HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE A COMPULSIVE GAMBLER? 

 

TWENTY QUESTIONS

Gamblers Anonymous offers the following questions to anyone who may have a gambling problem. These questions are provided to help the individual decide if he or she is a compulsive gambler and wants to stop gambling.

Answer YES or NO to the following questions:

 

1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?

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2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?

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3. Did gambling affect your reputation?

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4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?

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5. Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?

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6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?

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7. After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?

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8. After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?

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9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?

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10. Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?

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11. Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?

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12. Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?

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13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?

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14. Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?

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15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?

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16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?

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17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?

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18. Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?

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19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?

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20. Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

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* Most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of these questions.