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If there is a gambling problem in your home, the Gam-Anon family group may be able to help you cope with it.
If you are living with a compulsive gambler, you will answer "YES" to at least six of the following questions.

1. Do you find yourself haunted by bill collectors? Yes No
2. Is the person in question often away from home for long unexplained periods of time? Yes No
3. Does this person ever lose time from work due to gambling? Yes No
4. Do you feel that this person cannot be trusted with money? Yes No
5. Does the person in question faithfully promise that he or she will stop gambling; beg, plead for another chance, yet gamble again and again? Yes No
6. Does this person ever gamble longer than he or she intended to, until the last dollar is gone? Yes No
7. Does this person immediately return to gambling to try to recover losses, or to win more? Yes No
8. Does this person ever gamble to get money to solve financial difficulties or have unrealistic expectations that gambling will bring the family material comfort and wealth? Yes No
9. Does this person borrow money to gamble with or to pay gambling debts? Yes No
10. Has this person's reputation ever suffered due to gambling, even to the extent of committing illegal acts to finance gambling? Yes No
11. Have you come to the point of hiding money needed for living expenses, knowing that you and the rest of the family may go without food and clothing if you do not? Yes No
12. Do you search this person's clothing or go through his or her wallet when the opportunity presents itself, or otherwise check on his/her activities? Yes No
13. Does the person in question hide his or her money? Yes No
14. Have you noticed a personality change in the gambler as his or her gambling progresses? Yes No
15. Does the person in question consistently lie to cover up or deny his or her gambling activities? Yes No
16. Does this person use guilt induction as a method of shifting responsibilities for his or her gambling upon you? Yes No
17. Do you attempt to anticipate this person's moods, or try to control his or her life? Yes No
18. Does this person ever suffer from remorse or depression due to gambling, sometimes to the point of self-destruction? Yes No
19. Has the gambling ever brought you to the point of threatening to break up the family unit? Yes No
20. Do you feel that your life together is a nightmare? Yes No

What is Gam-Anon? Gam-Anon is a fellowship of men and women who are husbands, wives, relatives and close friends of compulsive gamblers. You need not wait for the compulsive gambler to seek help before coming to Gam-Anon.

In Gam-Anon we learn effective ways of coping with the gambling problem. By seeking help for ourselves and gaining serenity and peace of mind, we find that we are better able to cope with our problems on a day-to-day basis and in some cases motivate the gambler toward seeking help for him or herself.

©June 1983 Gam-Anon International Service Office, Inc.