If you are concerned that someone’s gambling may have become a problem – it may be useful to read through the following list of common signs of problem gambling. A problem gambler may go to great lengths to conceal the extent of their gambling which can make it difficult to spot. You can also ask someone to fill out this questionnaire which assesses for gambling harm.
Money-related signs
- unexplained debt or borrowing
- money or assets disappearing
- numerous loans
- unpaid bills or disconnection notices
- lack of food in the house
- losing wallets or money regularly
- missing financial statements
- secret bank accounts, loans or credit cards
Interpersonal issues
- moodiness, unexplained anger
- depression
- decreased contact with friends
- family complaints about being emotionally shut out
- avoidance of social events
- control or manipulation by threat, lies or charm
- secretiveness about activities
Time-related signs
- disappearing for amounts of time that they cannot account for
- having no time for everyday activities
- overusing sick days and days off
- spending increased amounts of time on studying gambling
- taking an unusual amount of time for tasks (for example, taking two hours to get milk from the corner store).
If someone’s gambling is having an impact on your life, it can really help to talk to someone about it. You can speak to other people on our Family and Friends forum, or if you are in the UK you can seek free counselling from Gordon Moody’s Friends & Family service.