Bad Bets

The Signs of Compulsive Gambling

The number of gaming establishments has climbed in recent years, and so have the number of people with gambling problems.

An estimated 85% of all people gamble in some form or another, whether it’s visiting a casino or race track or playing a lottery. Five percent of these people develop a type of addiction referred to as an “impulse control disorder,” according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

The question that follow were developed by the self-help group Gamblers Anonymous to help determine whether someone should seek help for a gambling problem. The more “yes” answers, the more likely that help is needed. (Remember, be honest with your answers. To be anything but honest on a self-test is a form of denial, and denial is another sign that gambling has become a problem.)

Do You Have A Gambling Problem?

• Have you ever lost time from work or school due to gambling?
• Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
• Has gambling ever affected your reputation?
• Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
• Have you ever gambled to get money with which to pay debts or to solve financial difficulties?
• Has gambling caused a decrease to your ambition or efficiency?
• After losing, have you ever felt that you had to gamble as soon as possible to recover your losses?
• After a win, have you had a strong urge to return and win more?
• Do you often gamble until your last dollar is gone?
• Have you ever borrowed money to finance your gambling?
• Have you ever sold anything to finance your gambling?
• Have you ever felt reluctant to use “gambling money” for the things you need?
• Have you ever gambled longer than you planned?
• Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
• Has gambling ever caused you to have difficulty sleeping?
• Have you ever considered suicide as a result of your gambling?

If this self-test has offered you insight into the negative effects of gambling on your life, get help. Gambling’s influence can be destructive.