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Is Your Loved One a Problem Gambler?
Signs of Problem Gambling
The Gam-Anon organization, which works with friends and families of problem gamblers, provides a 20-questions guide, Are You Living with a Compulsive Gambler? If you are living with a compulsive gambler, you may answer "yes" to at least six of the following questions.
1. Do you find yourself constantly bothered by bill collectors?
2. Is the person in question often away from home for long, unexplained periods of time?
3. Does this person ever lose time from work due to gambling?
4. Do you feel this person cannot be trusted with money?
5. Does the person in question faithfully promise to stop gambling: beg, plead for another chance, yet gamble again and again?
6. Does this person ever gamble longer than he or she intended to, until the last dollar is gone?
7. Does this person immediately return to gambling to try to recover losses or win more?
8. Does this person ever gamble to get money to solve financial difficulties, or have unrealistic expectations that gambling will bring the family material comfort and wealth?
9. Does this person borrow money with which to gamble or pay gambling debts?
10. Has this person's reputation ever suffered due to gambling, even to the extent of committing illegal acts to finance gambling?
11. Have you come to the point of hiding money needed for living expenses, knowing that you and the rest of the family may go without food or clothing if you do not?
12. Do you search this persons clothing or go through his or her wallet when the opportunity presents itself, or otherwise check on his or her activities?
13. Do you hide the gambler's money?
14. Have you noticed a personality change in the gambler as his or her gambling progresses?
15. Does the person consistently lie to cover up gambling activities?
16. Does this person use guilt induction as a method of shifting responsibility for his or her gambling to you?
17. Do you attempt to anticipate this person's mood or try to control his or her life, seeking some stability in your own?
18. Does this person ever suffer from remorse or depression due to gambling? Sometimes to the point of self-destruction?
19. Has the gambling ever brought you to the point of threatening to break up the family unit?
20. Do you feel that your life together with the gambler has become a nightmare?
Additional Signs of Problem Gambling
Here are some additional financial warnings at home and at work that a gambling problem may exist for someone you love or someone with whom you work.
Warning Signs at Home
· Household bills are overdue, or your loved one suddenly wants to take over paying the bills to gain access to additional cash.
· You discover unaccounted-for cash advances form credit cards, maxed-out credit cards, or an increase in the number of active credit cards.
· The suspected gambler is always short of money, despite adequate income.
· Your loved one is secretive about money.
· The suspected gambler may be nearly broke one moment, then showering people with gifts and living "high on the hog" the next moment.
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