Invaluable insights into problems of compulsive gamblers and how to overcome them

Reviewed by Ranga Chandrarathne

The book ‘Overcoming gambling-A guide for problem and compulsive gamblers’ by Philip Mawer is not about gambling but about problems that compulsive gamblers face and a guide for them to overcome them.

The problem of gambling has been on the rise not only in Europe but also in Asia and developing countries. The problem affects a wide range of people from teenagers to adults and their friends and kith and kin. In the UK, the problem of gambling has become a significant issue with gambling addicts exceeding 250,000 according to the British Gambling Commission.

Compulsive gamblers run the risk of breaking down relationships, poor physical health, mental health problems and constant depression, suicidal tendencies and financial disasters. Although scientific data on the compulsive nature of gambling is scare and inadequate, it is obvious that compulsive gambling is an addiction which adversely affects not only the gambler but also his or her kith and kin.

The author Mawer who himself was a compulsive gambler, has commenced the book outlining the objective of the book. Mawer describes in no uncertain terms that the goal of the book is to help compulsive gamblers to put an end to gambling and not helping them to cut down on their gambling. Interestingly the birth of the book is intrinsically linked to a home-grown therapy that Mawer and his wife developed. The book written in down-to-earth language presents a well-mapped out strategy to stop compulsive gambling besides explaining to the readers of diverse problems that compulsive gamblers face and how to overcome them.

“I was a compulsive gambler who, with loving support from my wife, was completely cured of what I consider to be a hugely destructive social evil. At 45, having worked and lived almost continuously overseas for the past 15 years, on a large salary with bonuses, with none of my own children to raise and educate, what did I have to my name, at the end of my gambling career? Approximately £40,0000 of debt, no house, no car, no savings, no pension, no life insurance, no health insurance and at times not even enough money in the bank to pay for the content of a shopping trolley.

The very last that I gambled away in the 27 years of my ‘adult’ life is £350,000, and I would put the figure at closer to £400,000. Properly invested in property, shares and high deposit accounts, by rights I should now be a millionaire at the very least.” Thus writes the author about his own story as an example of a financial disaster that compulsive gambling caused.

However, the book ‘Overcoming Gambling’ is not a gambling biography of the author. The book describes in thematically broke down chapters diverse phases of gambling and at the end of each chapter, salient points of the chapter is provided in a recap. In the first chapter, the author outlines diverse phases of problem of gambling ; winning, losing, desperation and helplessness.

It is obvious that the different phases of the problem of gambling may interchange from time to time until it will completely ruin a person. An important fact that the author points out is that a compulsive gambler is not just addicted to the habit of gambling but to a ‘twilight zone’ in which one may momentarily forget real problems.

In describing the typical characteristics of a compulsive gambler, the author states “Compulsive gamblers are basically very immature people. They don’t ‘do’ responsibility, maturity or any sort of financial planning in the same way that ‘normal’ people do. They have a fervent belief that whatever happens, they will be able to gamble their way back into the black…”

The author stresses the point that as ‘the old habit die hard’, the change in the life of a compulsive gambler would also come gradually in the same manner he or she drew into gambling. The change would come about with the gambler realising that at the end of the day, gambling, however much one may win, is a losing game.

One of the techniques that the author employs is to scenario building through which a compulsive gambler is convinced the futility of the habit and the danger of gambling. For instance, compulsive gambling can create financial disaster as big as one which could easily reduce a millionaire to a pauper.

The author stresses that ex-gambler should completely overhaul his relationships with others and develop positive qualities such as humility and compassion. “If you are an ex-compulsive gambler and principal breadwinner, using money may need some rethinking, and it may take time to relearn that the money is for both you and the good of your family unit. Some new ex-gamblers may feel that now they’re not gambling and seem to have little more cash around, they can shower their parents with surprise gifts.”

In conclusion, the author describes the happy and contended life after gambling. “Coming out of gambling coma takes time, and guilt is a very understandable part of the process. But as you progress, the benefits should become more obvious as you become better able to cope with normal, everyday life, regaining a little more energy and vigour”.

The book “ Overcoming Gambling” offers among other things a comprehensive outlook of the problem gambling from the perspective of a seasoned gambler who had paid a heavy price for the social evil and a well-mapped out strategy which will gradually lead a compulsive gambler along a path of recovery , enabling him or her to enjoy the sunlight of life.

The book deals with a wide range of themes such as understanding the gambling industry, the effect of gambling on a person and his or her kith and kin, looking at gambling as an illness, taking an important decision to stop it and keep away from it.

Unlike most self-help books, the book also stresses on the vital role that immediate relatives of a compulsive gambler could play in supporting the gambler to change his behaviour patterns and routines. The book is a must read for all those who are interested in issues relating to gambling and overcoming them.