Sports Betting Addiction

Overcome Sports Betting and Gambling Addiction at Icarus Nevada

Sports betting has experienced a significant rise in popularity over the past few years, mainly due to the legalization of gambling in most states and the emergence of online sports betting via mobile apps, which make wagering on your favorite teams easier than ever.

For many, placing a small bet on the Superbowl or a game from the March Madness bet on one of many online betting platforms harmless fun, and never wager more than they can afford to lose money gambling on any one contest.

However, for others, what started as entertainment can spiral into a destructive world of compulsive gambling, leading to the end of relationships, erasing finances, and mental health disorders.

Fortunately, at Icarus Behavioral Health in Nevada, we specialize in the unique treatment of sports betting addiction and deliver personalized treatment programs to help our clients overcome their gambling habits and rebuild their lives.

What Is Sports Betting Addiction?

Sports betting addiction, otherwise known as a gambling disorder or compulsive gambling, is a recognized mental health diagnosis that impacts the brain much like drugs or alcohol. With legalized sports betting, the addiction might seem subtle or socially acceptable, but the consequences aren’t less severe.

Unlike traditional casino gambling, where bets are placed on slots or games like blackjack, sports betting is often more emotionally driven. When personal interests like favorite teams, athletes, and events are involved, online sports betting raises the stakes, giving the individual with a gambling disorder a false sense of control because of the perceived “skill” involved.

Combine real-time online sports betting and constant notifications, and it’s not difficult to understand how using sports betting apps quickly grows into a gambling addiction.

Signs and Symptoms of a Sports Betting Problem

Gambling addiction isn’t always apparent from the beginning. Some individuals with a gambling addiction will still hold down jobs, maintain appearances, and keep the gambling behavior a secret for years.

However, there are key warning signs that point to a much deeper issue:

Preoccupation With Betting: Constantly thinking about past sports betting events, planning future ones, or spending a significant amount of time analyzing stats and odds.

Chasing Losses: Despite the money problems caused by a loss, the individual will spend increasing amounts of money to recoup the initial loss. This typically results in a substantial financial loss.

Lying Behavior: Concealing the extent of one’s gambling problem by lying to friends, family, partners, and coworkers.

Borrowing or Stealing Money: Many individuals with a gambling problem will begin stealing credit card numbers or stealing from the bank accounts of family and friends when they need more money.

Neglecting Responsibilities: When sports betting turns into a gambling addiction, individuals may begin missing work, ignoring family and friends.

Emotional Changes: When someone has a sports betting or gambling addiction, they go through intense highs and lows. When they are on a losing streak, problem gambling causes them to feel anxious or irritable.

If these behaviors sound familiar coming from yourself or a loved one, it might be time to seek help for your sports betting issues.

The Impact of Sports Gambling

A sports gambling addiction can quickly spiral out of control, leaving behind a trail of emotional and financial turmoil. Some of the most common impacts of problem gambling include:

Financial Devastation

Problem gambling can easily lead to the accumulation of a massive debt. Making massive sports wagers can drain savings accounts, max out credit cards, overdraft bank accounts, and leave loans unpaid.

Relationship Strain

Partners and families often suffer in silence when a loved one takes family time away and instead chooses to spend time gambling as their primary hobby. Trust is broken as emotional and financial betrayal leads to separation or divorce. Children end up neglected or confused by the mood swings and arguments manifested by a loved one’s gambling involvement.

Mental Health Issues

Sports gambling addiction is linked to depression, anxiety, and even substance abuse. The constant highs and lows have a significant impact on emotional stability, especially when gamblers experience prolonged losing streaks.

Legal and Career Problems

Some individuals stoop to illegal activity to fund their gambling addiction. Others lose focus at work, leading to job loss or other disciplinary action.

Why Online Sportsbooks Become So Addictive

There’s a powerful psychological and neurological component to online sportsbook addiction. The following mental dynamics take place during a gambling problem:

Dopamine and Reward Loop

Every win triggers a massive surge of dopamine, a feel-good chemical that reinforces the negative behavior. The brain begins associating betting with pleasure, making it harder to quit even after losses mount.

Near-Misses and Illusions

Gamblers often experience the “near-miss effect,” where they come close to winning and are encouraged to continue risking money. The illusion of skill and intimate knowledge of the game also feeds the addiction.

Constant Availability

Unlike many casinos, sports betting apps are available 24/7. Users place bets from their phone or other smart device, receiving alerts regarding wins and losses, live odds changes, and other actions that keep the brain stimulated and craving more dopamine.

Social Influence

Gambling is increasingly glamorized by popular influencers, sports commentators, and even retired players. This normalization disguises how dangerous sports betting truly is for those at risk of this form of gambling addiction.

How Icarus Nevada Can Help Sports Betting Addiction

At Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada, we specialize in treating behavioral addictions like sports betting with the same care and structured environment as substance abuse. Our compassionate and experienced team tailors treatment to each individual’s needs, creating a personalized plan for every client we come into contact with. Listed below are just a few of the ways we can help you or a loved one conquer your sports betting habits:

Holistic Approach

At Icarus, we believe in treating the whole person, not just the addiction. This means understanding the emotional, psychological, and environmental triggers behind their inability to stop gambling.

Individual Therapy

Clients work one-on-one with our licensed team of therapists to explore the brain’s reward system and other mental health components, like:

• The root causes of gambling
• Cognitive distortions (the illusion of being in control)
• Coping skills to manage urges and triggers that drive your addictive behavior

Group Therapy and Support

Peer support is a powerful part of any recovery journey. Group therapy allows clients to:

• Share stories
• Break the cycle of shame and secrecy
• Build accountability through connections and friendships

Family Involvement

Addiction impacts everyone, especially the family of the individual with a gambling problem. Family inclusion is a vital component of our treatment plans, as many clients will require a strong support system to maintain accountability after completing treatment.

Our family therapy programs:

• Rebuild trust between family members
• Offer tools for communication for long-term healing

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

When a client struggles with depression, anxiety, gambling, and even eating addiction combined with a drug or alcohol dependency, addressing both conditions simultaneously can help ensure a more positive outcome.

Relapse Prevention

Near the end of treatment, we equip our clients with the following:

• Personalized relapse prevention plans that include solutions for ongoing treatment.
• Access to post-treatment resources and our alum program.
• Suggestions for healthy alternatives to gambling and sports betting.

What Recovery from Problem Gambling Looks Like

Recovery isn’t a one-time fix; you make a few quick visits to or a couple of meetings, and expect a rapid cure. It’s a lifetime journey of learning and self-discovery. After completing treatment at Icarus Behavioral in Nevada, we ensure that we help each client:

Break the Habit

Breaking the habit means more than refraining from sports betting. It means reshaping your environment by deleting sports betting apps or stopping calling retail sportsbooks. It also means cutting off triggers, such as visits to bars or hanging out on betting Discord and Telegram servers.

Rebuild Finances

We connect clients with financial counselors who can help:

• Craft manageable repayment plans to get out of debt
• Restore your credit
• Educate you on budgeting and financial management

Take the Safe Bet and Give Icarus Behavioral In Nevada a Call

Choosing Icarus Behavioral Health in Nevada is a safe bet to help you overcome mental disorders like problem gambling.

Our compassionate team will help you maintain accountability, restore relationships, and establish a more disciplined financial environment at home.

For more information on how we can help you break the cycle of gambling addiction, contact a member of our admissions team confidentially now.