It’s an agreed-upon notion that addictions typically involve several key aspects. One is that the activity at hand is pleasurable for the individual who engages in it, at least initially. As time goes on, even addicts don’t really find all that much pleasure in doing what they’re addicted to—it’s just that it’s become habit. And habits are hard to break. The activity must be easily repeatable. For example, it’s hard to get addicted to flying to the moon, simply because that’s not something easily repeated.
Gambling online can become an addictive pastime. That’s because sports betting sites are fun for a person with a wagering mentality, and it’s something that’s easily repeatable. So much so, that it’s possible to be managing several wagers simultaneously, handling them all from one web-enabled computer. When it gets to that point, the afflicted person is clearly addicted. But avoiding a gambling addiction doesn’t have to be extremely challenging. If you’re worried that your recreational habit is turning into an addiction that’s spiraling out of control, there is action to be taken.
Realize that many other things in life bring you the sensation of “fun.” Go engage in those other activities frequently, so you haven’t got just one source of pleasure in the world. Set limits on how much time you’re allowed to spend in front of your computer. Since sports betting sites operate best on high speed computers with accelerated graphics cards, be sure to limit the repeatability aspect of your burgeoning habit. Set a rule to only gamble once a week. Setting firm guidelines should help to keep a hobby from turning into an addiction.
