Problematic and compulsive gambling often cause
growing and continuing problems in any area of life. How can you tell whether
you are a problematic or compulsive gambler? Only you can make that decision.
Gamblers Anonymous offers the following questions to anyone who may have a
gambling problem:
1. |
Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling? |
2. |
Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy? |
3. |
Did gambling affect your reputation? |
4. |
Have you ever felt remorse after gambling? |
5. |
Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial situations? |
6. |
Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency? |
7. |
After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses? |
8. |
After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more? |
9. |
Did you often gamble until your last dollar? |
10. |
Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling? |
11. |
Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling? |
12. |
Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures? |
13. |
Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family? |
14. |
Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned? |
15. |
Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble? |
16. |
Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling? |
17. |
Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping? |
18. |
Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble? |
19. |
Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling? |
20. |
Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling? |
Many compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of these questions.