Signs of gambling addiction

Ten warning signs

• You gamble for longer or for more than you planned.
• You try to win back money you've lost.
• You hide how much you gamble, or lie about it.
• You need bigger stakes for the same excitement.
• You borrow money, sell things or use money meant for bills.
• You get restless or irritable when you can't gamble.
• You gamble to escape stress, anxiety, loneliness or boredom.
• You've tried to stop before and gone back.
• Work, studies, sleep or relationships suffer.
• You feel shame or guilt afterwards, but do it again anyway.

How many is too many?

There's no exact cut-off. Four or five of these usually means gambling is costing you more than money. Two or three is a good moment to put blocks in place – it's much easier to stop early than late.

What to do next

Self-exclude, ask your bank to block gambling payments, tell one person you trust, and take one small step a day. That's exactly what the 30-day programme walks you through.