How To Find Out If You Are A Compulsive Gambler

A compulsive gambler is defined as someone that can't fight the need to gamble. Because it's compulsive, people that suffer from it can have problems in their personal life. The only way that stress can be removed is to gamble some more.

1. Breathes, Talks and Walks Gambling

When someone is a compulsive gambler, their life will be centered around it. They will mention their gambling stories to others and they will explain all their strategies and winning schemes that they have.

2. More, more and more.

The more they're gambling, the more money they spend. Usually though, the reason why they gamble more and more is because they want the extra excitement and thrill. He will end up gambling for a lot longer than he planned initially.

3. Can’t Stop, Doesn't Want To Stop.

Those that suffer from compulsive gambling can't give it up. When he tries to gamble less or stop completely, he will become restless and irritated. The problem is that gambling is a way for him to get rid of his problems.

4. Lies, lies and more lies.

Compulsive gamblers will make a habit out of lying to their friends and family, so they can hide their habit. When asked how much he wins, he will lie about it and brag even though they didn't do well. When people start confronting them, they will become angry.

5. Show me the money.

He starts having money problems that he can't handle on his own. He will borrow money from friends and family, to support his bad habits. They will refinance loans and mortgages. They will cash in both their 401k and their life insurance. Later, when they run out of options, they will start committing theft and fraud.

6. Self Destructing

Because of the way they handle this bad habit, their relationships with friends and family will erode. They will also feel a lot of remorse and shame because of how gambling affects their life. Sometimes they will try to commit suicide.

7. Losing control.

A compulsive gambler will have his personality shift, becoming irritable, critical, argumentative, manipulative and controlling. In time, he will begin to lose interest in the hobbies and activities he had previously. When you ask them about it, they will try to evade the question or give weak excuses. For them, gambling is a method to deal and cope with problems.

8. No Sense of time.

A gambler that is compulsive will do it whenever they have the chance, even if it's a special event or a holiday.

It's not easy to prevent it, but counseling can prove useful for those that are prone to suffer from compulsive gambling.