A SERIOUS QUESTION...about gambling problems

[esoito]

How would you know if you (or anyone else, come to that) have a gambling problem?

What are the signs that would show this?


For starters:  

1  Playing with money you can't afford to lose.

2  Not knowing when to stop. (No exit strategy that you stick to.)


Over to you...

[MrJ]

Myself living in a northern state (lots of snow)......driving to the casino in CRAP weather (storms) because you feel the NEED to play. Stay home please!

Ken

[Bayes]

According to Gamblers Anonymous, there are twenty questions you should ask yourself.

[Gizmotron]

Here is the problem with getting treated for having a gambling problem as an addiction. It's not an addiction. Just look up the definition in the DSM-4. The problem with the 12 step program is that they don't address the heart of the problem. They make a symptomatic conclusion. They expect the problem gambler to buy into it. Then they treat the symptom not the root cause. They never deal with the cause. On top of that they put a huge head trip on the poor sucker and layer that into making the problem gambling issue even more devastating. You don't need a guilt trip and another commandment to prove that you are good enough for them.

What you need is a full understanding of the gambling process and why it is that you keep searching for that holy grail. Part of it is the need to change your life's situation. It takes real work to be successful. Going part of the way leads to problem gambling, if you only go part of the journey. Finish the job. Do it in a way that does not present a problem for you. You can research professional gambling at home, not on-line at a casino, but with computer programs and research. You can learn without spending money.

Note: "Problem gambling (ludomania) is an urge to gamble despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop. Problem gambling often is defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others, rather than by the gambler's behavior. Severe problem gambling may be diagnosed as clinical pathological gambling if the gambler meets certain criteria. Although the term gambling addiction is common in the recovery movement[1] pathological gambling is considered to be an impulse control disorder and is therefore not considered by the American Psychological Association to be an addiction."

[Proofreaders2000]

I'm glad this is being addressed.  Truth is the casino is a very strong adversary offering negative expectation games to bettors.

Moreover, I would not suggest anyone go into gambling unless he/she is willing to put in the research and discipline to become a seasoned gambler.  (Not even mimic actors as gamblers in the movies/media).