Poker Forums

    Okay, it's not ME but I think my friend has a gambling problem. However, he's not spending that much money, he just never stops playing even though he's always losing. How can you tell when it's an addiction and recommend somebody gets help?
Now me, I play all the time but I don't lose as often so I don't think it's bad. Is that hypocritical? Writing this, I realize it's none of my biz.

In my opinion, it's a problem if: 1. it takes all of a person's time including work time. OR 2. it takes all of a person's money including bill money.

If it's only taking up "spare time" and "spare money" then it's their own thing and nobody's business. If it's one of the above two scenarios, it would be good for someone to intervene, IMO.  

It's difficult sometimes to know when gambling has become a dangerous obsession or when it's just an obsession.

I tend to agree that if it's interferring with a person's regular life, and normal finances ...then it might be a problem.  If you can't pay the rent because of gambling, and you gamble in order to come up with the rent, you're in trouble.

I think it is easy to spot a gambling promblem. If the guy is in a bad mood when losing that is usually sign of losing money he cant afford to lose. If hey always broke and his only focus is gambling then he might have a promblem. I know many people with gambling promblems they are easy to spot go to gamblers anyoumous website they give some good ways to spot a sick gambler

Yes, there is a big psychological problem indeed, because addiction occurs if people win or lose, different reactions though.

This is the linkd for the site that madhatter suggest: www.gamblersanonymous.org

i know guys who get upset very uupset if they lose 1 dollar lol does it mean he has a promblem(could mean he hates losing) well not in a sence because he never plays over his head and i think that is the key never gamble over your head and you should be fine lol

The problem could be behavioral or financial. I have seen people going crazy after losing a few dollars just because they had in mind make a few more, but having no more money for surviving the next day after such lose.

 

Yup ...we all see that and it's sad.  YOu feel sort of sorry for the person, but you also keep sitting there thinking that there's such a thing a plain old common sense too.

I guess you're friend never lose HOPE of winning someday. One thing to help him stop betting all the time is to make him busy in other activities. Why not invite him to play bowling, basketball, golf or other sports? It's better to be addicted in sports rather than gambling.