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Take this Gambling Addiction Self-Test for yourself, or for someone you love. Indicate your response to the following statements:
1. I’ve been told that I gamble too much or bet too much when I gamble. __Yes __No
2. Looking back a few months or a few years, I realize that the bets I place are bigger now than they were before. __Yes __No
3. I spend a significant amount of my time daydreaming about winning, planning to place bets, thinking about past losses or figuring out how to get more money for gambling. __Yes __No
4. Some of my closest friends love to gamble. __Yes __No
5. I’ve had to borrow money to cover losses. __Yes __No
6. I have lied to my spouse, to other family members or close friends about the amount of money I’ve lost gambling. __Yes __No
7. My gambling has caused significant problems in my closest relationships. __Yes __No
8. My gambling has caused considerable financial strains. __Yes __No
9. I’ve written bad checks, or stolen money (“borrowed without telling”) to cover losses. __Yes __No
10. I need to place bigger bets to achieve the same thrill I experienced when I started gambling. __Yes __No
11. My preoccupation with gambling and debts has caused problems at school or work. __Yes __No
12. My gambling debts have caused me to miss regular payments for the mortgage, power, car, phone, etc. __Yes __No
13. Sometimes I gamble to escape the pain of depression and guilt or to relieve stress. __Yes __No
14. I’ve lost money one day and planned to win it back the next. __Yes __No
15. I’ve tried to cut down on my gambling or quit, but I failed. __Yes __No
Add up your totals and type them into the "Yes" and "No" boxes. (Your responses will NOT be sent anywhere, this is for your information only.)
Totals: Yes No
• If you answered “yes” in response to 1–3 statements, you may have a problem with gambling. Talk to a competent counselor or join a support group to get help to prevent any further problems.
• If you answered “yes” in response to 4–6 statements, you definitely have a problem with gambling. To stop the damage to your relationships, career and finances, get help now from a counselor or support group.
• If you answered “yes” in response to more than 6 statements, you are a compulsive gambler who has experienced significant damage in every area of your life from your gambling habit. Don’t wait any longer, get help today from a counselor, and join a support group.
Info provided to Changing Lives Foundation with permission by: addiction2recovery
If someone in your family is violent, threatening to become violent, suicidal, missing or acting in ways that are out-of-control, call 911 to reach your local police or emergency medical services. For chronic problems, contact your doctor or social services in your community.
