Many gambling games, particularly casino games, are largely games of chance. This means that luck plays a much greater factor than any skill or strategy applied. There are, however, a number of games where skill is the most important factor, and many entail successful results.
Skill makes a difference. How do you develop and take advantage of the skills required to get the most out of casino games? Let's take a look. Blackjack: There are several levels of skill in blackjack, but good players start by learning basic strategy for hitting, standing, splitting pairs and doubling down. Basic strategy charts cover every.
Typically, gambling on skill games is a simple case of agreeing to a stake with your opponent (or opponents) with the winner getting the money. Some of these games can be played in a tournament format, in which players pay an entry fee and the overall winner gets the prize pool. Sometimes, a number of the highest place finishers in the tournament will also get a percentage of the prize pool.
In our skill game section, we have provided some information on history, rules, and strategy for some of the most popular skill games played around the world.
Dominoes are a very popular game played by people of all ages in countries worldwide. It involves the use of tiles known as dominoes, hence the name. There are lots of variations, and the basic principles can be traced as far back as the 12th century. Dominoes originated in China, although the game has evolved significantly over time.
Gambling isn’t necessarily associated with dominoes for everyone, and many people play the game purely for entertainment purposes. There are many who do enjoy playing for money, however, and this has always been the case. For more information on the game, please visit our dominoes page.
Rummy is a card game that comes in many forms, some of the most popular being Basic Rummy, Gin Rummy, and Canasta. The different variations have slightly differing rules, but the basics are essentially the same. Rummy games are all about building sets that contain cards of the same rank, or runs of cards in the same suit. They can be played just for fun, or with money at stake.
There are conflicting theories about how and where Rummy originated, and we discuss these in more detail on our page dedicated to Rummy. We include the rules of the most widely-played variant, Basic Rummy, and look at some of the other common versions.
Backgammon is a board game for two players, and one of the oldest games still played today. It has always been associated with gambling, although many play the game purely for entertainment purposes. The rules take a bit of getting used to, but backgammon is straightforward enough once you understand how to play.
Backgammon involves some luck, because moves are made based on the roll of dice, but strategy and tactics play a much bigger part. For a simple explanation of the rules and information on strategy, please visit our backgammon page.
Chess isn’t a game traditionally associated with gambling, although there are those that play for money. Most people play simply for entertainment or to improve their skill level. Chess is one of the most commonly-played games in the world and it’s not difficult to learn. Mastering the game, however, is another matter entirely: it takes tremendous skill to become a leading player.
For more information, including how the game has evolved over hundreds of years and the organized tournaments that take place, please take a look at our Chess page.
Yahtzee is an entertaining dice game enjoyed by millions of people all over the world. It’s largely a game of luck, but there’s some skill and thought involved. It’s a very simple game to learn and can be played either for fun or for wagering purposes.
To find out how to play the game, please visit our Yahtzee page. We have detailed the origins of the game and how it became popular.
Spades is a card game from the Whist family. It’s very popular in many parts of the world and is often seen as a good stepping stone to learning Contract Bridge. It is, in many ways, essentially a stripped down version of Bridge, with simpler rules and a more straightforward scoring method.
The game can be played purely for entertainment purposes and/or for stakes. You can read about the history of Spades, along with a complete explanation of the rules, on our page all about Spades.
Tonk is probably not as widely known as many of the other skill games listed here, but it’s popular in the United States. It shares similarities with Rummy and is a very simple and fast game. It tends to be played with money at stake, but it can just as easily be played for fun.
The rules of Tonk vary depending on whom you are playing with and what variation you are using. For information on the fundamental principles of the game and some commonly-used rules, please visit our Tonk page.
No mention of skill games you can gamble on would be complete without poker. There has been considerable debate about whether it’s a game of chance or skill, but there’s no doubt that some luck is involved. However, at GamblingSites.org, we are very much of the opinion that skill is the dominant factor in poker. The fact that players who implement good strategies generally win in the long run in effect proves us right.
We haven’t included poker in our skill game section, because we have a section solely dedicated to poker. It includes all the best places to play the game online, lots of strategy advice, and information on the various forms. Please visit our section for Online Poker to find out more about this game.
Gambling problems can happen to anyone from any walk of life. Your gambling goes from a fun, harmless diversion to an unhealthy obsession with serious consequences. Whether you bet on sports, scratch cards, roulette, poker, or slots—in a casino, at the track, or online—a gambling problem can strain your relationships, interfere with work, and lead to financial disaster. You may even do things you never thought you would, like running up huge debts or even stealing money to gamble.
Gambling addiction—also known as pathological gambling, compulsive gambling or gambling disorder—is an impulse-control disorder. If you’re a compulsive gambler, you can’t control the impulse to gamble, even when it has negative consequences for you or your loved ones. You’ll gamble whether you’re up or down, broke or flush, and you’ll keep gambling regardless of the consequences—even when you know that the odds are against you or you can’t afford to lose.
Of course, you can also have a gambling problem without being totally out of control. Problem gambling is any gambling behavior that disrupts your life. If you’re preoccupied with gambling, spending more and more time and money on it, chasing losses, or gambling despite serious consequences in your life, you have a gambling problem.
A gambling addiction or problem is often associated with other behavior or mood disorders. Many problem gamblers also suffer with substance abuse issues, unmanaged ADHD, stress, depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. To overcome your gambling problems, you’ll also need to address these and any other underlying causes as well.
Although it may feel like you’re powerless to stop gambling, there are plenty of things you can do to overcome the problem, repair your relationships and finances, and finally regain control of your life.
The first step is to separate the myths from the facts about gambling problems:
Myths and Facts about Gambling Problems |
Myth: You have to gamble every day to be a problem gambler. Fact: A problem gambler may gamble frequently or infrequently. Gambling is a problem if it causes problems. |
Myth: Problem gambling is not really a problem if the gambler can afford it. Fact: Problems caused by excessive gambling are not just financial. Too much time spent on gambling can also lead to relationship and legal problems, job loss, mental health problems including depression and anxiety, and even suicide. |
Myth: Having a gambling problem is just a case of being weak-willed, irresponsible, or unintelligent. Fact: Gambling problems affect people of all levels of intelligence and all backgrounds. Previously responsible and strong-willed people are just as likely to develop a gambling problem as anyone else. |
Myth: Partners of problem gamblers often drive their loved ones to gamble. Fact: Problem gamblers often try to rationalize their behavior. Blaming others is one way to avoid taking responsibility for their actions, including what is needed to overcome the problem. |
Myth: If a problem gambler builds up a debt, you should help them take care of it. Fact: Quick fix solutions may appear to be the right thing to do. However, bailing the gambler out of debt may actually make matters worse by enabling their gambling problems to continue. |
Gambling addiction is sometimes referred to as a “hidden illness” because there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms like there are in drug or alcohol addiction. Problem gamblers also typically deny or minimize the problem—even to themselves. However, you may have a gambling problem if you:
Feel the need to be secretive about your gambling. You might gamble in secret or lie about how much you gamble, feeling others won’t understand or that you will surprise them with a big win.
Have trouble controlling your gambling. Once you start gambling, can you walk away? Or are you compelled to gamble until you’ve spent your last dollar, upping your bets in a bid to win lost money back?
Gamble even when you don’t have the money. You may gamble until you’ve spent your last dollar, and then move on to money you don’t have—money to pay bills, credit cards, or things for your children. You may feel pushed to borrow, sell, or even steal things for gambling money.
Have family and friends worried about you. Denial keeps problem gambling going. If friends and family are worried, listen to them carefully. It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help. Many older gamblers are reluctant to reach out to their adult children if they’ve gambled away their inheritance, but it’s never too late to make changes for the better.
The biggest step to overcoming a gambling addiction is realizing that you have a problem. It takes tremendous strength and courage to own up to this, especially if you have lost a lot of money and strained or broken relationships along the way. Don’t despair, and don’t try to go it alone. Many others have been in your shoes and have been able to break the habit and rebuild their lives. You can, too.
Learn to relieve unpleasant feelings in healthier ways. Do you gamble when you’re lonely or bored? Or after a stressful day at work or following an argument with your spouse? Gambling may be a way to self-soothe unpleasant emotions, unwind, or socialize. But there are healthier and more effective ways of managing your moods and relieving boredom, such as exercising, spending time with friends who don’t gamble, taking up new hobbies, or practicing relaxation techniques.
Strengthen your support network. It’s tough to battle any addiction without support, so reach out to friends and family. If your support network is limited, there are ways to make new friends without relying on visiting casinos or gambling online. Try reaching out to colleagues at work, joining a sports team or book club, enrolling in an education class, or volunteering for a good cause.
Join a peer support group. Gamblers Anonymous, for example, is a 12-step recovery program patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous. A key part of the program is finding a sponsor, a former gambler who has experience remaining free from addiction and can provide you invaluable guidance and support.
Seek help for underlying mood disorders.Depression, stress, substance abuse, or anxiety can both trigger gambling problems and be made worse by compulsive gambling. Even when gambling is no longer a part of your life, these problems will still remain, so it’s important to address them.
For many problem gamblers, it’s not quitting gambling that’s the biggest challenge, but rather staying in recovery—making a permanent commitment to stay away from gambling. The Internet has made gambling far more accessible and, therefore, harder for recovering addicts to avoid relapse. Online casinos and bookmakers are open all day, every day for anyone with a smartphone or access to a computer. But maintaining recovery from gambling addiction or problem gambling is still possible if you surround yourself with people to whom you’re accountable, avoid tempting environments and websites, give up control of your finances (at least at first), and find healthier activities to replace gambling in your life.
One way to stop gambling is to remove the elements necessary for gambling to occur in your life and replace them with healthier choices. The four elements needed for gambling to continue are:
A decision: For gambling to happen, you need to make the decision to gamble. If you have an urge: stop what you are doing and call someone, think about the consequences to your actions, tell yourself to stop thinking about gambling, and find something else to do immediately.
Money: Gambling cannot occur without money. Get rid of your credit cards, let someone else be in charge of your money, have the bank make automatic payments for you, close online betting accounts, and keep only a limited amount of cash on you.
Time: Even online gambling cannot occur if you don’t have the time. Schedule enjoyable recreational time for yourself that has nothing to do with gambling. If you’re gambling on your smartphone, find other ways to fill the quiet moments during your day.
A game: Without a game or activity to bet on there is no opportunity to gamble. Don’t put yourself in tempting environments. Tell gambling establishments you frequent that you have a gambling problem and ask them to restrict you from entering. Remove gambling apps and block gambling sites on your smartphone and computer.
Maintaining recovery from gambling addiction depends a lot on finding alternative behaviors you can substitute for gambling. Some examples include:
Reason for gambling | Sample substitute behaviors |
To provide excitement, get a rush of adrenaline | Sport or a challenging hobby, such as mountain biking, rock climbing, or Go Kart racing |
To be more social, overcome shyness or isolation | Counseling, enroll in a public speaking class, join a social group, connect with family and friends, volunteer, find new friends |
To numb unpleasant feelings, not think about problems | Try therapy or use HelpGuide’s free Emotional Intelligence toolkit |
Boredom or loneliness | Find something you’re passionate about such as art, music, sports, or books and then find others with the same interests |
To relax after a stressful day | As little as 15 minutes of daily exercise can relieve stress. Or deep breathing, meditation, or massage |
To solve money problems | The odds are always stacked against you so it’s far better to seek help with debts from a credit counselor |
Feeling the urge to gamble is normal, but as you build healthier choices and a strong support network, resisting cravings will become easier. When a gambling craving strikes:
Avoid isolation. Call a trusted family member, meet a friend for coffee, or go to a Gamblers Anonymous meeting.
Postpone gambling. Tell yourself that you’ll wait 5 minutes, fifteen minutes, or an hour. As you wait, the urge to gamble may pass or become weak enough to resist.
Visualize what will happen if you give in to the urge to gamble. Think about how you’ll feel after all your money is gone and you’ve disappointed yourself and your family again.
Distract yourself with another activity, such as going to the gym, watching a movie, or practicing a relaxation exercise for gambling cravings.
If you aren’t able to resist the gambling craving, don’t be too hard on yourself or use it as an excuse to give up. Overcoming a gambling addiction is a tough process. You may slip from time to time; the important thing is to learn from your mistakes and continue working towards recovery.
Overcoming a gambling problem is never easy and seeking professional treatment doesn’t mean that you’re weak in some way or can’t handle your problems. But it’s important to remember that every gambler is unique so you need a recovery program tailored specifically to your needs and situation. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional about different treatment options, including:
Inpatient or residential treatment and rehab programs. These are aimed at those with severe gambling addiction who are unable to avoid gambling without round-the-clock support.
Treatment for underlying conditions contributing to your compulsive gambling, including substance abuse or mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, OCD, or ADHD. This could include therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. Problem gambling can sometimes be a symptom of bipolar disorder, so your doctor or therapist may need to rule this out before making a diagnosis.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy. CBT for gambling addiction focuses on changing unhealthy gambling behaviors and thoughts, such as rationalizations and false beliefs. It can also teach you how to fight gambling urges and solve financial, work, and relationship problems caused by problem gambling. Therapy can provide you with the tools for coping with your addiction that will last a lifetime.
Family therapy and marriage, career, and credit counseling. These can help you work through the specific issues that have been created by your problem gambling and lay the foundation for repairing your relationships and finances.
If your loved one has a gambling problem, you likely have many conflicting emotions. You may have spent a lot of time and energy trying to keep your loved one from gambling or having to cover for them. At the same time, you might be furious at your loved one for gambling again and tired of trying to keep up the charade. Your loved one may have borrowed or even stolen money with no way to pay it back. They may have sold family possessions or run up huge debts on joint credit cards.
While compulsive and problem gamblers need the support of their family and friends to help them in their struggle to stop gambling, the decision to quit has to be theirs. As much as you may want to, and as hard as it is seeing the effects, you cannot make someone stop gambling. However, you can encourage them to seek help, support them in their efforts, protect yourself, and take any talk of suicide seriously.
When faced with the consequences of their actions, problem gamblers can suffer a crushing drop in self-esteem. This is one reason why there is a high rate of suicide among compulsive gamblers. If you suspect your loved one is feeling suicidal, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the U.S. at 1-800-273-8255 or visit Befrienders Worldwide to find a suicide helpline in your country.
Do’s and Don’ts for Partners of Problem Gamblers |
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