1. Using gambling to self-medicate or escape

Gambling is fun and exciting to many people who never develop an addiction. Those with gambling problems, however, tend to use this excitement to escape personal conflicts or self-medicate mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety. This is one of the symptoms that responds best to professional treatment, because treating the underlying mental health issue with therapy and/or medication can help break the cycle of addiction by removing the biggest motivation for compulsive gambling.

 

2. Neglecting work, school, and home obligations to spend time gambling

Just as a drug abusers will use compulsively to satisfy cravings for their drug of choice, those with gabling problems gamble compulsively to satisfy their own intense cravings. The power of this compulsion will frequently lead problem gamblers to neglect responsibilities at work, school or home because so much of their time and energy is funneled into gambling. Abusers will also lose track of time while gambling, often due to “chasing losses,” where they obsessively attempt to recover lost money by gambling more and more. Gamblers tell themselves that they’ll quit as soon as they break even, while their debts and lost time only accumulate.

 

3. An obsession with gambling

People with gambling problems become preoccupied with gambling to the point of obsession. Most of their time not spent gambling is spent planning when they will be able to gamble next, or how they will get hold of more gambling money. This obsession contributes to their neglect of relationships and responsibilities, because it is difficult for the abuser to focus on anything unrelated to their drug of choice, i.e. gambling. This is another of the warning signs of problem gambling that compulsive gamblers share in common with drug abusers.

 

4. Financial hardships caused by gambling

Once a problem gambling takes hold, debt will inevitably follow. Although there are rare wins in gambling, there is truth in the saying, “the house always wins.” Gambling is a profitable business, and casinos, online poker sites, and lottery programs earn those profits through the billions of dollars that gamblers lose while playing. They will start asking loved ones for money to bail them out, sell or pawn their belongings, or even resort to fraud, theft and other illegal activities in their desperation to recover their losses. Spending money that is needed for other things, like food, bills, or rent, on gambling could be an early warning sign of a gambling problem.

 

5. Endangering or losing jobs, relationships and opportunities at school or work

Financial hardship is one of the warning signs of gambling problem that is exacerbated by other gambling symptoms, such as losing jobs or opportunities to advance at school or work. This kind of loss can be an indirect result of gambling, like when obsession gets in the way of an someone following through on their responsibilities and goals, or it can be a direct result of a gambler’s compulsion, like when they are caught gambling on the job, or embezzling money to cover gambling debts.

 

6. Denial

Even when the problem is obvious to everyone in the compulsive gambler’s life, many will continue to deny or minimize the problem. They will insist that they have it under control, lying about how often they gamble, how much they bet, and how much money they owe. Denial is one of the main symptoms that presents a major obstacle to seeking treatment, because you can’t ask for help until you admit you have a problem.

 

7. Withdrawing from friends and family

Whether out of guilt, a desire to keep the problem secret, or as a reaction to loved ones who have expressed concern about noticeable symptoms, compulsive gamblers often withdraw from friends and family, avoiding them both emotionally and physically. Secretive behavior and social isolation are more warning signs of problem gambling that are also signs of drug abuse.

 

8. Continuing to gamble despite the negative consequences

Despite recognizing many symptoms in themselves, and even after suffering serious consequences due to gambling, such as losing a job, a spouse, a home, or getting in legal trouble, compulsive gamblers will continue to gamble. This is partly because, like with many drug abuse problems, gambling is an issue that feeds on itself. They seek to solve the problems caused by their gambling with more gambling, feeling sure that a big win is just around the corner.

 

9. Feeling incapable of controlling their behavior despite wanting to

Many compulsive gamblers sincerely want to stop gambling, but find themselves incapable of doing so—at least without professional help. In fact, without treatment, the problem is more likely to escalate over time, as an increasing tolerance to the “high” of gambling, along with mounting financial problems, will push them towards larger stakes bets. People with gambling problems who try to quit will often return to gambling because they begin to suffer withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, and depression.

 

Types of Gambling Problems

It is important to pay attention to any changes in behavior, as many people can gambling problem, where intervening can help avoid a full-on gambling problem.

• Problem Gambling: Gamblers who are not completely under the control of their issue, but who still engage in gambling habits that disrupt their life (such as frequently lying to loved ones about how much money they lose) are referred to as problem gamblers. Some people exist at this low level of behavioral disorder for extended periods of time, even forever, but for many, problematic gambling will rapidly progress to a more dangerous level.
• Binge Gambling: This type of gambler may go through long phases where they don’t gamble at all and appear to be in complete control. They may even refrain from gambling most of the time. On the rare occasions that the binge gambler does gamble, however, the problem will surface through behaviors such as gambling for long stretches without sleep as they chase losses, unable to stop now that they’ve started.
• Compulsive Gambling: This type of gambler is the most extreme form of the addiction. Compulsive, or pathological, gamblers are consistently unable to control their gambling behavior, no matter how high the risk or how severe the consequences. Their lives continue to revolve around gambling, no matter how much they’ve already lost, financially, emotionally or psychologically.

 

 

 

Where can you get help?

NATIONAL PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE

Call: 1-800-522-4700
Text: 1-800-522-4700
Chat: ncpgambling.org/chat

 

MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION ON PROBLEM GAMBLING

1128 Wethersfield Dr. S
Portage, MI 49002
Tel: 517.672.6904
Fax: 734.720.9525
Email: michiganapg@gmail.com
Website: www.michapg.com
Helpline: 1-800-270-7117
Contact: Michael Burke

 

SELF HELP RESOURCES

• Gamblers Anonymous (www.gamblersanonymous.org)
Is fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from a gambling problem.

• Gam-Anon (www.gam-anon.org)
Is a self-help organization for the spouse, family or close friends of compulsive gamblers.

• GamTalk (www.gamtalk.org)
Is a 24/7 moderated online peer support forum.