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spending in the United States, gambling by women—including
gambling addiction—seems certain to grow.
Other Risk Factors
Gambling addiction also is linked to certain mental health issues.
Psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-
compulsive behavior are major risk factors for problem gambling.
Source: Mayo Clinic, “Compulsive Gambling.”
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Signs and Symptoms of Compulsive Gambling
The Mayo Clinic regards compulsive gambling as a serious condition akin
to drug or alcohol addiction. If not treated, it can wreck the gambler’s life
and the lives of those around him or her. According to the Mayo Clinic, the
signs and symptoms of compulsive gambling include the following:
• Being preoccupied with gambling, such as constantly planning
how to get more gambling money
• Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to get the
same thrill
• Trying to control, cut back, or stop gambling, without success
• Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut down on gambling
• Gambling to escape problems or relieve feelings of helplessness,
guilt, anxiety, or depression
• Trying to get back lost money by gambling more (chasing losses)
• Lying to family members or others to hide the extent of your
gambling
• Jeopardizing or losing important relationships, a job, or school or
work opportunities because of gambling
• Resorting to theft or fraud to get gambling money
• Asking others to bail you out of financial trouble because you
gambled money away
