Problem Gambler Warning Signs
The Responsible Gambling Council defines problem gambling as, “Gambling that is done excessively and negatively affects other areas of a person’s life, such as their physical or mental health, school or work performance, finances, and/or interpersonal relationships.
People with gambling problems often bet with money they can’t afford to lose, max out their credit cards, borrow money in order to gamble, and do other things that compromise their personal values.
Despite these negative consequences, they may deny that they have a problem, continue to chase losses, neglect family, friends, work, and even their own self-care (they may not eat or sleep properly, for example, or care about their physical appearance). Problem gambling can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, race or social status.”
There are a lot of warning signs that you or a loved one can pick up on, and you can find the full list at
NYproblemgambling.org or
responsiblegambling.org, but we’ve listed a few here for your convenience.
*Using gambling to escape a problem or amend a depressed mood
*Losing time from work or school to focus on gambling
*A personality change (generally more irritable)
*Gambling with money you do not have, or using money allotted for bills to gamble with
*Feeling anxious or empty when you are not gambling or miss out on time gambling
*Borrowing money from others; not paying those debts back as promised
*Neglecting real-world duties to gamble (cleaning, work, family time, etc.)
If you feel that you or a loved one is suffering from an addiction to gambling, please contact the National Council on Problem Gambling’s
24-hour confidential help line if you live in the US, or utilize your country’s equivalent.
Gambling is first and foremost a form of entertainment. If you begin to think that it has become more than that to you or a loved one, it’s important that you immediately seek help from someone that understands the importance of responsible gambling. Don’t let this pastime control your life, wreck your financials, and put a strain on your relationships.
Practicing Responsible Gambling
We know that at first glance, these guidelines may appear overly restrictive. But following them will make for a positive, fun experience overall, whether you’re sitting at the slot machines, playing a few hands of a card game, betting on your favorite sports team, or sitting in the comfort of your own home and playing in an online casino.
These rules even apply to lottery scratch-offs and other convenience store games.
If you feel yourself getting out of control in any capacity, save yourself the future headaches and get help right away. Practicing responsible gambling will make for a more positive, stress-free experience, as it should be.
If you prefer sports betting, there’s nothing wrong with doing some research in order to make an informed bet; in fact, it is important that you do so, but if that research begins to bleed into time that should be spent with family, on household chores, or at work, that is when the fun pastime turns into problem gambling.
Consider breaking up this time spent researching with other activities that you enjoy as a pastime
It’s important to remind yourself non-verbally that betting is an activity for entertainment purposes only. It is not meant to be seen as a career or a necessity to your everyday life.
The suggested tips will put you on the right path to being a mindful gambler, and never be afraid to ask for help if you find yourself struggling with them.