Signs & Symptoms

Indicators of Compulsive Gambling

• How much time is spent gambling

• Increase in gambling time and places

• Increase in size of bets
  (sudden and dramatic)

• Working up special occasions for gambling (canceling other plans)

• Intensity of interest in gambling
  (constant tension & excitement)

• Boasting about winning; evasive about losing

• Exaggerated display of money and other possessions

• Gambling when there is a crisis

• Drop off in other activities

• Frequent absences from home and work

• Excessive phone use

• Withdrawal from family

• Personality changes (increased irritability/hostility)

• Diversion of family funds

*adapted from When Luck Runs Out by Robert Custer, M.D.

Twenty Questions about Gambling Addiction

Answering yes to 7 or more of these questions may indicate a gambling problem.

1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?

2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?

3. Did gambling affect your reputation?

4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?

5. Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?

6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?

7. After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?

8. After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?

9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?

10. Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?

11. Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?

12. Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?

13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?

14. Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?

15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?

16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?

17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?

18. Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?

19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?

20. Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?