For most people, gambling is a social or recreational activity, something that is fun and entertaining. But for others, gambling causes problems and, for some, it becomes uncontrollable and is no longer a choice.

It is not possible to predict who will develop a gambling problem, but once identified, the problem can be successfully treated.

The following questions are provided to help the individual decide if he or she is a compulsive gambler and wants to stop gambling. Most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least four of these questions.

1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2. Did gambling affect your reputation?
   
3. Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
4. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
5. Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
   
6. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
7. Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
   
8. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
   
9. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
   
10. Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

Making choices about gambling based on the guidelines that follow is likely to reduce the risk of developing a gambling problem. These guidelines can also be used as a basis for talking to someone whose gambling concerns you.

• Make sure that the decision to gamble is your personal choice.
• What constitutes an acceptable loss needs to be established before starting to gamble.
  
• There are times when people should not gamble:
  • When under the legal gambling age
  • When the gambling interferes with one’s work or family responsibilities
  • When in recovery from compulsive gambling
  • When trying to make up for a gambling loss