Wheeling, W.Va. (WTRF) Its that time of year when many diehard football fans have been waiting for: NFL season a green light to put all bets on the table.<\/p>\n
Local News from WTRF<\/p>\n
You think of it as all fun and games until it could spiral into something else.<\/p>\n
Its something that I dont think a lot of people really take very seriously, but it can be devastating.<\/p>\n
And as sporting bets are on, advocates say addictions may spike, but gambling itself isnt all bad.<\/p>\n
For most people, they can gamble responsibly.<\/p>\n
Until it takes a turn for the worse, and, in some cases, it does.<\/p>\n
Advocates say at least one in 50 people face a gambling addiction in West Virginia: something that shouldnt go unnoticed.<\/p>\n
The National Council on Problem Gambling has recently released a study showing that people who gamble in sports are five times more likely than other gamblers to exhibit risky behavior, which means theyre on the road to a gambling problem.<\/p>\n
And if you or someone you know gambles, advocates say theres ways you can keep yourself in check. In other words, dont think of the money as an investment.<\/p>\n
Gambling is supposed to be about entertainment, not about an investment or a way to make money, and we found when people cross that line, and they start looking at it as a retirement plan or a second job, thats when they get into trouble. They lose money they didnt mean to lose, start chasing that money and it spirals.<\/p>\n
On top of that, advocates says there are also ways that help you keep your spending and time spent gambling in line, especially if you gamble online or on your phone.<\/p>\n
But at the end of the day, advocates say if gambling turns into an addiction, speak up.<\/p>\n
The most important thing is to, first of all, I understand that gambling is a real addiction. Many people dont understand that, so when you do that and you sit and have a conversation with your loved one, its important to talk about it like its real, not that its a joke. People will say well at least this person is not on drugs, at least youre not addicted to alcohol, but gambling can be just as devastating.<\/p>\n
If you arent sure you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to gambling, call 1 (800) Gambler, and theyll offer treatment options. Its free and confidential.<\/p>\n
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Signs you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling addiction - WTRF<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wheeling, W.Va. (WTRF) Its that time of year when many diehard football fans have been waiting for: NFL season a green light to put all bets on the table. Continue reading