How To Know If You Have Gambling Problem

How To Know If You Have Gambling Problem 3,5/5 6776 reviews

An addiction to gambling has severe financial implications and the knock-on effects from this are hard to ignore, especially if you are in a relationship or have children. If you regularly have to lie about things to protect yourself from admitting you have a problem then this is a sure sign. Find out if you have a gambling problem by taking our easy gambling quiz. Our test could establish if you or a loved one have the signs of gambling problem, and point you in the right direction to get help. Gambling can be a fun activity. But, if they seem to be unable to control themselves, then they may have a problem. If you have seen any of these warning signs, it is important to seek professional advice. A common response when a person with gambling addiction is confronted is denial. If you or someone you know shows signs of pathological gambling despite bad consequences, it could be an addiction. Do you have the intention to quit gambling but can’t seem to follow through? This is a standout sign of gambling addiction.

One of the most immensely difficult aspects of a subject as complex as addiction is realizing that you have a problem, even if friends and family may have tried to alert you to it. Denial is a big part of it and a major obstacle that has to be negotiated in the first instance. If you believe you may have a gambling addiction then it is vital to seek help for it for your own good and also for the other people in your life that may be affected by it. These are some of the signs that could indicate that you have a problem when it comes to gambling.

Trying to win back money

The ways for someone to start gambling can vary significantly between each person. It could be that you got into it as a social thing while you were with friends for example but when addiction takes to hold the circumstances change. At first, your motivations may well be centered upon a reasonably casual desire to win some money that you would find very welcome. However, if you are still gambling after you have lost a significant amount of money then the reasons why you are doing it have altered. Gambling in an attempt to recoup losses that you have made is potentially a sign of addiction so pay close attention to any indication of this.

Seeing less of loved ones

The time that you would usually get to spend with family and friends is drastically compromised when you are addicted to something so it could be that you are going through this. If you are putting off seeing those who should be closest to you in favor of visiting the bookmakers or placing a bet by any other means then consider seeking guidance from somebody.

Covering up

Due to the problems and connotations that are attached to addiction, the natural response from sufferers is to mask over any problems and to hide them from those in their life. An addiction to gambling has severe financial implications and the knock-on effects from this are hard to ignore, especially if you are in a relationship or have children. If you regularly have to lie about things to protect yourself from admitting you have a problem then this is a sure sign.

There are indeed so many more possible signs that could point to a gambling addiction including borrowing money, putting on larger and larger bets, and constantly thinking about your next bet, to give merely three examples.


Are you gambling too much? How can you tell if you are? On this page, I’ll be discussing seven signs you might be gambling a little too frequently.

But I want to make something clear before you continue. This article isn’t aimed at problem gamblers. Some gamblers have a real issue on their hands and need to seek help immediately. If you have even the slightest idea that you might have a problem, don’t hesitate to seek professional help.

This article is for players who can easily control their gambling, including those who might just need to take a break or back off for a short while. Although the focus is often on gamblers that can’t stop and end up losing everything, the majority of gamblers don’t gamble with money they can’t afford to lose and treat their gambling as a form of entertainment.

How to know if you have gambling problems

But even when you’re a responsible gambler, sometimes you need to watch for one or more of the signs below. Once you notice them, you can either take a break from gambling or gamble less.

1 – Chasing Losses

I hesitated to include chasing losses on this list, but ultimately decided it was too important to skip. Many gamblers chase losses as a habit. But keep in mind, chasing losses doesn’t necessarily mean you’re gambling too much.

Know

The problem is when you start chasing losses even if it’s something you usually don’t do. Most gambling activities are for fun and not necessarily for profit. And because of a casino house edge, players lose in the long run.

When you chase losses, you simply lose faster. It puts your bankroll in danger, and you need to understand how short term and long term probabilities work. This way, you don’t run out of money.

2 – Losing Sleep


It’s often difficult to link loss of sleep with one particular thing, but if you start having a hard time sleeping, consider whether it has anything to do with gambling. Losing can leave you in a state of unrest, and it’s possible that your sleep patterns are affected by it.

How To Know If You Have Gambling Problem Without

I’m not a doctor or psychologist, so I can’t help cure your sleep issues. But you need to be aware that it’s at least possible gambling could be the reason you’re not sleeping well.

Another possibility is that you’re neglecting sleep because you’d rather gamble.

This is a choice only you can make, but you need to be aware of the choice so you can make an educated decision.

If you’re working full time and have normal responsibilities in your life, it can be challenging to find enough time to gamble as much as you want.

Finding

3 – Hiding Your Gambling

This is a big one, so pay attention. Any time you hide your gambling activities from people, especially the people who’re most important in your life, it’s a clear sign that something is going on.

If you’re hiding some or all of your gambling from your spouse and/or loved ones, you need to figure out why you’re doing it. You have to be completely honest about this and dig down to the root cause.

Even if you struggle with figuring out why you’re hiding your gambling, reduce your time spent gambling for a few weeks.

I recommend using this extra time away from your normal gambling activities to figure out why you feel the need to hide your habits. I’m not here to judge, I’m simply here to educate. You might have a legitimate reason to hide your gambling, but it’s usually a sign you may be gambling too much.

4 – Gambling When You’re Tired

Most people who gamble are guilty of gambling when they’re tired at least a few times. I’ve done it too many times to count, and I usually don’t regret it. Occasionally, I’ll make a bad mistake because I’m tired, but I only continue gambling when I’m tired in situations where I still have an edge.

Here’s an example of when I’m most likely to gamble when tired.

The main thing I enjoy at the casinos is a good game of poker. I’m able to play well enough to be an overall winning player, but I’ve never dedicated enough time and effort to be able to play full time. One of my most profitable strategies is to find games with bad players. This gives me an edge most of the time.

In a game filled with bad players, I tend to play as long as the game is good and I’m able to continue playing better than my opponents. In a good game, I’ll play when I’m tired most of the time. Only when my profitability goes down because of being tired do I quit playing.

You can continue gambling when you’re tired, but try to be aware of when you start making mistakes because you’re tired. Once you start making mistakes, it’s usually time to pack it in and get some rest.

5 – Behind on Your Bills

When you’re a gambler and you’re behind on your bills, it’s time to take a close look at what’s going on in your financial life. The first thing you need to determine is if you’re a winning or losing gambler. If you don’t know the answer, then it’s safe to assume you’re a losing gambler.

Most gamblers lose money in the long run. If you’re doing anything other than counting cards at the blackjack tables, betting on sports, or playing poker, the odds of you being a winning gambler are almost non-existent.

Even if you play poker or bet on sports, the odds that you win in the long run are small. The only way to know for sure is to track all of your play and expenses.

If you find that you’re a breakeven or winning gambler, you probably don’t need to stop gambling until you’re caught up on your bills. But even if you’re a winner, you still might be able to earn more doing something else, like working, rather than gambling.

On the other hand, if you’re like most gamblers and lose more than you win, you need to gamble less until you get your bills taken care of.

If you need to gamble less, or even stop gambling for a while, there’s no shame in it.

It takes a responsible and educated person to make a decision like this and follow through.

6 – Experiencing Social Issues

It can be difficult to recognize how your gambling can change your social relationships. But if you never think about it, you’re never going to see it happening. Have you noticed more disagreements or strife in your personal relationships lately? Are you fighting with your spouse, friends, co-workers, or boss?

Gambling isn’t always the cause of social issues, but losing can make you irritable and defensive. As I stated in an earlier section, I’m not able to diagnose and help correct social issues, but I do want to help you understand that gambling can have an impact on them, and I want to help you watch for the signs.

Don’t hesitate to cut back on your habits for a short time if there seems to be more chaos or disagreement in your life.

7 – Losing Too Much Money

Problem

This is probably the easiest sign on the list to recognize and act on. If you’re losing more money than you want, it’s time to gamble less. When your losses become too high, it might even be time to stop gambling for a period of time.

I recommend taking a break and spending the time learning how to be a winning gambler. You can find books, articles, and videos that help you develop the skills you need. Look into playing other games like poker, blackjack, or sports betting, and see if you have the skills needed to start winning.

Only two ways exist to stop losing too much money gambling. You either need to stop gambling or learn how to gamble with an edge.

How To Tell If U Have A Gambling Problem

If you’re already a gambler, the odds are that you don’t want to stop. So, why not learn how to come over to the profitable side so you can continue gambling for the rest of your life?

How To Know If You Have Gambling Problem Even

Conclusion

I like to gamble and I don’t plan to stop doing it. But I’ve taken a few breaks over the years and looking back, I don’t regret any of them. The more you gamble and the older you get, the better chance you have of recognizing when you’re gambling too much.

Use the signs listed above to help you learn when you need to slow down or take a break. You can always start gambling more later and, if you use your time wisely when you slow down, you might even learn how to improve your long-term results.