Stages of Gambling
Sometimes it is helpful to look at the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that occupy people who gamble. The following chart offers a rough summary of these. While gambling comes in many forms, there are common stages of thinking, feeling and doing.
NORMAL Gambling:
| Time Period | Thoughts and Feelings |
| When not gambling [at work, play, sleep and so on; not gambling, not decided to gamble] | Rarely thinks of it. Goes when invited by someone else. |
| Preparing to go gamble [from the time the decision is made to gamble to when the gambling starts] | Like going to a movie or out for dinner. Looking forward with excitement but not attached, could change mind or not go with no problem. |
| While gambling [actually gambling] | Fun, excited, but also sometimes bored. Winning or losing have little meaning. The social aspect is more important. Can stop gambling and socialize easily or just enjoy observing the surroundings. Might not even spend the money planned to spend. |
| Right after gambling [the half hour or so after gambling] | Thinking and talking about the social experience primarily. What seen and done other than gambling such as people watching. Have emotions (fun or bored) without attaching to gambling at all but rather the entire situation similar to any other social situation. No particular desire to repeat the experience. |
