Things You'll Need:
- Written information that describes the signs of pathological gambling.
- A computer and access to the Internet.
- A daily journal or log to document the gambler's behavior.
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Step 1
Gain a full understanding of what differentiates social gambling from gambling addiction. You can do this by accessing Internet sites about gambling; read and study all this information to form an opinion about the nature of your loved one's gambling.
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Step 2
Be watchful. In a journal, write down all the signs you see of your loved one's gambling behavior. Document these questions: Are your savings constantly dwindling? Are you having trouble paying your bills because money keeps disappearing? Does your loved one keep asking for more money? Is your loved one away from home frequently? Does he/she seem depressed or anxious? Is your loved one drinking heavily or using other drugs?
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Step 3
Set up a separate bank account that only you have access to. Deposit money for bills into this account and never let the gambler know that this account exists. This is a matter of your economic survival.
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Step 4
Without being angry, blaming or accusatory, tell the gambler that you are aware of his/her problem and set the limit that this behavior must stop. Then offer all your help and support to the gambler and insist that he/she see a professional addiction therapist about pathological gambling.
