There are three common types of gamblers – the professional gambler (who relies on skill rather than luck to make money), the social gambler (who gambles for recreation and considers the cost of gambling to be payment for entertainment), and the problem gambler.
According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, an estimated four percent of adults (8 million) in the United States either meet the criteria for disordered gambling, or would be considered problem gamblers.
Warning Signs of a Gambling Problem
- Feeling the need to be secretive about gambling
- Having trouble controlling gambling habits
- Gambling when you cannot afford to
- Friends and family expressing concern about your gambling https://www.psychguides.com/guides/compulsive-gambling-symptoms-causes-and-effects/
- Lying about your gambling or keeping it a secret
- Losing track of time and playing for longer than you meant to
- Feeling depressed or angry after gambling
- Spending more money than you planned, or more than you can afford
- Ignoring work and family responsibilities because of gambling
- Borrowing money or use household money to gamble
- “Chasing your loses” to try to win back your money
- Believing that gambling will pay off in the end
- Seeing gambling as the most important thing in your life
- Using gambling to cope with your problem or to avoid things
- Having conflicts with family and friends over gambling
- Ignoring your physical and emotional health because of gambling
