Like with most people, gambling started as an entertaining pastime that was made more thrilling by the prospect of a windfall. During the proverbial infatuation phase with casino gaming, parimutuel wagering, and/or sports betting you enjoyed yourself thoroughly whether winning, breaking even, or shrugging-off the self-imposed limit of how much you were willing to lose during a given session. Then things started to change, and gambling slowly began to lose it’s luster. Fast forward to today, and you find yourself typing “when gambling isn’t fun anymore” into your online search bar in an attempt to figure out why you feel the way you do, yet persist to participate.
To begin with, let’s first look at the potential reasons for why gambling isn’t fun for you anymore.
Common Reasons for Why Gambling Isn’t Fun Anymore
- Financial consequences: You are experiencing debt and other financial consequences.
- Changing interests: As you grow and experience new things, your tastes and preferences naturally evolve. What was once enjoyable (gambling) may no longer hold the same appeal.
- Habituation: Repeated exposure to the same activity (gambling) can lead to a decrease in the positive feelings associated with them. Your brain’s dopamine response, which contributes to enjoyment, can become dulled over time. The potential problem here, is that you may attempt to gamble more to attain the same dopamine response that it brought you during the early stages. Click here for more on the gambling dopamine connection.
- Anhedonia: This is a condition characterized by a loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyable. Although it’s not a bad thing, per se, to lose interest in an activity that is associated with mental health harms (gambling), if you find that in addition to gambling, you have lost interest in most other activities that once brought joy, what you may be experiencing is a symptom of depression or other mental health condition.
- Environmental factors: If you gamble with others in a casino or sports bar, or online, environmental factors may temper the experience for you. Crowds and noise associated with land-based facilities are examples, as are confusing or aggravating interfaces of certain gambling websites and apps.
- Life’s demands: A busy schedule, constant demands, and a feeling of being overwhelmed can make it difficult to find time or energy for activities that you otherwise enjoy (gambling).
- Guilty feelings: You recognize that gambling is not exactly a healthy activity. Consequently, you may be telling yourself that you should be doing something else more productive, and subsequently feeling guilty for gambling which can diminish the enjoyment of the activity. Friends and loved ones may be telling you the same.
- Other negative feelings: Feelings of boredom may not be the only thing that brought you to the conclusion that gambling isn’t fun anymore. There may be other negative feelings and emotions involved, such as anxiety and depression (and more) which cooccur with gambling behavior.
For some of the reasons above, the change in how you feel about gambling are indicators that it’s time to leave it behind, as one would when they lose interest in any type of activity, especially if the activity is generally associated with negative consequences. But as previously mentioned, you’re not just pondering why it isn’t fun anymore, you’re wondering why you persist despite the joylessness that it brings. This is an important point in time for intervention. Read ahead for what steps to take next when gambling isn’t fun anymore, which will help you get to the bottom of why you may continue to engage in the activity.
Steps to Take Once You’ve Come to the Realization That Gambling Has Turned from Enjoyable to Something That Makes You Feel Nothing (or bad)
Try to Take a Break
Abstinence will provide clarity. However, you may have casually tried to take a break to no avail. If so, leverage self-exclusion tools provided by regulated casino gaming, parimutuel wagering, or sports betting platforms (as applicable to you). If you are unfamiliar with where or how to access these tools for a given platform (it can be confusing) we recommend referencing the guide that we have prepared to make it easier:
UNLOCKING SELF-EXCLUSION TOOLS FOR ONLINE GAMBLING
Take a Gambling Quiz
Whether you have tried self-exclusion or not, we do encourage you to take a short quiz to provide insight into why you keep gambling when it’s no longer enjoyable. Click or tap the link below to get started:
TAKE 2-MIN GAMBLING BEHAVIOR QUIZ
Get a Free Assessment
The gambling quiz above is a good place to start. However, an assessment from a care provider who specializes specifically in gambling counseling and aforementioned cooccurring mental health issues will provide deeper insight into what’s going on. It can also set the table for a customized counseling strategy that will help you discover more about yourself and how to attain greater wellness. Click or tap to start your FREE assessment:
Talk to Someone Who Knows
Tired of clicking and tapping links and digital buttons in an attempt to rekindle joy in your life? We get it. Instead of (or as a supplement to) the other steps above, you can simply get on the phone and speak to an actual person who understands what you’re feeling at this time as it relates to your gambling behavior. Initiate a welcoming, non-judgemental, and insightful conversation by calling the number below:
CALL 1 (877) 426-4258
Alternative Activities That Produce Sustainable Fun
While concurrently working through your issues with gambling, we encourage you to engage in activities that can initiate a dopamine response in your brain, that don’t drain positivity from your life.
TAP FOR 6 GAMBLING ALTERNATIVES
Get Help for Problem Gambling Today
CALL +1 (877) 426-4258
OR
Email help@kindbridge.com
