11
ning their next session. They are usually desperate for money to
feed their habit. They may turn to family, friends, coworkers, or
shady loan sharks. Some even steal to get cash quickly. “Living
with a gambler in the past, I would frequently have jewelry missing
or items of value just disappear,” says Sydney Smith, a psycho-
therapist and gambling counselor. “Later I would learn that my
gambler would pawn these items to obtain gambling money or to
chase his losses.”
7
Sudden credit card debt or the need to take a
second mortgage on a home are further signs of trouble.
Gambling addicts often begin to change
the ways they interact with other people.
They may develop a new circle of friends
met through gambling. They often become
impatient, irritable, or quarrelsome due to
the stress of repeated losses. Their gam-
bling may cause them to miss family events
or fail to meet obligations at work. If con-
fronted, they may become angry and deny
they have a problem. As addicts sink fur-
ther into debt, these personality changes
will likely grow worse.
Adolescents have their own telltale
signs of gambling addiction. For example,
a teenager may spend hours on online
gambling sites in his or her room, have a
sudden drop in grades and unexplained
absences from school, show unusual interest in talk about gam-
bling or sports betting, withdraw from friends, and get caught
borrowing or stealing money.
Risk Factors by Age and Gender
Gambling addiction is less widespread than alcohol or drug ad-
diction, but it is still a serious problem. According to the North
American Foundation for Gambling Addiction Help, about 2.6
percent of the US population has an issue with problem gambling.
“Living with a
gambler in the past,
I would frequently
have jewelry missing
or items of value just
disappear. Later I
would learn that my
gambler would pawn
these items to obtain
gambling money or
to chase his losses.”
7
—Sydney Smith, a
psychotherapist and
gambling counselor
