Information for family and friends
The person you care about may have a problem with gambling if they demonstrate five or more of the following characteristics:
- they are preoccupied with gambling (e.g. preoccupied with reliving past gambling experiences, planning the next venture, or thinking of ways to get money with which to gamble)
- they need to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement
- they have repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling
- they are restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling
- they gamble as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression
- after losing money gambling, they often return another day to get even (‘chasing’ losses)
- they lie to family members or others to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling
- they have committed illegal acts such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement to finance gambling
- they have jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling
- they rely on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling.
(Adapted from American Psychiatric Association. (2000) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition.)
If you think that the person you care about has a gambling problem, counselling services - including financial and legal services- are available both for the person you care about and for you.
Even if the gambler is unwilling to admit that they have a problem, family members and friends may wish to seek help on their own. Finding out about your options and strategies can assist you in your decision making.
See the Gambling Help page for more information.
Last reviewed 5 November 2010