What is Problem Gambling?

"Most people don’t understand the risks of gambling. It’s so normalized it’s discounted. They don’t see the warning signs, so we need to let people know this isn’t a risk-free activity.

-Lori Rugle, PhD, ICGC II BACC

Warning Signs

If you answer yes to ONE of these statements, you may have a gambling problem.

→ I have lost control over gambling
→ I am playing for longer periods than I had planned on.
→ I am often gambling when I should be doing other things.
→ I am not able to stop thinking about gambling.
→ I am lying about may gambling to family and friends.
→ I am having problems with my friends and family because of gambling.
→ I am borrowing and stealing money from family and friends to keep gambling.
→ I am spending more money than I wanted to pend on gambling.
→ Gambling helps me escape from my personal problems.
→ I feel better when I am gambling and anxious when I’m not.

Take the Problem Gambling Self-Assessment

A gambling problem generally has 2 key features:

Impaired control, not being able to stick to limits of the amount of money and/or time that is spent gambling
Gambling causes personal emotional, financial career, relationship or legal problems (negative life consequences).

Individuals in the military and veterans are more at risk for developing gambling problems than the general public.

Gambling problems no only impact the person who is gambling but also frequently cause distress for family, friends, and colleagues:

For individuals in the military, problem gambling can put careers at risk
Gambling problems can be mild or quite severe and often worsen over time, even resulting in suicidal thoughts or suicide.
Gambling problems, initially thought as an impulse control disorder, are now recognized as an addiction by the American Psychiatric Association.

While gambling is a form of entertainment for most people, for others it is a devastating medical condition. Most military personnel and veterans are unaware of the dangers of problem gambling or that it is a treatable medical condition. Certain things may make people more susceptible such as financial distress, alcohol consumption, PTSD, substance abuse, or mental health problem.

"Most people don’t understand the risks of gambling. It’s so normalized it’s discounted. They don’t see the warning signs, so we need to let people know this isn’t a risk-free activity. -Lori Rugle, PhD, ICGC II BACC

WHAT IS PROBLEM GAMBLING?

*THE APPEARANCE OF U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DoD) VISUAL INFORMATION DOES NOT IMPLY OR CONSTITUTE DOD ENDORSEMENT

"Most people don’t understand the risks of gambling. It’s so normalized it’s discounted. They don’t see the warning signs, so we need to let people know this isn’t a risk-free activity.

-Lori Rugle, PhD, ICGC II BACC