10 Answers

Is gambling affecting your relationships?

Having a gambling problem can be very all-consuming, and as well as the effect on the gamblers themselves, it can have a devastating impact on their relationships with other people, their friends and family. This can take various forms, especially the following:

• Arguing more with your partner or family, especially about money, budgeting and debt


• Being preoccupied with gambling and finding it difficult to focus on other things


• Spending less time with people and more time gambling


• Lying to friends and family about losses


• Stealing money from friends and family to gamble with

If you can recognise these things in your relationships, it might be a sign that gambling is becoming a problem. You may want to take our self assessment test to find out more.

Problem Gambling and Relationships 

Instead of spending time with partners and their family, or fulfilling commitments, gamblers may choose to spend their leisure time gambling. This can lead a partner or family member to worry that the gambler does not care about them anymore, or that they are somehow less important. This can lead to emotional distance or tension in the relationship. It is often the case however, that the gambler is so tied up with the gambling behaviour that they are unable to think about anyone else. 

There can also be increased arguments over the family budget and finances when there is a gambling problem in the family. Often the gambler is convinced that they will be able to sort the problems out themselves, when in reality they need help to stop gambling and resolve their debt problems in a more realistic way.Broken promises and deceit can mean that partners of gamblers can lose trust in their relationship, especially if the gambler has tried to stop gambling several times but has ended up returning to the behaviour.It's easy to see how all of these factors can cause stress to a relationship and lead a partner or family member to question the value of it. Sometimes there is a lso a lot of guilt involved as a partner may wonder if the gambling problem is their fault, or if they have somehow contributed to the problem.

Problem gambling in a family can also have an effect on children - the impact of stress within the family unit and potential loss of relationship with a parent can have lasting consequences.

http://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-advice/how-can-gambling-affect-your-life/relationships-and-family#.VtrrUfkrLIV

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/gambling-addiction-and-problem-gambling.htm

....I don't know; I don't gamble.

....as tight as I am, any would be too much.

Some really simple questions for you to answer and you already know what the correct answer should be.

1)  Do you pay your rent/mortgage/household bills on time, every time?

2)  Do you eat properly and pay cash for your groceries?

3)  Are your credit cards paid in full each and every month?

4)  Do you still spend the same amount of time with family/friends?

5)  Do you still get to work every day and arrive on time?

6)  When you go gambling, do you only spend the planned amount?

7)  Do family/friends suggest that you have a gambling problem?

8)  Have you maintained interests/hobbies other than gambling?

It's a problem the very minute you sub paying for ANY necessity in order to gamble.....

What's the reason to go in the first place? You know the odds are against you, and if you're at the ATM machine to get more, you've already exceeded your self-imposed limit.....or don't you have one?

I'm a small potatoes gambler, and go to just be mindless for an hour. But I don't always stay within my own limits, and that IS a problem.  And I know it.

If it has absolutely no negetive effect on your life whatsoever,and you can stop whenever you want,,then what is your problem.??.>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<..

If you gamble and win- no problem. If you gamble and lose- problem.

If you can find a gambling method that wins consistently, please let us know.

I learned many years ago I can't gamble... If I would lose I would gamble more to make up for it... I haven't gambled in probably 35 years. I even went to Vegas last year

You've lost your "l" as well as your money!

I think you know you gamble too much when you start asking yourself that type of questions. And when you start to weigh the pros and cons. Of course it's only you who know yoursef very well, so when subtle questions are popping on your mind then you know there may be something it wants to imply.