How to Identify a Gambling Addiction

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By MarieSteris
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Identify a Gambling Addiction

According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, it is estimated that approximately two million American adults meet the criteria for pathological gambling. An additional four to six million can be considered ‘problem gamblers’. This means that although they do not meet all diagnostic criteria, they meet one or more criterion and experience problems as a result of their gambling behavior. Gambling in general is prevalent among the American culture with an estimated 60% of adults reporting in a recent study that they had gambled in the past year. Gambling addiction can be devastating for both the individual struggling with the addiction and all those connected to and affected by that individual’s behavior. Some have lost homes, cars, marriages, parental rights, and even lives over this disease. Gambling addiction is no less serious or potentially devastating than drug or alcohol addiction. If anyone may be beginning to question their own gambling behavior or that of a loved one, here is a list of criteria described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th ed. to help identify if a gambling addiction may be present. Additionally, a list of resources for assistance and treatment and twenty-four hour hotline will also be provided.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Support

Step 1

Evaluate if gambling is beginning to preoccupy the mind. Signs that indicate that one is preoccupied with gambling include consistently thinking about and reliving past gambling experiences, planning next gambling ventures, and thinking about how to get money to gamble with.
Step 2

Examine whether increasing amounts of money are needed in order to achieve the desired level of excitement. This can be compared to someone who has a drug addiction requiring a more of the drug to continue to achieve the desired high.
Step 3

Determine whether there have been repeated attempts to control, reduce, or stop gambling all together with no success.
Step 4

Pay attention to whether the person trying to control their gambling demonstrates changes in mood or becomes restless or irritable when they try to cut down or stop.
Step 5

Assess if gambling is used as a way of escaping from problems or a ‘bad’ mood.
Step 6

Look at the pattern of gambling. After losing money, does the individual return soon after to ‘get even’. This is often referred to as ‘chasing one’s losses’.
Step 7

Does the person try to hide the extent of their involvement with gambling. One who is struggling with a gambling addiction may often lie to family or friends about how often they gamble or with how much money.
Step 8

Determine whether gambling has lead to the commission of illegal acts such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement to contribute to funds to gamble.
Step 9

Assess whether gambling has resulted in jeopardizing or losing a significant relationship, job, or educational opportunity.
Step 10

Look at whether family members and others are used to provide money to relieve unstable financial situations caused by gambling.
Step 11

For assistance with gambling problems or addiction contact the 24 hour national hotline at 1-800-522-4700.