Four Phases of Escape Gambling

The Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling (ACCG) identifies four phases of escape gambling: introductory, losing, desperation, and hopeless. Not every female escape compulsive gambler will experience all the symptoms or progress through all symptoms of the phases in the same order or at the same rate. The ACCG cautions that women may revert to a previous stage, remain there for some time, before progressing further into the next phase.

Introductory Phase

During the first phase of escape compulsive gambling, women may win but it is not accurate to characterize this as the winning phase. Thats because female escape compulsive gamblers play games of luck. They may have recognized they were in trouble from the onset of their gambling, but they escaped serious consequences and kept on gambling. Generally, they see money as secondary in this phase, although they may also see gambling as a way to make extra money, solve their financial problems, or become financially independent. Gambling at this stage is usually accompanied by small wins or a series of wins enough to convince the female escape gambler to continue.

These women get an emotional boost from gambling, feeling a type of euphoria. Any money they win just allows them to gamble longer to feel better longer. Similarly, they feel a sense of self-esteem and self-empowerment while theyre gambling and winning. Without the condemning presence of family members and/or friends, the women feel its their time to play, to be independent. Independence is especially important for women married to men who are controlling or demanding. In addition, escape compulsive gambling is very attractive to women who may have a disability or who have restricted movement.
Interacting socially at a busy and lively casino is a draw for many lonely and isolated women. The excitement of the action, the sounds and the feeling of living on the edge at least the time theyre at the casino is addicting.

Losing Phase

Winning streaks come to an end, and losing mounts up. Such losses are initially blamed on bad luck and considered only temporary. However, the cycle of winning, losing and breaking event eventually leads to the need for bailouts in order to keep gambling. It has now become all about gambling, not about winning just enough or gambling only for a certain amount of time.
The female escape compulsive gambler now begins to gamble alone, hiding the fact of her gambling and her losses and the losses increase, with resultant loss of self-esteem. She becomes irritable when shes not gambling, falls behind in paying bills, borrows money, neglects family and personal responsibilities. All she thinks about is gambling and when shell next be able to gamble. Lies and deception become routine as she desperately tries to cover up where the money went.

Feeling guilty, she may make several attempts to cut down or stop gambling but these fail. All other coping skills to deal with lifes problems are eclipsed by gambling as a means of escape. She spends more and more time gambling, sells items to finance her gambling, gambles until all the money is gone. She starts losing time from work, feels remorse after her gambling losses, but becomes angry when confronted about her gambling.

Desperation Phase

Escape gamblers reach this stage within one to three years of the onset of compulsive gambling, according to the ACCG. Its at this point that serious bailouts are required, as the woman is obsessed with gambling. Neglecting her physical and mental well-being, the woman often loses her friends and family, her job and reputation are negatively affected. Frequent and drastic mood swings occur and she shows an increasing lack of concern over others.

In order to continue to finance her compulsive gambling, the woman may resort to embezzlement, writing bad checks, or engaging in insurance or credit card fraud. As the downward spiral continues, if the woman is also addicted to other substances, relapse is almost inevitable. She most likely loses her spouse, children, home and job at this point, and frequently thinks of suicide as the only way out.

Hopeless Phase

This is the bottom of the pit, the abyss from which it is extraordinarily difficult to recover. The female escape compulsive gambler may have engaged in illegal acts that result in her incarceration. Often a complete emotional breakdown ensues. Financially ruined, with no support network remaining, she may make frequent suicide attempts.