May

30

Are You a Problem Gambler?

Filed Under Gambling |

Like so many other things in our lives, gambling can become an addiction. When a person becomes addicted to something, it is usually hard for them to tell that they have a problem, and they may even deny that there is a problem at all. So how can you tell if you or someone else can be considered a “problem” gambler? Read on to find out.

According to Gamblers Anonymous, if you think that you or someone you know might have a gambling problem, there are twenty questions that you should ask yourself (or the other person, if you suspect a friend or loved one has a problem). They are all yes or no questions, and if you answer yes to at least seven of them, you more than likely have a compulsive gambling problem. Those questions are as follows:

1) Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2) Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3) Did gambling affect your reputation?
4) Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5) Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
6) Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7) After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
8) After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
9) Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
10) Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
11) Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
12) Were you reluctant to use “gambling money” for normal expenditures?
13) Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
14) Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
15) Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
16) Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
17) Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
18) Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
19) Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20) Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

Now, you’re probably saying to yourself, “But Chris, you sell gambling products. Why do you care if someone has a gambling problem?” My answer to that is quite simple.

I don’t sell gambling products in the hope that someone will buy them and set about on a path of destruction that leaves them penniless or worse. I want people to buy my products with money that they can afford to lose so they can try to make a little extra cash for themselves with other money that they can afford to lose. I don’t want people to stop paying their rent or not feed their children in the hopes of getting that one big score.

Gambling can be an enjoyable and potentially profitable activity if done properly. By properly, I mean doing things like setting limits for yourself in terms of both money and time (many online casinos will allow you to set deposit limits to help you with the former). It also means not “chasing your losses,” which means spending more money to try to make up for the money you’ve already lost. Don’t gamble with the rent money, don’t gamble with the car payment, and don’t gamble with the grocery money. Only gamble with money that you can afford to lose. I can’t possibly stress that enough. Gambling should be done with disposable income only. Setting limits takes discipline, but you can still have a great time at the casino or online if you stick to those limits.

Don’t become one of the millions that lets gambling negatively impact their lives. Enjoy gambling, but don’t let it become a means to an end. If you do, that end will rarely be a pleasant one.

Want to crush the casinos? Desire to make your bank account so large that Donald Trump will ask to borrow meal money? Then arm yourself with the knowledge available at Way of the Gambler www.wayofthegambler.com/ , the biggest storehouse of gambling guides available. And, as always, gamble responsibly.


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