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For Family and Friends of a Gambler

It’s been said that anyone who suspects that a gambling problem exists in his or her family is probably correct. This saying is not true all the time. If you have been wondering whether your family has a gambling problem and are looking for some answers, we suggest you take the following quiz.

Some of the questions may seem unrelated to gambling. That’s because the clues to gambling problems are often subtle. Some gamblers may exhibit a number of these traits and others only a few. These clues are often unrelated to the severity of the gambling or to how much the gambler is wagering. They will help you realize that you are involved with someone who gambles too much.

1. Are you puzzled because your family is always short of money?

2. Does the person you are wondering about sometimes borrow money to pay ordinary monthly bills although there has been no known change of income or specific increased expenses?

3. Has anything of personal or property value mysteriously disappeared?

4. Have you sold anything of personal or property value to pay debts?

5. Is the person secretive about money?

6. Does the person seem to be more reckless about money than other people and not really weigh his or her chances?

7. Have you discovered secret loans?

8. Does the person continue to acquire different credit cards?

9. Has this person ever urgently requested you to co-sign a loan?

10. Do you have any reason to question whether the person has filed an accurate or, for that matter, any IRS return?

11. Has there been a change in the way the person handles money?
Example: Paying bills late, in part, or not at all.

12. Has the person reordered spending priorities? Example: Giving up his or her car and taking public transportation, not buying needed new clothes, neglecting basic home maintenance.

13. Has the person let health or life insurance lapse?

14. Do you have to resort to subterfuge to get money you need from the person? Example: Overestimating some expenses, under-reporting you own income, stealing from the person.

15. Has the person ever been in trouble with the law because of money?

16. Does the person sometimes pay bills far in advance for no apparent reason?

17. Have you noticed that the person avoids certain friends, acquaintances, or family members?

18. Do you suspect the person has taken money from you?

19. Does the person use double-talk when you try to discuss spending, income, or assets?

20. Has the person dipped into savings, pensions, or other assets or cut back on or stopped contributions?

21. Is the person seeking new ways to earn extra money? Does he or she already have a second job or work overtime although there are no known additional expenses and you see no evidence of additional earnings?