compulsive gambler questions

Are You Living With A Compulsive Gambler?(questions developed by GamAnon)

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 that this person cannot be trusted with money?
5.Does the person in question faithfully promise that he/ she will stop gambling; beg, plead for another chance, yet gamble again and again?
6. Does this person ever gamble longer than he/she intended to, until the last dollar is gone?
7. Does this person immediately return to gambling to try to recover losses, or to 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 to gamble with or to 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 and clothing if you do not?
12. Do you search this person’s clothing or go through his/her wallet when the opportunity presents itself, or otherwise check on his/her activities?
13. Does the person in question hide his/her money?
14. Have you noticed a personality change in the gambler as the gambling progresses?
15. Does the person in question consistently lie to cover up or deny his/her gambling activities?
16. Does this person use guilt induction to try to shift responsibilities for his/her gambling upon you?
17. Do you attempt to anticipate this person’s moods, or try to control his/her life?
18. Does this person ever suffer from remorse or depression due to gambling, sometimes to the point of considering 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 is a nightmare?

If you are living with a compulsive gambler, you will have answered “YES” to at least six of the previous questions.
If there is a gambling problem in your home, don’t wait for the gambler to admit it. Compulsive gambling affects the husbands, wives, children, relatives and close friends of compulsive gamblers, and can destroy you all.
You can learn more effective ways of coping with the gambler and the gambling problem on a practical, day-to-day basis. You can learn techniques to enable you to deal with the extreme levels of stress this situation is creating. In some cases, this may even motivate the gambler toward seeking help for him or herself.
But don’t bet on it!

Do You have a Problem?

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Have you ever lost time from work or school due to gambling?
2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3. Has gambling affected your reputation?
4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5. Have you ever gambled to get money with which to pay bills or other debts?
6. Has gambling ever caused a decrease in your efficiency, or in your ambition?
7. After losing, have you ever felt you must return as soon as possible to win back your losses?
8. After a win, have you ever felt a strong urge to return and win more?
9. Have you often gambled until your last dollar was gone?
10. Have you ever borrowed to finance your gambling?
11. Have you ever sold anything to finance your gambling?
12. Have you ever been reluctant to use your “gambling money” for normal expenditures?
13. Has gambling ever made you care less for the welfare of yourself and your family?
14. Have you ever gambled longer than planned?
15. Have you ever gambled to escape trouble, or to escape your worries?
16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance your gambling?
17. Has gambling caused you to have difficulty sleeping?
18. Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
19. Do you ever have an urge to celebrate good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20. Have you ever considered self-destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

*Do you ever gamble alone?
based on Gambler’s Anonymous Questionnaire

If you answered yes to six or more of these questions, you have a gambling problem.
Gambling Addiction is a progressive disease. You need to seek help immediately.

Gambling problems can affect anyone, no matter your age, your education level, or your income. Anyone who gambles, anyone who plays, runs the risk of becoming addicted. Gambling addiction is a progressive illness that can lead quickly to financial and personal ruin.

But if you DO have a gambling problem, it is not because you are weak-willed. You, like thousands of others today, have an illness, an illness that can be treated. HELP IS AVAILABLE. With help, you CAN stop gambling, and stay stopped.

Contact a self-help group, such as Gamblers Anonymous, or an Addiction Centre, or a private counselling service specializing in Gambling Addiction.

Only YOU know if your gambling is leading you to the edge of the cliff
Don’t let it push you over the edge!
Don’t wait until it is too late!

You are not alone. Get help now, for yourself, and for your family.

This downloadable Free workbook, developed by the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM), and ResponsibleGambling.org can help the individual with concerns about their gambling to determine whether they have a problem, set goals 4 change,establish a plan of action for reaching these goals:

  • Gambling self-assessment
  • Managing money
  • Stress
  • Maintaining a healthy lifestyle

Download Free Self-Help Handbook for Problem Gambling