Online gambling addiction refers to the excessive amount of time and money wasted when gambling online. It is the desire to gamble despite the negative and detrimental effects and unable to stop even when the desire to stop is there.

It is also called compulsive gambling because it's considered as an impulse-control disorder. Addicted gamblers cannot help themselves and they loose control when they gamble. They place higher bets just to achieve that 'rush' using money that they cannot afford to lose. Compulsive gamblers just want to keep on gambling even when they're happy or sad, broke or flush and even when they know that the odds are against them.

Below are some of the symptoms of an online gambling addict:

Unusually anxious if access to computer is denied

Needs to spend excessive amount of time on the computer gambling

Spends excessive amount of money while gambling

Neglecting other duties and responsibilities

Feeling depressed, irritable when unable to gamble online.

Lying about the actual amount of time spent gambling online

Foregoing other pleasurable activities in order to gamble online

Some of these symptoms may not be connected initially with online gambling but as the problem worsens, a link may be observed between the symptoms and an addiction with gambling online. So if you feel that you have 2 or more of these symptoms it's very much recommended that you seek a professional help before your problem escalates.

Gambling, online or otherwise, should be about recreation and fun and not as a means to support your life.