When Is Gambling a Problem?

Gambling becomes a problem when you have trouble stopping. When you spend more than you can afford. And when it begins to negatively impact other areas of your life, like your physical or mental health, school or work performance, finances, and/or your relationships.

People with gambling problems can max out their credit cards, borrow money, and neglect family, work or school obligations. Despite the negative consequences, they may deny that they have a problem, continue to chase their losses, and neglect their family, friends, work, and even themselves.

How to tell if you have a problem

Are you starting to have mixed feelings, like frustration and anxiety, when you think about gambling?

Ignoring your feelings only makes them worse. Eventually, they will begin to affect not just you, but your family and friends, too. Pay attention to how gambling makes you feel and know the warning signs before you develop a problem.

Know the warning signs of a gambling problem

• Feeling guilty, anxious, frustrated or worried about your gambling
• Thinking or talking about gambling more than usual
• Gambling to win back money you’ve lost or thinking that a “big win” is right around the corner
• Experiencing extreme highs from wins and extreme lows from losses
• Finding it difficult to control or stop gambling, or feeling irritable when you try to stop
• Feeling a sense of emptiness or loss when you’re not gambling
• Borrowing money, selling things, committing (or considering committing) criminal acts to obtain money for gambling
• Having increased debt, unpaid bills, or other financial troubles because of your gambling
• Gambling to escape personal problems or to relieve feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, or loneliness
• Gambling instead of attending family or other social functions or neglecting family or household responsibilities because of gambling

Financial Troubles

Financial troubles are one of the potentially more visible signs of a problem with gambling. The financial costs of a problem with gambling are significant and can include financial insecurity, reduced disposable income, job loss, loss of home and/or business, increased debt and potential bankruptcy.

Below are a few of the financial warning signs that can be associated with problem gambling:

• Overdue and unpaid bills
• Increased spending on credit cards/significant debt increase
• Secretive about money problems and/or account balance(s) to friends and family
• Frequently short/lacking money despite sufficient income
• Repeatedly borrowing money from friends and/or family
• Money disappearing from savings account, home, or wallets without explanation
• Receiving calls from collection agencies

Confidential financial help is available