PROBLEM GAMBLING

Warning Signs & Ways To Get Help

The American Gaming Association has designated September as Responsible Gaming Education Month to promote gaming literacy and consumer education. It is estimated that between 1% and 6% of Americans are addicted to gambling, which means up to 20 million Americans have gambling problems or are at risk. While that’s a large number, it doesn’t tell the whole story – problem gambling affects far more people than you might think. Each one of those 20 million people has family and friends who are hurt by the collateral financial and emotional damage inflicted by problem gambling. The vast majority of people can visit a casino for an hour or so, purchase a lottery ticket or buy into a football pool with friends and suffer no consequences. However, for a few people, the urge to gamble becomes overpowering.

Healthcare professionals tell us there are several behaviors which indicate a person might have a gambling problem, which can include:

• Using income or savings to gamble while bills go unpaid

• Repeated, unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling

• Breaking or considering breaking laws to finance gambling

• Having depressed or suicidal thoughts because of gambling losses

• Arguing with friends or family about gambling behavior

If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, take this short quiz. If you answer “yes” to one or more of the following questions, it might indicate you do, indeed, have an issue with gambling and should consider getting help:

1. Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money?

2. Have you ever lied to people who are important to you about the amount you have gambled?

3. Have you made repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop gambling?

4. Do you gamble as a way of escaping emotional or physical pain?

5. Have you ever relied on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling?

6. Have you ever jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job or career because of your gambling?

7. Have you gambled to get money with which to pay debts or to solve other financial problems?

8. Have you borrowed money to finance your gambling?

9. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?

10. Do you gamble to try to get your money back?

After you’ve answered these questions, if you think you or someone you love needs help with a gambling problem, call the Arizona Office of Problem Gambling at 1-800-NEXT STEP to get free, confidential information. You will be connected with a knowledgeable, caring professional who will listen in an empathetic, nonjudgmental way, and put you in touch with the resources you need to deal with your problem gambling. You can also log onto their website at ProblemGambling.AZ.gov to learn more about ways to get help. That website offers a broad range of resources designed to help problem gamblers, including a list of the services they provide. $