Test yourself: have you become addicted?

Playing slot machines and casino games is fun as long as you are in a position to decide when you play and how much. Playing is exciting, and sometimes the excitement can take over. If playing brings you and the people around you more problems and worry than fun, then you should check if you have a gambling problem.

You can check for the signs of problem gambling by asking yourself the following questions:

• Do you often spend time thinking about playing?
• Do you often play for larger stakes or for longer than you had originally planned?
• Do you feel the need to increase stakes or play more to achieve the level of excitement you want?
• Do you constantly play to try and win your money back after losing?
• Have you felt guilty about playing?
• Have you wanted to stop playing but not been able to?
• Have people close to you complained about your playing?
• Have you ever been unable to pay a debt because of your playing?
• Have you ever missed work or neglected other responsibilities because of playing?

The more times you answered ‘yes’ to the above questions the more important it is that you change your playing habits.
Source: “Elämän valttikortit”, a Finnish-language guide for those seeking to reduce or stop playing (available from Finnish Blue Ribbon).

You can also find self-help tests at AddictionLink (in Finnish).