For some people, gambling can change from being an entertaining and pleasurable activity to becoming a problem. When that happens, gambling becomes too important in a person’s life and hurt their social and financial well-being, excluding himself or herself from their family and friends to focus on gambling. Gambling responsibly means being able to exercise control over your gambling activity and not letting it negatively impact other areas of your life.
We offer a Self Check Quiz that will allow you to determine whether you have a gambling problem.
- Is your time and thoughts always preoccupied by gambling activities?
- Do you gamble to relieve bad mood or escape problems?
- Do you increase amount of money to gamble with in order to win what you’ve lost previously?
- Do you chase after your losses?
- Have you ever lied to anyone about your gambling behaviour?
- Has your gambling behaviour caused damaging consequences in your family, work/school or social life?
- Have you unsuccessfully tried to stop your gambling behaviour?
- Do you feel restless and irritable when you try to cut or stop your gambling behaviour?
- Have you borrowed or asked money to gamble with?
- Have you ever done something illegal to get money to gamble or pay gambling debts?
If you answered YES to 5 questions or more, it could be that you have a gambling problem. We suggest that you stop or cut down on your gambling by following these tips :
- Think of gambling as entertainment, not a way to make money
- Only gamble with money you can afford to lose
- Set a spending limit in advance
- Set a time limit in advance
- Don’t drink or use drugs when gambling
- Take a break
- Don’t gamble when you’re depressed or upset
- Balance gambling with other activities
- Never chase your losses
