Gamblers Anonymous, which has 1,400 chapters in the United States, offers this test to help people determine if they have a problem with gambling. Most compulsive gamblers answer yes to at least seven of the questions.



-- Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?

-- Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?

-- Did gambling affect your reputation?

-- Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?

-- Did you ever gamble to get money to pay debts or solve financial difficulties?

-- Did gambling cause a decrease in ambition or efficiency?

-- After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible to win back your losses?

-- After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?

-- Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?

-- Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?

-- Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?

-- Were you reluctant to use gambling money for normal expenses?

-- Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?

-- Did you ever gamble longer than planned?

-- Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?

-- Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?

-- Did gambling cause you to have difficulty sleeping?

-- Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?

-- Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?

-- Have you ever considered self-destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

Denise Jewell is a CNHI News Service Elite Reporting Program fellow. She writes for the Niagara Gazette in Niagara Falls, N.Y.