29-Year-Old Bank Executive from Pune Overcomes Online Betting Addiction That Began With Cricket Match Bets
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Gambling Addiction Case Study: Patient Background
This gambling addiction case study follows Aman (name changed), a composite example that reflects how gambling addiction commonly develops and how it is assessed and treated at Calida Rehab. The details are illustrative and do not describe any one identifiable person.
Aman is a 29-year-old bank executive from Pune. He lives with his parents, and his younger sister is studying in Nashik. He started betting at 23, with small bets of a few hundred rupees on cricket matches with college friends. At 25, betting apps put the bets on his phone, open at any hour, and the amounts grew. A win of about ₹40,000 early on convinced him he had a knack for it. Over the next four years he lost far more than he won. He began chasing his losses, covering them with credit cards and a personal loan, and then borrowing from friends and relatives with excuses about medical bills and a car repair. By the time his family found out, he owed about ₹9 lakh. His father took the call when a lender rang the house, and Aman was brought to Calida Rehab that week.
Before the case itself, a short note. Gambling disorder, often called gambling addiction, is a pattern of repeated gambling that continues despite serious harm. It is recognised as a behavioural addiction in the DSM-5-TR, where it sits alongside substance use disorders, and as a disorder in the WHO’s ICD-11. No substance is involved, but research suggests the brain’s reward system is affected in a similar way, which is why willpower alone rarely solves it. For related reading, see our binge drinking case study and our guide to relapse in addiction recovery.
Symptoms: How Gambling Addiction Showed Up
Gambling addiction is easy to hide because there is no smell, no intoxication and no visible sign on the body. The signs below are common.
Signs of a harmful gambling pattern
- Spending more time and money on betting than planned
- Needing larger or riskier bets to feel the same excitement
- Thinking about gambling much of the day, or planning the next bet
- Chasing losses, meaning betting again soon after a loss to win the money back
- Lying to family, friends or colleagues about how much is being gambled
- Restlessness or irritability when trying to cut down or stop
- Gambling to escape stress, guilt or low mood
- Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut down
- Borrowing money, selling belongings or using credit to keep gambling
Effects on life and health
- Debt, unpaid bills and borrowed money that cannot be returned
- Poor sleep from late-night betting and worry about money
- Anxiety, guilt, shame and low mood
- Arguments, secrecy and loss of trust at home
- Mistakes at work, missed deadlines or risk to a job
- Headaches, tiredness and neglect of health because of stress
- In some people, thoughts that life is not worth living
Signs the pattern is getting more serious
- Gambling every day, or several times a day, especially on a phone
- Using more than one betting app or website to keep going
- Taking money that is not theirs, or hiding bank statements and messages
- Missing work or family events because of gambling
- Continuing to gamble despite serious debt
In this case: Aman said the minutes after placing a bet were the only time his mind went quiet. On match days he was on his phone through the night, slept two to three hours and made errors at work. When he lost, he bet again the same day to recover it. He deleted the betting apps four times and reinstalled them within a week each time. He hid the debts from his parents, gave friends false reasons to borrow money and felt ashamed and hopeless. He did not think of himself as an addict because he never touched alcohol or drugs.
Doctors do not go by a single symptom. Gambling disorder is diagnosed when a person has at least four of the nine signs listed in the DSM-5-TR within a year and the gambling causes distress or problems in daily life. Four to five signs is mild, six to seven is moderate and eight to nine is severe.
Why Gambling Addiction Often Goes Unnoticed
Gambling addiction often goes unnoticed for years. There is no alcohol on the breath and no change in appearance, and the person may look well and keep a job. Online betting makes it even easier to hide, because the bets happen on a phone, in small amounts, and the money moves through bank apps and UPI instead of cash. Families often notice only when money runs out or a lender calls. Shame keeps the person quiet, and many believe the next big win will fix everything.
The risks are serious. Beyond debt, problem gambling is linked with depression, anxiety, alcohol use, relationship breakdown, job loss and thoughts of suicide. Because the losses build slowly, the person may not see the damage until it is large. The sooner the pattern is recognised, the easier it is to change.
In this case: Aman’s friends thought he was simply on a lucky or unlucky streak, and his parents saw a son who worked hard and was always on his phone. He told himself each loss was temporary and that one good match would clear the debt. The first real alarm was the lender’s phone call to his father. The belief that he could win it back by himself is what delayed help.
Diagnosis: How Gambling Disorder Was Assessed at Calida Rehab
There is no single test for gambling disorder. The diagnosis is made by a psychiatrist through a careful clinical assessment. At Calida Rehab this typically includes:
- A detailed clinical interview about what, how often and how much the person gambles, when it started, what triggers it and past attempts to stop
- DSM-5-TR criteria, checked one by one against the person’s history
- The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), a nine-question screening tool that grades the level of risk and harm
- A financial history, covering debts, loans, which apps are used and who else knows
- Mental health screening for depression, anxiety, sleep problems and attention problems
- Screening for alcohol and other substances, including tobacco and cannabis
- A suicide risk check, because the risk is higher in people with gambling problems and heavy debt
- A general health check, including blood pressure and sleep, as stress takes a toll on the body
- Input from a family member, with the person’s consent
That mental health check matters, because gambling often sits alongside depression, anxiety and alcohol use. See our anxiety case study, our depression case study and our alcohol addiction case study to see how these conditions can overlap.
Result in this case: Aman met seven of the nine DSM-5-TR signs, and his PGSI score was 19, which falls in the problem gambling range. He was diagnosed with moderate gambling disorder, along with moderate depressive symptoms, anxiety and poor sleep. He drank only occasionally and did not have an alcohol use disorder. He told the psychiatrist he had had passing thoughts that his family would be better off without him, so a safety plan was made on day one. For Aman, learning that this was a recognised and treatable condition, and not a weakness of character, was the first real turning point.
Treatment Plan for Gambling Addiction
No single treatment suits everyone. At Calida Rehab the plan is built after the assessment, and the family is involved when the person agrees. Most plans combine the following.
Financial safeguards first. Unlike alcohol or opioids, gambling does not cause a physical withdrawal that needs medical detox, so the first priority is to cut access to money and apps. This usually means deleting betting apps and blocking betting sites on the phone, asking the bank to limit online and UPI transactions, handing credit cards to a trusted family member, and using self-exclusion tools where they exist. A written budget and a debt plan follow. Families are advised to think carefully before clearing debts in one go, and to take the team’s advice first.
Care in the first weeks. Irritability, restlessness, strong urges, low mood and poor sleep are common when gambling stops. They are monitored and treated.
Therapy as the core of treatment. Behavioural therapy helps the person understand the thinking behind gambling, handle urges and stress, and rebuild a life that does not depend on betting.
Medicines. No medicine is specifically approved for gambling disorder. A psychiatrist treats depression, anxiety or sleep problems with medicines when needed, and may consider a medicine such as naltrexone to reduce urges in some people, though the evidence is mixed. Medicines work best alongside therapy, not instead of it.
Treatment of other conditions. Depression, anxiety, poor sleep and any alcohol use are treated alongside the gambling.
Family involvement. Families learn what gambling disorder is, how to respond to urges and slips, and how to rebuild trust without blame.
Lifestyle. Fixed sleep and wake times, regular exercise, planned free time and a routine for match days and pay days fill the gap that betting leaves behind.
In this case: Aman’s team recommended a short residential programme of about two weeks, followed by outpatient care, because he had deleted the apps four times and could not stay away on his own. In the first week his phone was set up with blocking tools, his father took charge of his cards and a safety plan was agreed. His restlessness and poor sleep eased within ten days. Therapy began in the first week, and his father joined family sessions to understand what he was dealing with.
Therapies Used in This Gambling Addiction Case Study
The therapies below were part of Aman’s plan and are commonly used for gambling disorder.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): identifies triggers such as match days, pay days and boredom, and corrects thinking traps such as believing a win is due after a run of losses or that another bet can win back what was lost. Read more on our CBT page.
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET): helps the person explore mixed feelings about gambling and build their own reasons for change. See our motivational interviewing page.
- Relapse prevention planning: a written plan for high-risk situations such as big matches, early warning signs and what to do after a slip. See our relapse prevention therapy page.
- Urge management skills: learning to notice an urge, wait it out and do something else, along with relaxation and sleep routines
- Individual counselling: one-to-one sessions to work through shame, guilt and the stress behind the gambling. See our individual counselling page.
- Family therapy: sessions that help families communicate, set healthy limits and rebuild trust. See our family therapy page.
- Group therapy and peer support: meeting others in recovery reduces shame and isolation. See our group therapy page.
- Financial counselling: help to make a realistic budget and a repayment plan with lenders
Follow-Up Care After the First Phase
Gambling disorder is a long-term condition, so care does not end when the first phase of treatment ends. Follow-up usually includes:
- Regular counselling sessions, with more frequent sessions in the first months and wider gaps later
- Review of mood, sleep, anxiety and any thoughts of self-harm, with treatment adjusted if needed
- Regular money checks with a trusted family member, such as a weekly look at bank and card statements
- Keeping blocks on betting apps and sites in place, and a plan for match days and pay days
- Progress on the debt and repayment plan
- Booster sessions to refresh relapse-prevention skills when urges or triggers return
- Support in rebuilding routine, work and relationships
- Continued involvement of the family, where the person agrees
A slip does not mean treatment has failed. It is a signal to tell someone and get support quickly. Read our guide on relapse in addiction recovery to understand what ongoing care looks like.
Outcome: What Recovery Looks Like With Gambling Addiction
What changed for Aman over the first three months:
- Gambling: he stopped betting. In the second month he reinstalled a betting app during a cricket final. He deleted it within the hour, told his father and called his counsellor the next morning, and no chasing followed.
- Sleep and mood: his sleep improved within a few weeks, and his low mood and anxiety eased. His thoughts of being a burden to his family stopped.
- Money: with his father he agreed repayment plans with the lenders and cleared the first part of the debt. He now keeps a monthly budget and has no access to credit cards.
- Work: he stayed in his job, and his manager noticed fewer errors and better focus.
- Family: trust is being rebuilt slowly. Dinners at home became calmer, and his mother said she had her son back.
- Time: he took up football again on Sunday mornings and began saving a small amount each month.
It is worth being clear about what recovery means. It is not only a gambling-free month. It is a person who handles money, stress and boredom without betting, who understands their triggers and who knows what to do when a hard phase returns.
What the first six months of treatment usually look like
- Month 1: assessment, financial safeguards, a short structured programme and a written plan.
- Months 2 and 3: therapy skills build. Mood, sleep and money are reviewed. Family sessions continue.
- Months 4 to 6: gains settle in. The team reviews what is working and what still needs support.
This is a general guide. Every person moves at a different pace.
Key Takeaways from This Gambling Addiction Case Study
- Gambling addiction is a recognised behavioural addiction, not a weakness of character.
- It can stay hidden for years, and online betting makes it easier to hide.
- Chasing losses and lying about gambling are warning signs and should be taken seriously.
- Cutting access to money and apps comes first, and therapy is the core of treatment.
- Depression, anxiety and thoughts of self-harm often sit alongside gambling and need treatment too.
- A slip is not a failure. Telling someone quickly is what protects recovery.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Please speak to a doctor if you or someone you know:
- Gambles or bets more than planned, or cannot stop once started
- Bets again to win back losses
- Lies or hides how much is being gambled
- Has borrowed money, taken loans or sold belongings to gamble
- Has tried to cut down and could not
- Feels restless, irritable, anxious or low when not gambling, or gambles to escape those feelings
- Is seeing work, health, money or relationships suffer because of gambling
If you are worried about a family member, speak to a doctor before paying off their debts or confronting them, so that help can be planned together.
If you or someone you know ever talks about hurting themselves, or feels that life is not worth living, do not wait. Call 112 in an emergency, or Tele-MANAS on 14416. You can also call our 24-hour helpline for a confidential conversation.
Gambling Addiction Case Study: Frequently Asked Questions
What is gambling addiction?
Gambling addiction, also called gambling disorder, is a pattern of repeated gambling that continues despite serious harm to money, health, work or relationships. It is recognised as a behavioural addiction in the DSM-5-TR and as a disorder in the WHO’s ICD-11.
Is gambling addiction a real addiction?
Yes. It is classed as a behavioural addiction because it involves cravings, loss of control and continued gambling despite harm, and research suggests the brain’s reward system is involved in a similar way to substance addiction.
What are the signs of gambling addiction?
Common signs include betting more than planned, chasing losses, lying about gambling, borrowing money to gamble, restlessness when trying to cut down, and gambling to escape stress or low mood.
Why is online betting so hard to stop?
Betting apps are open at any hour, bets are small and fast, and money moves through bank apps and UPI instead of cash, so losses feel less real. This makes it easier to keep going and easier to hide.
How is gambling addiction treated?
Treatment combines a full assessment, financial safeguards such as blocking apps and limiting access to money, behavioural therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Enhancement Therapy, relapse prevention planning, treatment of any depression, anxiety or sleep problems, and family involvement.
Are there medicines for gambling addiction?
No medicine is specifically approved for gambling disorder. A psychiatrist may treat depression, anxiety or sleep problems with medicines, and may consider a medicine such as naltrexone to reduce urges in some people. Medicines work best together with therapy.
Is my information kept private?
Yes. Assessment and treatment details are confidential and are shared with family or employers only with your consent.
Sources and Further Reading
This page is for information and is not a substitute for medical advice. The case described is a composite example, and details are illustrative. If you think you or someone you know may have a problem with gambling or betting, please see a doctor or psychiatrist for a full assessment.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). 2022.
- World Health Organization. International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11), 6C50 Gambling disorder.
- Ferris J., Wynne H. The Canadian Problem Gambling Index: Final Report. Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, 2001.
- Potenza M. N., et al. Gambling disorder. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 2019; 5: 51.
- Cowlishaw S., et al. Psychological therapies for pathological and problem gambling. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012; CD008937.
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