If you’re preoccupied with gambling, spending more time and money on it, or gambling despite serious consequences, you have a gambling problem. Problem gambling occurs when any gambling disrupts your life. Someone can have a gambling problem, but not be completely out of control. Are often preoccupied with gambling (e.g., having persistent thoughts of reliving past gambling experiences, handicapping or planning the next venture, thinking of ways to get money with which to gamble).

Have made repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling.Restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling.Relies on others to provide money to relieve desperate financial situations caused by gambling.Have jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of gambling.Lies to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling.After losing money gambling, often returns another day to get even (“chasing” one’s losses).Often gambles when feeling distressed (e.g., helpless, guilty, anxious, depressed).The need to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement.If you or a loved one is consistently going through one or more of the following indicators below, it might be best to seek further treatment. Behaviors like this can often cause someone to lose control in other parts of their life.

Even if the odds are against them, a person with a gambling problem gets sucked into the vicious cycle of betting and losing until they have nothing left. Compulsive gamblers cannot control the impulse to gamble, even when they know it’s hurting themselves and their family. Gambling is a type of impulse control issue meaning that even after numerous negative outcomes people cannot stop.

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