Stages of Compulsive Gambling Today. Compulsive or pathological gambling is a progressive illness, a psychological disorder which is just as difficult to overcome as addiction to alcohol or drugs. The compulsive gambler experiences a series of stages, each with its own warning signs.
Physical Symptoms of Excessive Gambling Because gambling can cause depression, anxiety and self-harming tendencies, several physical signs are to be watched out for. Depression and anxiety sometimes lead to sleep deprivation, which may result in pale skin, weight gain or weight loss, acne and dark circles under the eyes.

Problem Gambling Warning Signs

Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money?
Have you ever lied to people important to you about how much you gambled?
Have you repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop gambling?
Do you gamble as a way of escaping emotional or physical pain?
Have you ever relied on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling?
Have you ever jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job or career opportunity because of gambling?
Have you gambled to get money with which to pay debts or to solve other financial problems?
Have you borrowed money to finance your gambling?
Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
Do you gamble to try to get your money back?

Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania, Inc. PO Box 444 Spring House, PA Office Phone: 215-643-4542 Josh Ercole, Executive Director Cell: 267-968-5053.

Problem gambling is thought to be a progressive disorder, traveling through four phases. Although this describes the four phases of what is commonly called the 'Escape' gambler, anyone experiencing problems in life due to gambling will probably be able to identify with this progression.

If someone answers 'yes' to seven or more of these questions, Gamblers Anonymous suggests it is an indication of a serious problem.

DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria: Gambling Disorder

A score of five or more is categorized as pathological gambling, but a score of three or four could indicate a serious concern for the problems gambling is creating in one's life.

Introduction

An addiction to gambling can be just as devastating to people’s lives as drugs or alcohol. In fact, gambling addiction similar to a drug addiction, and is to be taken just as seriously.Source: https://www.addictions.com/news/9-warning-signs-of-a-gambling-addiction/

1. Using gambling to self-medicate or escape

Warning Signs Of Compulsive Gambling Disorder

Gambling is fun and exciting to many people who never develop an addiction. Gambling addicts, however, tend to use this excitement to escape personal conflicts or self-medicate mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety. This is one of the gambling addiction symptoms that responds best to professional treatment, because treating the underlying mental health issue with therapy and/or medication can help break the cycle of addiction by removing the biggest motivation for compulsive gambling.

2. Neglecting work, school, & home obligations

Just as a drug addict will use compulsively to satisfy cravings for their drug of choice, gambling addicts gamble compulsively to satisfy their own intense cravings. The power of this compulsion frequently lead problem gamblers to neglect responsibilities at work, school or home because so much of their time and energy is funneled into gambling. Addicts will lose track of time while gambling, often due to “chasing losses,” where they obsessively attempt to recover lost money by gambling more and more. Gamblers tell themselves that they’ll quit as soon as they break even, while their debts and lost time only accumulate

3. Obsessed with Gambling

Addicts become preoccupied with gambling to the point of obsession. Most of their time not spent gambling is spent planning when they will be able to gamble next, or how they will get more gambling money. This obsession contributes to neglecting relationships and responsibilities, because it is difficult for the addict to focus on anything unrelated to their gambling addiction.

4. Financial hardships caused by gambling

Once a gambling addiction takes hold, debt will inevitably follow. Although there are rare wins in gambling, “the house always (usually) wins.” Addicts will start asking loved ones for money to bail them out, sell or pawn their belongings, or even resort to fraud, theft and other illegal activities in their desperation to recover their losses. Spending money that is needed for other things, like food, bills, or rent, on gambling could be an early warning sign of a gambling addiction. Warning Signs Of Compulsive Gambling

5. Endangering or losing jobs, relationships ....

Endangering or losing jobs, relationships and opportunities at school or work Compulsive

Financial hardships may be exacerbated by other gambling addiction symptoms, such as losing jobs or opportunities to advance at school or work. This kind of loss can result from gambling, wheer the obsession gets in the way of an addict follow through on their responsibilitiess or can be a direct result of compulsion, where an addict is caught gambling on the job, or embezzling money to cover gambling debts.

Gambling

6. Denial

Even when the problem is obvious to everyone in the compulsive gambler’s life, many addicts will continue to deny or minimize the problem. They will insist that they have it under control, lying about how often they gamble, how much they bet, and how much money they owe. Denial is one of the gambling addiction symptoms that presents a major obstacle to seeking treatment, because you can’t ask for help until you admit you have a problem.

7. Withdrawing from friends and family

Whether out of guilt, a desire to keep the addiction secret, or as a reaction to loved ones who have expressed concern about noticeable gambling addiction symptoms, compulsive gamblers often withdraw from friends and family, avoiding them both emotionally and physically. Secretive behavior and social isolation are more warning signs of gambling addiction that are also signs of drug addiction.

8. Continue Gambling Despite Negative Consquences

Continuing to gamble despite the negative consequences

Warning Signs Of Compulsive Gambling Treatment

Despite recognizing many gambling addiction symptoms in themselves, and even after suffering serious consequences due to gambling, such as losing a job, a spouse, a home, or getting in legal trouble, compulsive gamblers will continue gambling. This is partly because gambling is an addiction that feeds on itself. Addicts seek to solve the problems caused by their gambling with more gambling, feeling sure that a big win is just around the corner.

9. Feeling incapable of controlling their behavio

Feeling incapable of controlling their behavior despite wanting to
Many compulsive gamblers sincerely want to stop gambling, but find themselves incapable of doing so—at least without professional help. In fact, without treatment, the problem is more likely to escalate over time, as an increasing tolerance to the “high” of gambling, along with mounting financial problems, will push the addict towards larger stakes bets. Gambling addicts who try to quit will often return to gambling because they begin to suffer withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, and depression.

Problem Gambling Warning Signs

Introd­uction

1. Using gambling to self-m­edicate or escape