Playing is fun and is part of human lives from an early age.
However, gambling is different from other games. They include all games:
- in which money or other assets are used to acquire a chance to win and
- the outcome of which depends entirely or predominantly on chance
When the signs point to a loss
Gambling-related problems are less noticeable to the outside world than other addictions due to the lack of physical cues such as the smell of alcohol. However, those affected do show some signs that may indicate problems with gambling.
Common signs
- Increased financial difficulties despite secure income
- Taking on debt for no apparent reason
- Money is borrowed from friends or family members
- Less time, unexplained absence from work or home
- Excuses and lies to hide the extent of the gambling
- Restlessness, nervousness and trouble sleeping
- Irritability and severe mood swings
- Increasing unreliability and absenteeism
Most people play for fun
For them, gambling remains an unproblematic pastime. A small group of professional gamblers try to earn some or all of their livelihood by gambling. 
You play a lot and regularly, but always maintain a controlled and distanced relationship with the game. Others, however, lose this distance. For them, gambling can increasingly develop into problems. They spend more and more time and money trying to make up for losses and increasingly lose control of their gambling behavior. The transition from unproblematic gambling behavior to risky, problematic or even pathological, i.e. pathological gambling.
With affected gamblers, gambling such as judi online will at some point dominate their entire lifestyle and world of thought. Those affected neglect family and friends, social contacts and work. Due to the similar diagnostic criteria to substance-related addictions, pathological gambling is predominantly understood in specialist circles as a behavioral addiction and assigned to addiction disorders.
Since the beginning of 2001, pathological gambling has been recognized by health insurers and pension funds as a disease in need of rehabilitation and is therefore on an equal footing with other addictions, such as alcohol addiction. Therefore, the treatment of pathological gambling is paid for by the pension or health insurance.