Responsible gambling
General information
What is problem or compulsive gambling?
Problem gambling is defined as an impulse control disorder, in which individuals are repeatedly failing to resist the urge to gamble and have different aspects of their lifes affected. A behaviour in line with pathological gambling can be verified when an individual is experiencing five or more of the following situations:
01. Is worried about gambling (seeks to revive gambling experiences, plans his next gambling session, thinks of ways to get money to gamble).
02. Needs to raise the amounts bet to reach the excitement level he wants.
03. Has repeatedly failed in his efforts to control, reduce or stop his gambling activities.
04. Seems anxious or annoyed every time he tries to reduce the frequency of his gambling scapades or stop them altogether.
05. Gambles as a way to avoid problems or to ease disphoric moods (guilty feelings, anxiety, impotence, or depresion).
06. After losing money on gambling, he comes back in the next days to win back his losses.
07. Lies to family members, to his/her therapist or to other people to hide his level of dependence on gambling.
08. Has commited felonies or has engaged in ilegal activities such as forgery, fraud, theft or embezzlement to fund his gambling.
09. Has risked or lose a meaningful relationship, his/her job, his/her studies or any other career opportunity because of gambling.
10. Comes to third parties to get money to alleviate a desperate financial situation caused by gambling.
What are the most commons visible signs that reveal an individual with a gambling problem?
Signs of behavior:
- The individual stops doing activities that he previously enjoyed.
- Forgets family events or stops going to them.
- Changes sleeping or eating habits.
- Ignores personal responsibilities with work or with the family.
- Has a money conflict with other people.
- Leaves his/her children alone or neglects their care.
- Constantly thinks or talks about bets and gambling.
- Lies or steals to get money to gamble or to pay gambling debts.
- Consumes alcohol or drugs more often.
- Comes in late to work or to the educational establishment.
- Is missing for a long time without any explanation.
Emotional signs:
- The individual avoids his/her family or his/her friends.
- Seems distant or anxious and finds it difficult to concentrate.
- Seems more irritated and has episodes of anger or sudden wrath.
- Complains about being bored or tired.
- Seems depressed.
Financial signs:
- The individual frequently asks advance payments or loans in his job.
- Gets a second job and his personal income does not grow visibly.
- Closes saving accounts to fund his gambling activities.
- Alternates periods of shortness of money with periods of big spending.
- Members of his/her family take notice that some valuable objects or cash are suddenly missing at home.
Health signs:
The individual complains about being affected by common stress- related symptoms like:
- Headaches.
- Stomach aches.
- Difficulty to sleep.
- Poor apetite or overeating.
