The betting industry is constantly growing and increasing in popularity all over the world. Betting is the great way to combine entertainment with winning money. No wonder many people try their luck enjoying sports betting. Betting has many advantages: you can win money, and betting lets you combine winning money with the pleasure of doing something connected to your favorite sports. It is just tempting when you wager money on your favorite football team or choose between underdogs and favorites while betting on sports. Have you already placed bets on sports at 20Bet or the other virtual betting platforms? 

Then you should take a look at this list of some red flags and warning signs which are connected to betting addiction. In case some of them seem familiar to you you should quit betting and be aware of possible problems caused by pathological betting and gambling. And the term gambling in this context can also be applied to placing bets. Actually sports betting can be considered a type of gambling, that’s why betting addiction is similar to gambling addiction (and these two terms are interchangeable!) If you think you might be addicted to sports betting, read these common symptoms of betting addiction. 

You don’t research before placing bets

Sports betting is based on analytics, statistics, and numbers. Risking money for bets must be based on sports betting expertise. Before placing bet it is important to research lines, previous statistics and analyze how the future performance of athletes or teams can be. Successful bettors even consider temperature as the important factor that can influence the total score. 

A bettor should usually know the game he places bets on.So, if you are not well-informed about leagues, and athletes and aren’t ready to do research, you’d better quit betting and continue watching your favorite football matches. It is not less entertaining than sports betting but has no risks. Without your willingness to do research sports betting won’t work.

You borrow money in order to  bet on sports

This is perhaps the most dangerous symptom of betting addiction. The obsessive thought that it is necessary to  bet a couple of games on the next “sure thing” and then you win for sure and return the money to your friend, even double. It is the symptom that you are already addicted to sports betting and should contact your online betting company and have your account closed. If you behave yourself in this way it means you cannot quit gambling and are so obsessed with you that you even borrow money from other people. Unfortunately, people who are addicted to sports betting never pay their debts off: they chase their losses and make riskier bets to pay for them and continue losing money. All the negative thoughts, financial problems, and destroyed relationships with other people (since you don’t pay your debts off)  can aspect all aspects of your life and even lead to depression. 

You feel a strong urge to place bets on sports

If you think about betting too often and just can’t get enough you should be very careful with betting. People who are addicted to betting just can’t get out of the vicious betting cycle: they are more and more obsessed with betting, can’t concentrate on everyday life activities and tasks, destroy relationships with their friends, colleagues, and relatives, feel guilt after betting but continue placing bets to win back that they’ve lost. 

Of course, there are also other signs of betting addiction such as using gambling to distract from other problems, chasing losses, getting socially isolated,d and lying about betting (hiding betting habits). And it is important to understand that the people addicted to betting don’t find betting funny or entertaining anymore – betting just becomes a negative force in their lives. They don’t enjoy sports betting, they are forced to do it. Compulsion betting has nothing to do with joy or entertainment, it is about negative emotions, helplessness, shame, and guilt.  

Final thoughts

Are sports betting on your mind all day every day? If you have found yourself at least one of the signs listed above, then urgently analyze how you play at the bookmaker, and quit betting. If you saw yourself in two or three of the described signs of addiction to betting on sports, it is recommended you make a long pause in the game, or even forget your way to the bookmaker’s office (or close your account on the betting site). Even if you haven’t experienced any huge negative consequences of it, remember that this disease is not harmful.

And that it is just the illusion everybody can quit betting at any moment. Quitting betting is not easy, especially if you have some signs of betting addiction. That’s why you should not hesitate to take support from other people, for example, psychotherapists and your loved ones. If you don’t have the resources to quit betting (and it is connected to addiction!) don’t think you are alone. This serious disease can be treated.