Signs of a Gambling Problem
A gambling problem doesn't make itself known through visible outward signs the way many chemical dependencies do, but there are behaviors to look for that can indicate if you or someone you know may have a problem with gambling.
- Increased frequency of gambling activity
- Increased amount of money gambled
- Spending an excessive amount of time gambling at the expense of work or family time
- Being preoccupied with gambling or with obtaining money to gamble with
- Gambling that creates a special and intense pleasure, or an aroused sense of being in action
- Gambling that continues despite negative consequences, such as large losses, financial problems, absence from work, or family problems
- Using gambling as a means to cope with loneliness, anger, stress, depression, and so on
- Engaging in chasing (the urgent need to keep gambling, often with larger bets or greater risks in order to make up for a loss or series of losses)
- Borrowing money to gamble, taking out secret loans, cashing in or borrowing on life insurance policies, or maxing out credit cards
- Bragging about wins but not talking about losses
- Frequent mood swings—higher when winning, lower when losing
- Gambling for longer periods of time or with more money than originally planned
- Secretive behavior, such as hiding lottery tickets and betting slips, or having mail—particularly bills—sent to work, a post office box, or another address
Minnesota Department of Human Services. (Updated 2012, October 26). Signs of a gambling problem . Retrieved April 28, 2015, from http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/