Is your gambling causing problems for you or others around you?

Problem gambling (sometimes referred to as “gambling addiction” or “gambling disorder”) is gambling behavior that is damaging to a person or their family, often disrupting their daily life and career. Anyone who gambles can be at-risk for developing a gambling problem. Gambling disorder is a recognized mental health diagnosis.

Some warning signs of a gambling problem are:  

• Thinking about gambling all the time. 
• Feeling the need to bet more money and more often. 
• Going back to try to win your money back (“chasing losses”). 
• Feeling restless or irritable when trying to stop or cut down. 
• Feeling like you can’t control yourself. 
• Gambling despite negative consequences.  
• In extreme cases, problem gambling can cause bankruptcy, legal problems, losing your job or your family, and thinking about suicide. 

For more information on the American Psychiatric Association’s criteria for gambling addiction, visit DSM 5 at www.psych.org. 

Problem Gambling Self Assessment