Everybody likes to make a bet now and then, right? It’s the American dream to strike it rich, come into a windfall, and win big at games of chance. How else are you going to beat the system, stick it in the face of those who hold you back, dictate your life, control your money. What begins as a way to pass the time or escape from your troubles soon escalates into an everyday activity. Before long, you can’t seem to help yourself. You spend more and more time gambling in one form or another.
Oh, no, that’s not me, you may be telling yourself right now. But look a little closer at what kind of behavior and thoughts you have. You’re not in control anymore. Ask yourself these questions, and answer honestly.

• Do you gamble as a means of escape?
• Have you ever resorted to stealing in order to finance your gambling?
• Do you gamble even when you don’t have any money?
• Do you use money intended to pay bills in order to gamble?
• Do you gamble every day?
• Are you losing sleep over your gambling losses?
• Has your relationship with your spouse been negatively affected by your gambling?
• Are you depressed over your gambling?
• Do you gamble with the hope of striking it rich?
• Do you gamble after an argument, when you are anxious, frustrated or depressed?
• Does gambling give you a rush when you win?
• Do you continue to gamble, even when you lose big and keep losing, in order to achieve that rush?
• Have you borrowed money from friends and family to gamble by telling them it was for something else?
• Have you ever taken out a loan to finance your gambling, pay off your gambling losses?
• Have you used money you borrowed that was intended to pay off your gambling debts and instead used it to continue gambling?
• Have you ever entertained the thought of doing something illegal in order to get money to gamble?
• Have you sold your possessions – or those of your spouse and/or family – in order to get money to gamble?
• Do you ever feel regret after you’ve been gambling?
• Is your reputation tarnished as a result of your gambling?
• Do you lose track of time while you are gambling?
• Is your gambling jeopardizing your job?
• Have you lost time at work due to absences or lateness?
• Is your gambling affecting your ability to take care of your responsibilities at home, at work, with friends?
• Have others told you that you have a problem with gambling or that you are addicted to gambling?
• Do you use any excuse to gamble, to celebrate – “Let’s go to the casino,” – to put yourself in a better mood, you deserve it, etc.?
• Do you gamble to escape your worries, stress or problems?
• Do you feel justified in gambling?
• Do you make excuses for your gambling losses?
• Does your life revolve around gambling to the extent that it’s all you want to do every day?
• Have you lost all sense of ambition, getting ahead with your job, moving forward with your family?
• Are you unable to enjoy normal family life because of your gambling?
• Have you become so depressed over your gambling or gaming losses that you’ve considered suicide?

Read more about Are You a Compulsive Gambler?