Understanding Problem Gamblers
A practitioner's Guide to Effective Intervention
Paul Bellringer
1999
ISBN 1-85343-463-9

It is human to take risks and gambling in recent years has become a major mainstream leisure activity. For most of us this enjoyable and exciting entertainment remains an occasional social activity, but for an increasing minority it becomes a destructive dependency.

In this practical book, the author, recognizing that gambling has a legitimate place in our society, explores some of the motivations and attractions of gambling and how the transition from social to problem gambling and gambling dependency develops. In particular, the issue of young gamblers, the influential role of their family environment, and the differences between them and the older 'career' gambler receive detailed attention. How to break through the barrier of denial as the problem gambler slides into decline and degradation and the effects this has on their family and wider life are sympathetically but realistically reviewed and a number of different strategies for treatment and recovery are discussed. Finally, relapse prevention and the vital role of helping agencies are explored with the aim of assisting a return to normalcy.

This book is vital reading for anyone involved with a problem gambler either as a client, partner, or family member. It will be of interest to therapists, practitioners who are in contact with problem gamblers and their families, regulators and those working in the gambling industry.

Paul Bellringer has been working with problem gamblers for nearly twenty years and is regarded as a leading authority on the subject of the social impact of gambling. He is presently a director of GamCare, a national centre for information and advice which developed from the UK Forum on Young People and gambling, which he established in 1990.

Contents

1. Gambling and Society
2. The Attractions of Gambling
3. How Gambling becomes a Problem
4. Family Factors
5. Young People and Problem Gambling
6. The Effect of a Gambling Dependency
7. Asking for Help
8. The Telephone Helpline
9. A Structure for Effective Intervention
10. Self-help Groups
11. A Residential Approach
12. Working with the Family
13. Problem Prevention
14. Addressing the Social Impact of Gambling
15. Sources of Help and Further Information