Identifying the signs of a gambling addiction is crucial for seeking help and support. Here are common behavioral patterns associated with problem gambling:
1. Persistent Involvement: Engaging in gambling activities consistently and excessively.
2. Anxiety and Irritability: Feeling uneasy or irritable when gambling is interrupted or reduced.
3. Borrowing Money: Resorting to borrowing money to address temporary financial issues caused by gambling.
4. Unsuccessful Attempts to Control Gambling: Struggling to control, reduce, or interrupt gambling despite repeated efforts.
5. Absence from Home and Work: Long periods of unwarranted absence from home and work due to gambling activities.
6. Financial Mismanagement: Taking duplicate loans, overusing credit cards, bouncing cheques, and disrupting the family budget due to gambling-related expenses.
7. Obsessive Study of Sports: Intensively studying sports schedules and picks from various media sources to inform gambling decisions.
8. Social Isolation: Isolating oneself to focus better on gambling strategies.
9. Refusal of Advice: Ignoring advice or remarks from others about managing gambling behavior.
10. Decline in Work Productivity: Noticing a decline in work productivity due to excessive gambling.
11. Emotional Reactions to Gambling: Feeling discomfort, anger, and tension if prevented from gambling and experiencing happiness, inflated self-esteem, and relief when gambling is profitable.
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.