Which of the following is one way those with gambling disorders deceive themselves?

• A. Hide money where they will forget about it
• B. Illusion of control
• C. Change their name
• D. All of the above

Answer: (B)

Illusion of control is the tendency to overestimate one’s ability to influence outcomes that are actually random. In gambling disorders, this cognitive distortion makes a person feel that skill, strategy, or lucky rituals can steer the result. That belief deceives them into continuing to gamble, thinking that with the right method they will win, even after repeated losses. It underpins chasing losses and persistent bets because the gambler attributes wins to personal control rather than luck. Hiding money or changing one’s name can occur as coping or avoidance behaviors, but they don’t reflect a false sense of influence over randomness. So the most accurate concept here is the illusion of control.