Behavioural changes are less noticeable and are somewhat easier to hide from others.
- Gambling longer than you intended.
- Often gambling alone.
- Spend increasing amounts of time gambling.
- Boasting about big wins and downplaying losses.
- Lie to cover up the extent of your gambling.
- Failed in multiple attempts to reduce or stop gambling.
- Jeopardize relationships, work, or school because of gambling.
- Reputation suffers because of gambling.
- Less productive at work.
- Increasing marital problems.
- Neglect family and personal needs to gamble instead.
- Abuse alcohol or other drugs.
- Suicide attempts.
Problem gamblers are often in denial of their problems—both to themselves and to people who
care about them. If you are honest with yourself, you may detect some of these warning signs.
- Spend increasing amounts of time thinking about gambling.
- Need to spend more money to feel the same "rush" from gambling.
- Less ambitious at work.
- Trouble sleeping because you are thinking about gambling.
- Gamble after arguments, disappointments, or frustrations.
- Gamble to celebrate good news.
- Use gambling to escape stress, guilt, or depression.
- Become restless or irritable if you try to reduce or stop gambling.
- Feelings of despair, dread, or worthlessness.
- Increasing levels of stress, anxiety, or depression.
- Thoughts of suicide.
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