Hamilton, NJ -- (SBWire) -- 11/01/2016 --Halloween is a holiday that conjures up a spirit of harmless, prankish fun alongside more destructive expressions of human behavior - all summed up in the sing-song of "trick or treat" heard throughout the season. According to Neva Pryor, Executive Director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), gambling has a reputation for being both of those things. So, which is it? The Council, which is neither for nor against gambling, asserts that it is essentially both, but for the problem gambler, the detriments far outweigh the delights.

Much as with substance abuse, determining whether a person's gambling behavior is problematic has partly to do with the reasons they gamble. Gambling is meant first and foremost as a means of entertainment, but problem gamblers, according to Neva Pryor, gamble for a host of reasons that are primarily escapist or self-destructive. When gambling, whether in the form of illegal sports betting in East Rutherford, NJ or table gaming in Atlantic City, is adopted as a means of escaping daily troubles or occurs alongside substance abuse and other risky behaviors, it can easily become a problematic behavior.

Problem gamblers are also plagued by their inability to stop betting money and other assets on wagers, even when other life situations, such as finances and the home, are damaged by their gambling behavior. This mentality is called "chasing losses," and usually stems from a problem gambler's false belief that the next win is just around the corner and will allow them to break even on previous losses.

If gambling, sports gaming or similar activities are no longer the treat they used to be, the CCGNJ urges gamblers in and near the Meadowlands area in NJ to seek the hope, treatment and support that the Council offers through its 24/7, confidential hotline, 1-800-GAMBLER. For more information, including brochures on problem gambling and other resources, visit http://www.800gambler.org.

About The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey
The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey is a non-profit, private organization dedicated to helping individuals seek help for their disordered gambling problem, and for concerned friends and loved ones to confidentially express their concerns about someone close to them. Their 24/7 hotline is 800-GAMBLER. The Council also works to train professionals in the fields of gambling addiction and recovery.

For more information, please visit http://www.800gambler.org.