Symptoms of Gambling Addiction

According to the University of California Los Angeles Gambling Studies Program, approximately 2 million Americans are pathological gamblers and up to 3 percent of Americans show signs of gambling problems. Gambling addiction affects all aspects of a person's life from personal relationships to financial welfare. Common symptoms of gambling addiction include lying, inability to face reality, difficulty walking away from a gambling situation and money problems.

Escapism

• Individuals with gambling addiction often use gambling as an escape from the concerns of everyday life. Excitement and a feeling of self-importance that can only be experienced while gambling are symptoms of gambling addiction. Many compulsive gamblers constantly fantasize about winning enough to make their dream life happen.

Dishonesty

• Gambling addicts lie about how often they gamble and how much they lose. Gamblers will also lie about where they are getting funds for betting. Some individuals will even resort to stealing money to support their gambling habit. Gamblers often justify these actions in their head by planning to make up for it all after they win big.

Chasing and Recouping

• Gambling addiction involves the thrill of the chase or the win. The chase is when a person loses consistently, but still can't stop gambling because they irrationally think that their luck is about to change and they will win a big payout. Gamblers have a hard time admitting defeat and will continue betting to recoup losses or "break even."

Financial Symptoms

• Gambling addiction symptoms are readily apparent when a person's financial situation changes drastically. Paying bills late, borrowing money, selling or pawning items and even employment problems are symptomatic of gambling addiction. Some compulsive gamblers may miss work to gamble and in some instances even lose their job.

Relationship Problems

• In an effort to hide their problem, gambling addicts may alienate or avoid friends and family to whom they owe money. Fighting over finances is a common symptom for married couples. When confronted with their gambling problem, addicts are often defensive and argumentative.

Guilt and Depression

• Gambling addicts may be suffering from depression and feel guilt about their gambling problem. For many gamblers, the depression may have started before they began gambling and the escapism gambling offers is a way of coping. Compulsive gamblers often feel remorse and may apologize for lying, borrowing or even stealing to cover their gambling addiction, but they still find themselves unable to stop.

Inability to Stop

• Some gambling addicts have tried to stop or cut back on gambling. The inability to stop gambling when desiring to is a classic symptom of gambling addiction. Compulsive gamblers often need outside help or intervention to help them stop gambling.