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Is Gambling A Problem In Your Household?

(reprint from Nova Scotia's Responsible Gambling website)

If you answer yes to at least six of these questions, you may be living with a problem gambler.

• Do you find yourself constantly bothered by bill collectors?
• Is the person in question away from home for long unexplained periods of time?
• Does this person ever lose time from work due to gambling?
• Do you feel that this person cannot be trusted with money?
• Does this person faithfully promise that he or she will stop gambling; beg and plead for another chance, yet gambles again and again?
• Does this person ever gamble longer than he or she intended to, till the last dollar is gone?
• Does this person ever gamble to get money to solve financial difficulties, or have unrealistic expectations that gambling will bring the family wealth or material comfort?
• Does this person immediately return to gambling to try and recover loses, or to win more?
• Does this person borrow money to gamble with or to pay gambling debts?
• Has this person's reputation ever suffered due to gambling, even to the extent of committing illegal acts to finance gambling?
• Have you come to the point of hiding money needed for living expenses, knowing that the family may go without food and clothing if you do not?
• Do you search this person's clothing or go through his or her wallet when the opportunity presents itself?
• Do you hide his or her money?
• Have you noticed a significant change in the gambler as his or her gambling progresses?
• Does the person in question consistently lie to cover up or deny his or her gambling activities?
• Has the gambling ever brought you to the point of threatening to break up your family?
• Does this person ever suffer from remorse or depression due to gambling,sometimes to the point of threatening self destruction?

Talking About Problem Gambling With Someone You Care About