The behavioral patterns of an addictive gambler are as follows:
- Persistent involvement with gambling, anxiety and irritability when gambling is interrupted or reduced.
- Tendency towards borrowing money in order to temporarily address financial problems.
- Repeated unsuccessful attempts to control, reduce or interrupt gambling.
- Long or unwarranted periods of absence from home and work.
- Duplicate loans, overused credit cards, bounced checks and unjustified lack of money from the family budget.
- Intensive study of sports schedule and sports picks from television, newspapers, radio, and the internet.
- Isolation to focus better on the ways to gamble.
- Refusal to accept advice or remarks made by others about how to deal with gambling.
- Decline in work efficiency.
- Discomfort, anger and staggering tension if an occurrence prevents gambling.
- Happy mood, inflated self-esteem and relief in case of profitable gambling.
If you think you have a gambling addiction issue, the following questions can help you verify it:
- Does gambling prevent you from being consistent in your work or studies?
- Do you bet just to pass some time or because you feel bored?
- Do you gamble to pay debts or solve some financial problems?
- Do you gamble until you lose all your money?
- Have you ever lied to hide the amount and time you spent in gambling?
- Do you gamble alone and for long periods of time?
- Has anyone criticized you for your gambling?
- Have you lost interest in family, friends, and other entertainment activities?
- Have you lied, stolen or borrowed to maintain your gambling habits?
- Have you lied, stolen or borrowed to try to get even?
- Are you reluctant to spend gambling money on something else?
- After a loss, do you feel you have to try to win back your losses as fast as possible?
- Do you want to bet after a quarrel or a disappointment?
- Do you ever feel depressed or consider harming yourself as a result of gambling?
If you recognize that you follow some of these patterns, please check our page here and answer these questions honestly. You can also check our Responsible Gaming & Player Protection page which contains more relevant information.