaming addiction are given counselling and can be corrected through behavioural changes. Those with moderate to severe addiction, need medication to get a break from the addiction and are even sent to deaddiction centres to quit gaming,” he said.
Treating compulsive gambling can be challenging and it’s partly because most people don’t admit that they are addicted, says Dr Nagabhirava. She says that a significant component of treatment is working on acknowledging the problem. “There is a 12-step program such as gamblers anonymous, medications and even therapy would help. With the proper treatment, gambling addiction is manageable,” she said.
