Getting professional help for a gambling addiction is crucial to overcoming the problem. Online therapists, like BetterHelp, match you with a qualified therapist based on your needs. BetterHelp is a reader-supported website and my link to it may result in a small commission. Although admitting to a gambling problem is difficult, there are many ways to overcome it. Listed below are some tips that can help you make the first step in the healing process.

Economic costs: During the initial stages of evaluating the social impact of gambling, studies have typically only measured the direct and indirect economic effects of the behavior. But these costs may become visible over time. In this case, gambling affects not only individual behavior, but also the overall society. For example, if a gambling addict loses money from a game he or she plays at a casino, a community will see a loss in its economy as a result of the loss of revenue.

Legally: In the United States, the number of dollars wagered annually on gambling is approximately $10 trillion. However, this figure does not include illegal gambling, which is estimated at more than $20 trillion. Several state-licensed lotteries in the U.S. expanded rapidly during the last century, and organized football pools are found in nearly every European country and a few South American and African nations. State-licensed betting on other sports events is available in most countries.