Spot the Red Flags: Key Signs of Problem Gambling You Can’t Ignore

As entertaining as gambling can be, it could pose a problem if not practised mindfully. This is why unmasking the hidden dangers and recognising the common signs of a potential gambling problem is imperative. By understanding these signs, you’ll be better able to respond to gambling-related issues, whether for yourself or someone you care about.

This guide will help you take the necessary steps as you’ll learn how to:

  • Understand the Warning Signs: Spot the behavioural and emotional indicators that may suggest a gambling problem. Recognise these signs early to help you take action before the issue worsens.
  • Explore Responsible Gambling Tools: Discover various tools you can use to ensure you gamble responsibly. Learn when and how to use them.
  • Self-Assess for Problem Gambling: Gain insights into how to evaluate your gambling habits—self-assess so you identify potential problems and seek appropriate support.

What You’ll Learn On This Page

The Importance Of Self Awareness When Gambling

Gambling can be fun and exciting entertainment, but it’s also relatively easy to lose track of the amount of time and money you spend if you aren’t careful. That’s why it’s so important to maintain awareness of your gambling habits and tendencies.

By recognising any potential warning signs early, you can take steps to address the issue and seek help if needed. Read on for detailed information about the most common warning signs and what to do if you discover them.

Top Tip

  Don’t Wait …One Sign Is Enough!

You don’t need to be exhibiting all the signs of problem gambling for it to be an issue. If your habits feel uncontrollable, act immediately. Remember, each person is different, so any negative impact on your life is a concern.

Increasing Time Spent Gambling

Losing track of time while gambling indicates a potential addiction, as it shows impaired control. Neglecting work, family, and responsibilities due to gambling highlights a severe issue, as it disrupts personal and professional life, signalling problematic behaviour and the need for intervention.

Questions To Ask Yourself

  • Are you losing all the time but don’t feel the need to stop?
  • Do you notice a trend where you keep gambling until you lose?
  • Is gambling something you think about all the time?
  • How much time do spend gambling every day, week, or month?
  • Does the amount of time spent gambling affect time allocated to more valuable things in your life (eg. quality time with your family and friends)?
  • Have you observed an increase in your gambling habits over the past few days, weeks, or months?

What To Do?

When you find yourself spending too much time gambling, a potential solution is to set time limits using responsible gambling tools provided by casinos.

You have two options:

  1. Set Stringent Time Limits: This option will automatically log you out once you’ve spent the allotted time. It ensures you don’t exceed your gambling duration and helps maintain control over your time spent.
  2. Set Session Reminders: These reminders can be set for specific intervals (e.g., 15 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours). Instead of logging you out, a pop-up window will display how much time and money you’ve spent in that interval. This continuous feedback can help you stay aware and make informed decisions about continuing or stopping.

While these tools are helpful, they shouldn’t be relied upon solely. It’s crucial to recognise the underlying issue of spending more time gambling than intended and address it seriously. Utilising these tools is a step towards responsible gambling, but seeking further support if needed is essential for managing gambling habits effectively.

Becoming Financially Irresponsible

You know you’re becoming financially irresponsible when gambling means losing control over your expenditures and letting it negatively impact your finances.

Some of the most common signs are:

  • Not Setting A Gambling Budget – This stops you from keeping a record of your spending habits.
  • Exceeding Your Allocated Budget – It can happen subtly, particularly if you easily let emotions overtake you while gambling.
  • Borrowing Money – Seeking additional funds from family or friends to continue gambling.
  • Acting Secretively – Concealing gambling losses or lying about your financial situation indicates problematic behaviour.

Questions To Ask Yourself

  • Do you feel reluctant to say how much you spend on gambling with your partner, friends or family members?
  • Do you frequently spend more money than you initially intended?
  • Have you ever gambled to obtain money to pay off debts or resolve financial problems?
  • Have you ever taken out a loan to fund your gambling activities?
  • Have you ever sold possessions to support your gambling?
  • Were you hesitant to spend money designated for gambling on regular expenses?
  • Did gambling cause you to neglect your well-being or that of your family in terms of financial support and contribution to household expenses?

What To Do?

Being aware of these signs can help prevent serious financial consequences and encourage seeking help early. This is where setting a deposit limit comes into play.

This is a tool that helps you manage your spending by setting a maximum amount that can be deposited over a specific period, such as daily, weekly, or monthly. A deposit limit ensures you stay within your financial means.

Chasing Losses

Chasing losses in gambling involves increasing bets to recover previous losses. This often leads to riskier behaviour, such as betting larger amounts or choosing high-stakes games. The hope is to win back lost money quickly, but this approach is fraught with danger.

The house always has an edge, meaning the more you play, the more you’re likely to lose. Increased bets may lead to deeper financial troubles, as losses can accumulate faster than wins. This can spiral into a vicious cycle of desperate gambling and, consequently, significant debt.

Gambling should be viewed as an entertainment expense, not a means of income. Always be prepared to lose the money you gamble with and avoid the trap of chasing losses, as it often results in greater financial and emotional harm.

Questions To Ask Yourself

  • Do you often feel compelled to place additional bets after a losing streak to try and recover your losses?
  • Have you experienced increasing financial risk due to escalating the size and frequency of your bets?
  • Do you notice intense feelings of frustration, anxiety, or desperation when trying to recover lost money?
  • Have you ever ignored your pre-set gambling limits or budget in an attempt to chase losses?
  • Do you find yourself making impulsive or poorly thought-out bets after experiencing a loss?
  • Have you been more susceptible to fraudulent schemes or scams while trying to recoup gambling losses?

What To Do?

To stop yourself from chasing losses, you need to set a loss limit. These are fundamental in that they help you control your spending and avoid significant financial losses.

Setting a loss limit involves deciding the maximum amount one is willing to lose in a given time period. Many online casinos offer this tool to help you set and enforce a loss limit, ensuring adherence and preventing impulsive gambling. By integrating it into your gambling strategy, you can enjoy the entertainment factor of gambling without compromising your financial stability.

Feeling Preoccupied with Gambling

Constantly thinking of or talking about gambling often signals a serious addiction. This intense focus can lead to lost productivity at work and disinterest in social interactions previously enjoyed. When gambling consumes your thoughts, it becomes difficult to concentrate on tasks, leading to poor performance and missed deadlines.

Recognising these behaviours is crucial for seeking support, as they can significantly impact personal and professional life.

Questions To Ask Yourself

  • Do you often find yourself thinking about gambling even when you’re engaged in other activities?
  • How often do you feel a strong urge or compulsion to gamble?
  • Do you feel this compulsion even when you know it’s risky or harmful?
  • Do you frequently think about ways to get money to gamble?
  • Do you find it hard to concentrate on daily tasks or other interests because your mind is occupied with gambling thoughts?
  • Do you often replay past gambling events in your mind and fantasise about future gambling?

What To Do?

Once you’ve come to terms with your preoccupation, it’s time to implement cool-off periods. These allow you to take a break from gambling activities for a specified duration, during which your account is temporarily suspended. This break helps you reflect on your behaviour and regain control.

These periods are an effective way to “reset” and gain perspective. By stepping back, you get to assess your habits and return with a clearer mindset.

Impact on Relationships

Compulsive gambling can also result in neglecting friends and family, as gambling is prioritised over meaningful relationships and activities once enjoyed.

It severely impacts relationships, often leading to:

  • Frequent arguments and conflicts with loved ones.
  • Isolation where you opt for gambling activity over social interactions.
  • Missing out on family time to engage in gambling.
  • Emotional distance and trust issues within relationships.

The availability of gambling via mobile devices exacerbates these problems, providing constant temptation and distraction. Such accessibility can lead to neglecting family responsibilities and social obligations, as you become preoccupied with gambling. The resulting financial strain and emotional stress can further erode trust and intimacy in relationships.

On the other side of the spectrum, loved ones often experience anxiety, guilt, shame, and depression due to this. The secrecy and deception involved in gambling can lead to feelings of betrayal and resentment, damaging the foundation of trust and communication in relationships. Seeking professional help is indispensable for recovery and rebuilding relationships.

Questions To Ask Yourself

  • Do you find yourself withdrawing from social interactions to gamble?
  • Have you been spending less quality time with your family and friends because you’d rather gamble?
  • Do you frequently argue with your partner or family members about money because of your gambling losses?
  • Do you often feel anxious, guilty, or ashamed about your gambling, and do these feelings cause tension or emotional distance between you and your loved ones?
  • Have your mood swings or emotional instability due to gambling impacted your relationships negatively?
  • Do you find yourself lying or making excuses to your loved ones about the time you spend gambling?
  • Have your family and friends expressed concerns about trusting you because of your gambling habits and the secrecy surrounding them?

What To Do?

When familial relationships and friendships are strained and put to the test, cooling-off periods provide a necessary break from gambling activities. By stepping away, you can reassess your habits and make more informed decisions.

To guarantee effective results, opting for a longer self-exclusion can help redirect focus towards the more important aspects of your life. Investing time in family and friends can offer the support and fulfilment that gambling lacks. This shift in focus can help you rebuild trust and mend possibly broken relationships.

Hiding Gambling Behaviour

Hiding compulsive gambling habits often involves deceptive behaviours. You might lie about your gambling activities, the amount of money you spent or lost, or the time devoted to gambling. This dishonesty can extend to concealing financial information or hiding funds to continue feeding your addiction without detection.

Additionally, you may avoid sharing the full extent of your problem, opting instead to downplay or omit details. You might also isolate yourself from gambling secretly since you’d be ashamed to be open about your gambling activity.

Questions To Ask Yourself

  • Do you feel a sense of embarrassment about how much time and money you spend on gambling?
  • Have you ever hidden evidence of your gambling activities, such as receipts or online transactions, from friends or family?
  • Do you find yourself making excuses or justifying your gambling behaviour when questioned by others?
  • Are you secretive about the amount of time you spend gambling, to the extent of avoiding discussions about it?
  • Do you avoid discussing financial losses from gambling with your partner, family member or friends?
  • Do you frequently change the topic or get defensive when the subject of gambling comes up in conversations?
  • Are you worried that others will judge you if they know the full extent of your gambling activities?

What To Do?

Unfortunately, compulsive gambling may inadvertently turn you into a liar. The most straightforward approach would be to set a cool-off period where distancing yourself for a long time would be best.

We also advise you to be fully transparent with your friends and loved ones, because once trust is broken it takes time to rebuild.

Emotional and Psychological Effects

Gambling addiction can have profound emotional and psychological effects. Anxiety and stress related to gambling can severely affect mental health, causing depression, irritability, and sleep disorders. The excitement and emotional investment in gambling outcomes create a cycle of emotional highs and lows.

If you’re suffering from gambling addiction, you often experience intense guilt and shame, knowing subconsciously you have a problem. This self-awareness can lead to feelings of hopelessness and low self-esteem, further worsening your mental health issues.

The constant stress and anxiety from gambling can result in severe mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety disorders. The emotional roller coaster of wins and losses exacerbates these conditions, making it difficult to find stability and peace.

Questions To Ask Yourself

  • Do you feel anxious or stressed when not gambling?
  • Do you feel guilty or ashamed about your gambling behaviour?
  • Do you gamble to escape from personal problems, stress, or uncomfortable emotions?
  • How often do you feel guilty, anxious, or regretful after a gambling session?
  • Have you ever felt restless or irritable when you tried to cut down or stop gambling?
  • How often do you find yourself justifying or rationalising your gambling behaviour to yourself or others?
  • Do you regularly use gambling as a way to celebrate good news or cope with bad news?
  • Have you noticed a need to gamble with increasing amounts of money to achieve the same excitement or thrill?
  • How does problem gambling affect your self-esteem and sense of self-worth?

What To Do?

If you’re experiencing emotional and psychological effects from problem gambling, we recommend a longer self-exclusion of at least 3 months. This period allows you to regain perspective and focus on other aspects of your life.

Early intervention by taking proactive steps to tackle gambling issues prevents it from escalating into severe depression or mental illness. A self-exclusion period can provide the necessary time to reflect and seek help, reducing the risk of mental health deterioration.

Physical Health Issues

Problem gambling can also have serious repercussions on your physical health, including sleep disturbances, headaches, and gastrointestinal problems. These physical issues arise from the stress and anxiety associated with your addictive behaviour, significantly impacting daily functioning and overall well-being.

Neglecting personal health and self-care due to excessive gambling can lead to poor hygiene, lack of sleep, and carelessness in your appearance. This neglect can cause additional physical health problems, creating a vicious cycle that further deteriorates your overall quality of life.

Questions To Ask Yourself

  • Have you noticed a decline in your physical health or personal hygiene due to gambling?
  • Do you have trouble sleeping or suffer from insomnia because of gambling-related stress or anxiety?
  • Do you experience headaches or migraines related to stress from gambling?
  • Have you had any changes in your appetite or eating habits because of your gambling activities?
  • Do you feel fatigued or lack energy due to long hours spent gambling?
  • Have you experienced weight gain or weight loss since you started gambling frequently?
  • Have you developed any gastrointestinal problems, such as stomach aches or indigestion, linked to your gambling habits?
  • Do you experience muscle tension or pain due to the stress and anxiety from gambling?
  • Have you noticed any increase in your heart rate or episodes of palpitations when thinking about or engaging in gambling?
  • Do you neglect physical exercise and other healthy activities because of the time and energy spent on gambling?

What To Do?

Self-excluding for a minimum of 3 months is highly recommended, this way you’ll be able to regain perspective and concentrate on your physical health. This duration allows you to not only address the issue comprehensively but also get back on track with a healthier lifestyle.

Tackling the problem early is essential to prevent significant impacts on your daily functioning. By taking a break, you allow yourself to heal and rebuild healthier habits, preventing gambling from taking a more severe toll on your physical well-being.

Unsuccessful Attempts to Quit

Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back or quit gambling can indicate a severe problem. It’s a classic warning sign of addiction, where you feel a compelling urge to gamble despite being fully aware of the consequences.

When trying to stop gambling, you may experience withdrawal symptoms similar to those seen in substance addiction. Undoubtedly, these intense feelings make it challenging for you to quit gambling on your own.

Symptoms include:

  • Irritability.
  • Restlessness.
  • Anxiety.
  • Depression.
  • Difficulty concentrating.

A history of repeated temporary self-exclusion from gambling venues often coupled with periods of emotional unrest or distress is another indicator of a gambling problem. This pattern demonstrates the cyclical nature of addiction, where attempts to stop are often short-lived and followed by relapse.

Questions To Ask Yourself

  • Have you ever tried to quit or cut back from gambling and found yourself unable to stop?
  • What emotions do you experience when you attempt to quit gambling?
  • Can you recall specific events or triggers that made you start gambling again after trying to quit?
  • How does gambling affect your emotional state daily?
  • Have you ever sought help or support to quit gambling? If so, what was your experience?
  • Do you experience irritability or restlessness when you try to stop gambling?
  • What have been the reasons or motivations behind your attempts to quit gambling in the past?
  • How do you usually cope with stress or emotional pain, especially when you’re trying to avoid gambling?
  • Have you noticed any patterns or cycles in your gambling behaviour when trying to quit?
  • How does your relationship with emotional pain or trauma impact your gambling habits?

What To Do?

When trying to quit compulsive gambling, discipline is essential. Set a long self-exclusion period of at least six months and aim to cut out gambling entirely. This break helps you distance yourself from gambling triggers and creates space for recovery.

Focus on discovering new pastimes and hobbies to occupy your time. Engaging in activities like sports, arts, or social events can fill the void left by gambling and offer a healthy distraction. These new interests can provide a sense of fulfilment and purpose.

After six months, take time to assess your situation. Evaluate how you feel about gambling and consider whether giving it up for good might be the best decision for your well-being. This reflection is crucial for making informed choices about your future.

Effective Strategies to Overcome Problematic Gambling Behaviour

Problematic gambling behaviour can significantly impact one’s life, but there are effective strategies to address and overcome it.

Here are some immediately actionable steps to help mitigate gambling issues:

  • Set Deposit, Loss and Time Limits: Establish clear boundaries for money and time spent on gambling to prevent excessive losses.
  • Find New Hobbies: Engage in new activities and interests to divert attention and fill time previously spent gambling.
  • Practise Some Breathing Exercises: Practise mindfulness and breathing exercises to manage stress and reduce the urge to gamble.
  • Set Budgets: Create a strict budget that allocates funds for necessary expenses, ensuring gambling doesn’t compromise financial stability.
  • Self-Exclude: Utilise self-exclusion programs to restrict access to gambling venues and online platforms.
  • Seek Professional Help: Consult with a therapist or counsellor specialising in addiction to get personalised support and guidance.
  • Join Support Groups: Participate in support groups like Gamblers Anonymous to share experiences and receive peer support.
  • Educate Yourself: Learn about the risks and consequences of gambling addiction to stay informed and aware of the problem.
  • Avoid Triggers: Identify and avoid situations, people, or environments that trigger the urge to gamble.
  • Develop a Routine: Create a daily schedule filled with productive activities to keep busy and reduce idle time that could lead to gambling.

For more detailed advice and recommendations, refer to our recommendations for further reading below.

Read More About Responsible Gambling

Keep yourself informed about responsible gambling by reading our detailed and informative guides. Our resources provide practical advice and tools to help you stay in control and address gambling issues effectively.

FAQ

Not at all. Gambling addiction is primarily an emotional issue with financial repercussions and other adverse effects. Even if you clear your gambling debts, you may continue to face problems stemming from your gambling behaviour.

To effectively tackle gambling addiction, it’s essential to alter detrimental gambling habits, with social support and encouragement playing a vital role in this transformation.

Gambling can create similar effects as drugs or alcohol, with increasing tolerance and the need for more to achieve the same emotional impact, leading to a stronger urge and difficulty resisting the activity.

The extent of money lost or won doesn’t solely define when gambling becomes a problem. While financial issues can result from gambling, they aren’t the only signs.

Gambling is considered problematic when it disrupts your relationships, job, mental or physical health, or other areas of your life. So being aware of all this and acknowledging you might have developed an addiction is crucial.

Problem gambling can affect anyone who gambles – even you. Your economic status, social background, cultural identity, or education level are all irrelevant. Anyone can develop a gambling issue if not practised mindfully.

With all this said, several other factors, including genetics, environment, medical history, and age, can increase the likelihood of developing addictive behaviour.

All entities offering gambling services need to create policies and initiatives to tackle issues related to underage and problem gambling. Moreover, online casinos and sportsbooks are dutybound to promote the perils of problem gambling through informative pages and useful guides.

Wrong. A gambling problem can exist regardless of how often you gamble. Even infrequent gambling can have significant emotional and financial impacts on your personal and family life. We suggest that you reread this article and evaluate your habits.

About the Author

Hi, I'm Laura Simpson, the Chief Editor at climatesmart.citieschallenge.org - With hundreds of reviews and thousands of no deposit bonuses, climatesmart.citieschallenge.org is certainly your one-stop destination for free online gambling. Our bonuses are updated daily and we pride ourselves on providing the highest percentage of working bonus, worldwide.