Do you find that many of your friends and family members are increasingly concerned about the amount of time and money you spend gambling? Does a panic attack invade you when you finish a turn of the wheel and pray with each breath in the hope of winning everything back on the next turn?
If so, these are serious signs of gambling addiction. Everyone likes to have fun from time to time, and a casino game can be a pleasant and exciting experience, but if you're betting your next meal on a jackpot, it's probably time to take a step back. Gambling addiction affects 3.2% of Canadian adults and is a serious problem for many adults and their families.
Recognize the signs
If you are not sure if your gambling is out of control or not, you can recognize gambling addiction by the following signs:
- You feel the need to hide your game from others. You lie about your attendance at the casino or about your playing at online casinos to your friends and family.
- You can't control your game. You think you can "stop at any time", but you go back right away until you have spent your last dollar.
- You still play when you don't have the money for it. You start to get into debt to gamble or sell things you own to get the money. You may even feel that gambling is the only way to make money, so it becomes a vicious circle, which only maximizes your losses.
- Your family and friends are worried about you. If you are in denial about your gambling problem, you don't want to listen, but if the people you love question you, it's time to listen. Analyze how gambling affects your life and remember that it is not a sign of weakness to ask for help.
- Resources for help
If you think you have a gambling problem, there are people available to help you.
- Problem Gambling: Institute of Ontario
Ontario's problem gambling site has many resources to help you identify if you are a problem gambler and how you can get help. There is even a back-up line on the home page. Staff are available to listen and help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. - Québec - Jeu : help and referral
A French Canadian website that offers a telephone number and assistance to listen to and refer problem gamblers to places where they can find help and treatment. - Canadian Partnership for Responsible Gambling
A national collaboration of non-profit organizations, casinos, research centres and regulatory bodies that provides resources on reducing the risk of gambling addiction.