Table of Content

Recognizing Gambling Problems

Recognizing symptoms of gambling problems

What do your answers mean?

Why is it hard to see the signs?

Recognizing Gambling Problems

1 in every 25 to 30 gamblers develops a gambling addiction serious enough to require professional help. That’s why it’s important to act early if you or someone close to you is struggling with such an issue.

Here, you’ll learn what the signs of a gambling problem are and how to recognize them. This could apply to yourself or to someone you care about. Find out what to watch for and what steps you can take.

Recognizing symptoms of gambling problems

Problematic gambling behavior can show up in many ways. Below are the most common signs and symptoms that may indicate a gambling problem.

Emotional, financial, and behavioral symptoms

A gambling problem often affects multiple areas of a person’s life. The most noticeable changes are usually emotional, financial, and behavioral.
Do you recognize any of the following symptoms in yourself or someone close to you? Don’t wait—take action.

Emotional warning signs may include:

You feel tired and drained because you often stay up late gambling and miss sleep.
You are restless and irritable when trying to stop gambling or take a break from it.
You experience anxiety and worry due to the financial and social problems caused by gambling.
You often argue with others because you deny, downplay, or try to hide your gambling problem by lying.
You feel guilty about the impact your gambling has on yourself and those around you.
You feel helpless because you’ve lost control over your gambling and its consequences.

Financial warning signs may include:

You have increasing debts because you borrow more frequently and in larger amounts to continue gambling.
You steal or commit fraud to get money for gambling.
You have losses you can’t explain to others, because they are caused by gambling.

Behavioral warning signs may include:

You think about gambling almost constantly when you're not gambling.
You lie about gambling or about money when others ask questions.
You have no control over your gambling and can’t stick to the agreements you make with yourself—for example, you gamble longer or spend more than you planned.
You’ve made several unsuccessful attempts to stop, but you’re unable to quit.
You neglect social contacts, work, or school because most of your time and attention is focused on gambling.
You’ve lost your job, home, relationship, and/or friends due to gambling.
You live in loneliness and isolation because gambling has taken over your social life.
You often gamble to escape problems or negative emotions, or you gamble to celebrate happy moments.
You gamble to win back losses (chasing losses) or to increase your winnings.

Recognizing warning signs early

The more of the above signs you recognize, the greater the chance that you (or someone close to you) are dealing with a gambling problem—and the more important it is to take action.

Even if you only notice one or two of these signs, take the first step today and do something about it.

One of the earliest warning signs is chasing losses—trying to win back the money you’ve lost. This is a key signal to pay attention to.

Recreational gamblers accept their losses, shrug them off, and stop playing.

Do you struggle to accept a loss and keep going instead? That’s often the beginning of a gambling problem.

As the gambling problem develops further, more signs start to appear. You begin to experience emotional issues like those described above. You start missing appointments or arrive late to work or school because you were gambling—or overslept after gambling late into the night. When you're not gambling, you're thinking about it.

With a more advanced gambling addiction, the problems continue to build up. You isolate yourself more and more from the outside world and feel lonely. Your finances are in disarray, debts grow, and loans pile up. You might even commit a crime to get money. Meanwhile, you lie about your problems and try to hide them.

Know that help is always available, and it’s never too late to turn things around. But the earlier you act, the better.

Do you recognize yourself only in the early signs, like chasing losses? Now is the time to hit the brakes. Read more below.

Do you have a gambling problem? Test yourself!

After reading the information above, are you still unsure whether you (or someone close to you) might be dealing with a gambling problem?

Then take this quick self-assessment using the questionnaire below.

Questionnaire: Gambling problem or not?

The questionnaire below is used, more or less in the same form, by various support organizations that specialize in gambling addiction. Answer these questions honestly and truthfully to find out whether you (or someone close to you) may be struggling with a gambling problem.

Have you ever felt the urge to win back a loss as quickly as possible?
After a win, have you ever felt the need to win even more right away?
Have you ever felt regret or remorse after gambling?
Has gambling ever made you or your loved ones unhappy?
Have you ever gambled longer than you originally planned?
Have you ever spent time meant for school or work on gambling?
Has gambling affected your reputation?
Have you ever gambled to forget about problems or worries?
Have you ever spent money intended for household expenses, groceries, repayments, or other essential needs on gambling?
Has gambling had a negative impact on your ambition or efficiency?
Have you ever reluctantly used money for everyday expenses that you would have preferred to gamble with?
Have you ever gambled until you spent your very last cent?
Have you ever had to borrow money to support your gambling habits?
Have you ever had to sell belongings to fund your gambling?
Has gambling ever caused you to lose sight of your own well-being or that of your loved ones?
Have you ever committed—or considered committing—a crime to fund your gambling?
Have you ever experienced sleep problems because of gambling?
Do arguments, disappointments, or frustrations trigger a desire to gamble?
Have you ever felt a strong urge to celebrate something with a few hours of gambling?
Have you ever considered self-harm or suicide as a result of your gambling behavior?

Answer honestly and truthfully

It can be difficult and confronting to answer these questions. Still, we strongly encourage you to think carefully and respond truthfully. You’re not answering to judge yourself or someone else, but to gain a clearer understanding of the situation.

Use the questionnaire above to better understand your own situation or that of someone close to you. Use that understanding to take control and begin making a change.

What do your answers mean?

People with a serious gambling addiction will answer “yes” to several of the questions above. If this applies to you—or to someone close to you—seek help immediately.

Even if you answered “yes” to just one question, it can still be a sign of a possible gambling problem. Trying to win back losses, losing track of time while gambling, or feeling regret afterward may be early signs of problematic behavior. In that case, it’s also important to take action before gambling takes control of your life.

Here you’ll find various support organizations that offer free and anonymous help. We also strongly recommend that you set your limits and stick to them.

Read more here about self-control tools.

Keep a close eye on yourself for any signs that the problem is getting worse. Revisit this questionnaire regularly to see if you're answering “yes” more often—and take action if that happens.

How gambling problems develop

Some people are more prone to gambling addiction than others. This has to do with how the brain is wired. Still, having a higher risk of addiction doesn’t mean you’re automatically in trouble, as long as you recognize the signs and act in time.

The effect of gambling on the brain

Gambling affects your brain in several ways. During play, you feel a sense of tension: will you win or lose? This tension creates a rush, similar to the effects of alcohol or drugs. When you win while gambling, your brain sees it as a reward. That reward triggers the release of a chemical in your brain that makes you feel happy.

Someone who has control over their gambling behavior experiences this too, but they can stop playing when they’ve had enough. For example, after a string of losses or simply because they feel it’s time to stop.

This works differently when you are addicted to gambling.

Unable to let go of gambling

People with a gambling addiction are constantly chasing that feeling of reward. It’s also common for them to have more than one addiction, such as to drugs or alcohol. This strong desire for a reward makes it difficult for them to stop gambling.

A problem gambler is less sensitive—or even numb—to losses. Every time a recreational gambler loses a bet, they see it for what it is: a loss. A problem gambler sees it differently. They feel that a win is just around the corner. That rush keeps them tied to the game.

But even a gambling addict will, sooner or later, be confronted with the consequences. It could be a long losing streak, an empty bank account, disappointed friends, or even losing a job.

For gamblers who don’t seek help, things usually don’t get better—they get worse. To escape the negative emotions, the problem gambler often turns to gambling even more. It gives them a temporary high and a way to avoid facing their problems. Meanwhile, those financial and social problems only grow bigger.

Why is it hard to see the signs?

A gambling problem develops gradually. You might chase a loss once, place slightly higher bets, get caught up in the excitement, and before you know it, it consumes you. Taking risks starts to feel normal. And besides, you’ll win the next round, or the one after that. Right?

It’s exactly this way of thinking-or, rather, mistaken thinking—that makes it so important to stay aware while gambling. Make sure your limits are set in a way that protects your finances and social life.

Regularly ask yourself the 20 questions listed above to check if anything has changed.

Worried about a family member, friend, acquaintance, or colleague?

Do you suspect that someone close to you may have a gambling problem? Take action.
Read here what to look out for and what you can do.

What should you look out for?

Earlier, we discussed emotional, financial, and behavioral warning signs in detail.
If you notice changes in someone’s behavior, such as increasing tiredness, restlessness, or secrecy, or if they ask to borrow money or frequently miss appointments, these may be signs.
Sometimes the signals are subtle.

Starting the conversation

Talking about a sensitive topic like gambling addiction isn’t easy, especially if the person involved denies or downplays the problem.

Below are some tips to increase the chances of a constructive and meaningful conversation:

Prepare yourself. Learn about gambling addiction, its effects, risks, and why someone might gamble. Don’t use this information to argue, but as background knowledge to better understand the situation.
Choose the right moment. Make sure:

You are both calm.
The person is open to having a conversation.
They are sober.
You have enough time to talk.

Speak in “I” statements. Use phrases like “I think,” “I feel that,” or “I want.”
Express your concerns. Share the questions and worries you’ve been having. Talk about what’s on your mind and see how the other person responds.
Listen to their story. Let them speak first. Hear their perspective before sharing yours.
Avoid judgment. Don’t say things like “that’s stupid” or “you’re doing it wrong.”
Be clear. You don’t need to be harsh or strict, but you should be honest. If it hurts you, if you’re sad, or worried—say so. Use “I” statements to express your feelings.
Try to understand. What drives this person to gamble? What does it make them feel? The more you understand, the better you can support them.
Don’t continue if emotions get too high. Arguments will only put pressure on your relationship. Take a break and let the other person know they can return to the conversation later if they choose.
You don’t have to say everything in one conversation. Especially if it’s the first time bringing up a gambling issue, it may come as a shock. It can be helpful to let things sink in and revisit the topic at a later time. But don’t postpone it too often either. Make sure to talk about other things too, so the other person feels safe and comfortable around you. Constantly focusing on the gambling problem may have the opposite effect.
It’s also possible that talking about the gambling issue won’t work at first. Don’t force it. Let them know that you’re concerned and that they can come to you if they need to. They might eventually choose to open up when they’re ready.

Support organizations

Ultimately, you hope the person with the gambling problem will recognize for themselves that it’s time to seek help. Don’t force this. Wait for the right moment to suggest it. Keep in mind that reaching out for addiction support can be a big step and often feels overwhelming.

The following organizations offer free and anonymous help for gambling addiction:

OpenOverGokken – bel: 0800-24 000 22 (free)
AGOG– bel: 0800-22 777 22 (free)
Jellinek– bel: 088-505 12 20
Trimbos Instituut – bel: 030-297 11 00

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