As many as 70 percent of American adults gamble in one form or another, and almost all of them gamble responsibly. But for a small portion of the population, gambling presents serious problems, and the effects can be as devastating as any addiction to alcohol or drugs. Fortunately, there are some typical warning signs that may signal a tendency toward problem gambling, and there are numerous avenues to get professional help if you're worried about your gambling habits.

Pathological Gambling

Pathological gambling has been a recognized behavior disorder since 1980, when it was listed in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. People who suffer from this disorder typically see a progression from what might be called “normal” gambling behavior to an increasing preoccupation with gambling, such as continually reliving prior gambling experiences or planning ways to finance the next gambling outing. The majority of pathological gamblers are men, and they usually start gambling in their teens; women tend to begin gambling later in life and may be drawn to it as an escape from other problems.

Warning Signs

Most problem and pathological gamblers seek the rush from the action rather than profit. Over time, it may take more gambling sessions and bigger stakes to achieve the same feeling of excitement, much like an alcoholic needs more drinks to achieve the same level of intoxication. In addition, most problem and pathological gamblers will habitually chase their losses, trying to make up for yesterday's loss with a big win today.

As the disorder progresses, the problem or pathological gambler may lie to family members, coworkers, friends, and others to cover up his or her gambling. He or she may try to hide the amount of money used for gambling by taking cash advances on a credit card instead of making withdrawals from a checking or savings account. He or she may try to borrow money on the pretext of some emergency — car repairs, say, or to pay off a past-due bill — and use it to gamble.

The urge may become so irresistible that the person skips work or misses family functions in order to gamble. The person may become irritable or depressed if he or she tries to cut back on gambling or stop completely. In desperate cases, the pathological gambler may resort to forgery or embezzlement to finance his or her habit.

In general, the problem or pathological gambler is not interested in games of chance, such as lotteries, keno, or roulette. The rush comes in large measure from “outsmarting” the house, so the games of choice are those that involve some level of skill, like blackjack, poker, or video poker. Horseracing and sports betting also involve pitting your wits and knowledge against the handicappers, so these kinds of wagers also can be attractive to the compulsive or pathological gambler.

Questions to Consider

Gamblers Anonymous, a twelve-step, self-help support group similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, has developed a list of questions to help players assess their gambling habits and determine the degree, if any, of addiction. If you're concerned about your gambling or the gambling habits of someone close to you, here are some important points to consider:

Have you ever lost time from work because of gambling?

Have you ever felt remorse or guilt after gambling?

Have you ever sold anything to raise money for gambling?

Have your gambling habits been the subject of arguments with family or friends?

Have you ever used “scared money” — that is, money earmarked for other expenses such as rent or groceries — to gamble?

Have you ever gambled to forget other problems?

Have you ever lost sleep thinking about or worrying about gambling?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you might want to seek a professional evaluation of your gambling habits and risk for developing a gambling disorder.