Gambling is an activity or habit that becomes destructive when excessive. Gambling becomes an addiction when a person is unable to stop gambling and this is accompanied by various other signs. Furthermore, this article will highlight five signs used to identify an addicted gambler.

Gambling can be a normal leisure activity a person engages in but has the tendency to become addictive. This is why some people completely dissuade the act of gambling. Either way, these signs are evident in addicted gamblers.

• Unable To Stop

The first sign that a person is addicted to gambling is that they are unable to stop gambling, even when all odds are against them.

To the extent that despite its negative effects and obvious losses, the addict always wants to return to the gambling table. They could act on the false optimism that today “is my lucky day” or “today I feel lucky”, this is an addicted gambler.

• Gambling More Than You Can Afford

An addicted gambler places bet beyond what he or she is willing to lose at that moment.

While a casual gambler knows when to stop gambling, especially when losses are beyond what he or she can afford to lose. An addicts’ ability to gamble more than they can afford places them in debt or potential financial crisis.

• Lying About Your Gambling Habit

An addicted gambler doesn’t accept his or her state of addiction but constantly lies about it. They begin to lie about their whereabouts and daily activities to cover up for their gambling addiction. This is a major sign that a person is addicted to gambling.

• Borrowing To Gamble

Borrowing from family and friends to fund your gambling habit is a sign of addiction. Some even go to the extent of borrowing from financial institutions, which leads them to severe debt when losses arise. This could lead to loss of properties.

• Gambling Until There’s Nothing Left

A casual gambler knows when to walk away from the table and call it a day. But an addicted gambler lays everything on the table until nothing is left and then danger comes. An addicted gambler’s inability to stop gambling makes them forfeit all their money to gambling without saving anything.

Gambling addiction is a very serious issue, which if not treated appropriately can not only ground a person financially, but also ruin his/her relationships, work-life, and family. These signs are therefore vital to identify an addicted gambler.