Foreword｜PHL63
Millions of people have gambling problems. Whether it’s a $2 lottery ticket or a $200,000 stock market bet, here’s how to get the problem under control before it takes control of you.
For most people, gambling means playing a few hours at a slot machine, playing a game of poker with friends once a week, or taking the occasional stock market flyer. But for some, there’s a dark side: an addiction that leads to personal and financial devastation.
The National Council on Problem Gambling reports that approximately 1 percent of the U.S. adult population, or 2 million people, meet criteria for pathological gambling: “increasing preoccupation with gambling, need to gamble larger amounts of money more often, restlessness or Irritability, ‘chasing’ losses, and loss of control demonstrated by continuing gambling behavior despite increasingly negative consequences.”
Potential problems with gambling go beyond financial issues. Left untreated, addiction can lead to legal problems, family and relationship problems, job loss, and an increased risk of suicide.
1. You can’t stop｜PHL63
Just as experienced poker players know when to “hold or fold,” those who gamble for fun limit themselves and their bets. Hardcore gamblers agonize over the time and money they spend. Gambling has taken over their lives and they find themselves betting all the time. They try to quit, but can’t.
2. You gamble with money you can’t afford to lose｜PHL63
Problem gamblers won’t stop setting aside “recreation money” for gambling. They use budget money for bills, savings, or their children’s education. Sometimes they not only squander the last penny, but borrowed money as well.
Stacy, the psychologist interviewed, said one of his patients had borrowed money from so crooked a source that he was putting his family’s safety at risk.
3. Your bets are more than entertainment｜PHL63
Recreational gamblers play for fun and spend a few bucks to have a real time. Gambling addicts wager for reasons other than entertainment, usually to escape anxiety or other problems. No matter what problem you have, gambling is not the solution.
4. You try to gamble to recover your losses｜PHL63
Do you repeatedly try to get back lost money by increasing your bets? Problem gamblers may see gambling more as a solution to financial loss than what it is – losing good money.
5. You bet more and more money｜PHL63
Like many addictions, pathological gambling can start small. But problem gamblers aren’t content with keeping stakes low or setting limits. They need to gamble more and more to experience the thrill.
6. You go to extremes and gamble with money｜PHL63
Pathological gamblers don’t stop gambling when their bank accounts run out. Instead, they go to extremes to find more money. While this may stop with borrowing money, some problem gamblers resort to theft, forgery, or other crimes to feed their habit.
7. You put gambling ahead of more important things｜PHL63
Problem gamblers allow their gambling behavior to take precedence over other parts of their lives. A gambling addict might skip watching her kids’ soccer games or miss work hours to go to the casino. Careers are put on the sidelines and relationships sour at the expense of habit.
8. Gambling can negatively affect your mood｜PHL63
While gambling can be an exhilarating experience, addicts may experience emotions that signal problems, including:
- Feeling frustrated or irritated when you try and fail to quit smoking.
- Feelings of remorse.
- Ambition drops.
- The urge to celebrate unrelated events by gambling.
In addition to these warning signs, you can also test whether you are addicted to gambling on the website Gamblers Anonymous.
If you think you are addicted, there are steps you can take to help you quit smoking. Taking early action is key to saving your job, relationships and bank account.
