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Home > Gamble responsibly > Is the game playing you?

Are you in control of your gambling?

Most people who gamble do so for fun and entertainment. There is a small percentage of the adult Queensland population (less than 1%) who experience some level of difficulty with gambling. In these circumstances, the person's gambling can damage the individual, their relationships with friends and family and affect their work or study.

Gambling requires you to spend time, money and energy. Gambling becomes a problem when these are spent at the expenses of personal relationships, employment, study and other financial commitments.

A person can become a problem gambler whether he or she is gambling on bingo or casino games, sports, the lottery, horse racing or dice, dog racing or cards or the pokies.

Gambling should be a pleasurable experience. Borrowing money to play, spending above your budget or using money allocated for other purposes is not only unwise but can lead to more significant problems for yourself and your family.

Some people who develop gambling problems believe:
- if they continue gambling, they are bound to win soon
- if they continue gambling, they will win back what they have lost
- that gambling is a solution to financial problems
- that gambling is the only immediate escape from stress
- that the only way to stop urges to gamble is to gamble

All of these beliefs are not true.

Warning Signs of a possible problem with gambling

- Spending more time or money than you intended to
- Arguing after gambling with family and friends
- After losing, having an urge to return as soon as possible to win back losses
- Feeling guilty or remorseful about gambling
- Borrowing money or selling assets to gamble
- Considering illegal means of obtaining money to gamble
- Missing work in order to gamble
- Hiding the extent of your gambling

Do you think you might have a problem with your gambling? Answer these questions

Gamblers Anonymous have developed twenty questions.

If you answer yes to seven or more of these questions, then you may have a problem with your gambling

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

 

How can you regain control?

There are a number of ways that you can regain control of your gambling:

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Last reviewed 2 June 2008