If you are concerned that someone’s gambling may have become a problem – it may be useful to read through the following list of common signs of problem gambling. A problem gambler may go to great lengths to conceal the extent of their gambling which can make it difficult to spot.
Money-related signs
- unexplained debt or borrowing
- money or assets disappearing
- numerous loans
- unpaid bills or disconnection notices
- lack of food in the house
- losing wallets or money regularly
- missing financial statements
- secret bank accounts, loans or credit cards
Interpersonal issues
- moodiness, unexplained anger
- depression
- decreased contact with friends
- family complaints about being emotionally shut out
- avoidance of social events
- control or manipulation by threat, lies or charm
- secretiveness about activities
Time-related signs
- disappearing for amounts of time that they cannot account for
- having no time for everyday activities
- overusing sick days and days off
- spending increased amounts of time on studying gambling
- taking an unusual amount of time for tasks (for example, taking two hours to get milk from the corner store).
If you think someone you know has a gambling problem, or if someone’s gambling is having an impact on your life – it can really help to talk to someone about it. Our text-based live support service is available to anyone affected by gambling.