Questions to help clarify compulsive gambling.
If there is a gambling problem in your home, the Gam-Anon family group may be able to help you cope with it. If you are living with a compulsive gambler, you will answer "YES" to at least six of the following questions.
Do you find yourself constantly bothered by bill collectors?
Is the person in question often away from home for long unexplained periods of time?
Does the person ever lose time from work due to gambling?
Do you feel this person cannot be trusted with money?
Does the person faithfully promise that he/she will stop gambling; beg, plead for another chance, and yet gamble again and again?
Does this person ever gamble longer than he/she intended to, till the last dollar is gone?
Does the person immediately return to gambling to try to recover losses, or to win more?
Does the person ever gamble to get money to solve financial difficulties, or have unrealistic expectations that gambling will bring the family material comfort and wealth?
Does this person borrow money to gamble to pay gambling debts?
Does this person's reputation ever suffer due to gambling, even to the extent of committing illegal acts to finance gambling?
Have you come to the point of hiding money needed for living expenses, knowing that you and the rest of the family may go without food and clothing if you do not?
Do you search this person's clothing or go through his/her wallet when the opportunity presents itself, or otherwise check on his/her activities.
Does this person hide his or her money?
Have you noticed a personality change in the gambler as his or her gambling progresses?
Does the person consistently lie to cover up or deny his/her gambling activities?
Does this person use guilt induction as a method of shifting responsibility for his/her gambling upon you?
Do you attempt to anticipate this person's moods, or try to control his/her life?
Does this person ever suffer from remorse or depression due to gambling, sometimes to the point of self-destruction?
Has the gambling ever brought you to the point of threatening to break up the family unit?
Do you feel that your life together is a nightmare?