How to Diagnose Gambling Addiction

Is Compulsive Gambling a Real Danger?

Needless to say, what a tremendous pleasure gambling can be for players! No surprise, casinos attract a wide variety of customers.

However, only professionals with years of experience can bring down the emotions and calmly follow the optimal game strategy, not giving away all sorts of temptations.

Most visitors come to the casino not only hoping to win some money but also to spend time in their favorite games. They are all more or less at risk of losing their head and falling into gambling addiction.

As a result, enthusiasm, which gives so much joy, becomes an unhealthy addiction ruining a person. And getting rid of it is by no means easy. In many respects, gambling is similar to addiction to drugs or alcohol, although it is not as detrimental to physical health.

The world-famous public organization Gamblers Anonymous has created a list of twenty questions, by your answers to them, you can find out whether you have this problem.

You may reduce the long-overdue visit to the casino or even abandon them, but you know this or can recognize it.

Compulsive Gambling Self-Test

Please, answer the following questions. Try to be fair.

• Have you ever felt remorse after the game?
• Have you skipped work or school because of gambling?
• Do you have family problems because of gambling?
• Do you visit the casino to win money to pay debts or solve other financial problems?
• Has gambling influenced your reputation?
• Have you ever wanted to return to the casino immediately after losing to win back the money?
• Have you ever wanted to return to the casino after winning and win more?
• Does gambling lower your ambition or efficiency at work?
• Do you often lose to the last penny?
• Did you play in debt?
• Did you sell anything to get money for the game?
• Have you felt regret if he had to spend gambling money for other purposes?
• Have you ever played longer than you had planned?
• Does gambling make you forget about the needs and requirements of your family?
• Did you break the law for gambling?
• Have you ever played to forget about your problems?
• Do you want to play after disappointments or scandals?
• Do you have sleep problems because of gambling?
• Do you want to celebrate any happy event with the game in a casino?
• Did you think of suicide because of gambling?

If you answered "yes" to at least several questions, you have severe problems with gambling.

But even if you said "no" to all or almost all questions, it does not guarantee the absence of problems because not all people (especially those suffering from addiction) can admit their shortcomings. Therefore, if people close to you are worried about you, do not ignore them and consult a specialist.

Once the game is no longer just a game for you, the trouble starts, threatening to grow into a catastrophe. Be careful!