Pathological Gambling – An Addiction That Can Destroy Relationships, People, and Families

Gambling addiction is an increasingly serious problem in Germany; according to suchtmittel.de, almost 200,000 people are affected nationwide, losing around €2.2 billion annually. The majority of those affected are men aged 18 to 35, with only 10 per cent being female. Contrary to the assumption that gambling addiction is less severe and almost negligible compared with other addictions, our detectives in Dortmund repeatedly observe that not only the affected individuals themselves, but also their families, social circles, and employers suffer from the consequences. Gambling addiction can destroy entire lives in multiple ways.

 

Kurtz Detective Agency Dortmund intervenes when spouses or partners, parents, or employers suspect that a partner, child, or employee may have a harmful relationship with gambling: +49 231 8401 0065.

Gambling Addiction – An Initially Concealed Dependence

Gambling addicts are not immediately visible on the street; unlike drug or alcohol dependents, they can easily conceal their addiction and continue to fulfil their societal role. Due to the relatively small number of affected individuals – and because most are secretive addicts – there is often little awareness of the typical appearance or symptoms of this addiction. According to our Dortmund private detectives, prolonged nights out and high expenditures are often initially misattributed to an affair rather than gambling addiction.

 

However, the affected individuals suffer like any other addicts: loss of control, withdrawal symptoms when unable to play, compulsive urges, endangerment of social and professional relationships, creation of extensive lies to conceal their addiction, and more. Debt arising from addiction often compels them to steal or commit fraud to secure the funds needed to continue their gambling. Their world revolves entirely around the game and the money, which seems quick and easy to win.

Gambling Addiction in Dortmund and Mitigation Measures

According to an article by Der Westen in 2011, Dortmund had over 5,000 pathological gamblers, who lost more than €37 million annually on approximately 2,100 slot machines. Those affected are confronted daily with new incentives to gamble: advertisements for casinos, lottery, and sports betting on TV, online, and in print; local arcades; slot machines, lottery tickets, and scratch cards in kiosks and pubs; easy access to online gambling; and more. Even individuals attempting to avoid gambling may be drawn back into the spiral of thrill, wins, and losses. Lavish party nights and increasingly sophisticated gaming environments, such as those at the Spielbank Hohensyburg in Dortmund, are also drawing more women into gambling.

 

Support options include self-help groups such as those run by the Caritas Association in Dortmund, therapeutic care programmes, and self- or third-party exclusions. The latter are regulated under the 2008 Gambling Treaty and its subsequent versions: a self-exclusion allows the player to voluntarily block access to gambling in state-run casinos by submitting an application. For our Dortmund private detectives, third-party exclusions are more significant, as clients sometimes seek our assistance to collect the evidence necessary to successfully request such exclusions. These are granted when, for example, a gambling addiction threatens the family’s livelihood and can be substantiated. A limitation of these exclusions is that they only apply to state-operated, not commercial gambling; in other words, the restricted person can no longer gamble in state casinos but may still visit commercial casinos.

New Gambling Tax as a Deterrent for Players?

Previously, the city of Dortmund levied taxes on betting offices according to the size of the commercial premises: €250 per 20 m² per month. In summer 2017, the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig declared this rule invalid. Dortmund now follows the Frankfurt model, levying taxes proportionally on the wagered amount. While municipalities hope to increase revenues, the official purpose of the tax is to deter gamblers. Whether this municipal tax reform will have a positive impact on addicted players will only become apparent over months or years, once new statistics on addicted gamblers are published.

Methods Employed by Our Dortmund Detectives

When Kurtz Detective Agency Dortmund is tasked with monitoring a family member to substantiate gambling addiction, the first step is to verify the client’s legitimate interest. This might be a spouse seeking to prevent their partner from gambling away joint assets, an employer concerned their employee is frequenting casinos rather than working, or parents wishing to keep a minor away from gambling venues (gambling in Germany is legally permitted only from age 18). Observation of a disliked neighbour or wealthy relative, for instance, is not permitted. We are happy to advise clients on our guidelines and methods.

 

Where legitimate interest exists, surveillance is usually the most effective investigative method. For example, a husband suspected of staying late in the city after work or working “mysterious overtime” may be followed by our corporate detectives during the periods of suspicion. Visits to casinos, arcades, or betting offices can be documented. Sometimes observation continues inside the establishments to record gambling behaviour and, importantly, amounts risked, lost, or won – information that may be relevant in maintenance or financial matters. For online gambling addiction, our IT specialists in Dortmund examine browser histories, cache data, and background processes on the devices used, a method frequently employed for work computers where there is suspected abuse of working hours.

Engaging Kurtz Detective Agency Dortmund

If you fear that a spouse, partner, minor child, or employee is harming themselves or others through gambling addiction and you wish to document it, contact our Dortmund detectives. We provide advice by phone or email regarding options, procedures, payment methods, and potential outcomes. The detectives of Kurtz Detective Agency are IHK-certified, professional, and discreet, ensuring that operations are conducted quickly and results-oriented. Contact us via our contact form, by email at kontakt@kurtz-detektei-dortmund.de, or by telephone at +49 231 8401 0065.

Author: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

 

Kurtz Detektei Dortmund

Meißener Straße 62

44139 Dortmund

Tel.: 0231 8401 0065

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-dortmund.de

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