Recognizing a risk behaviour associated with gambling

Playing the lottery, bingo, video lottery terminals and card games with friends are all forms of entertainment. Gambling, however, can involve risks that can affect different aspects of a person's life or lead to a gambling disorder.

Here are  examples that allow recognizing behavior:

• Constantly thinking about gambling
• Needing to gamble with increasingly large sums of money to reach the desired state of excitement
• Having difficulty stopping gambling, gambling less or setting limits when gambling despite a genuine desire and effort to do so
• Feeling restless or irritable when trying to gamble less or stop gambling
• Gambling to escape difficulties or to relieve an emotional state such as anxiety
• Continuing to gamble to "get back your losses"
• Lying to family and friends to hide from them how important and invasive gambling habits have become for your well-being
• Committing illegal acts to finance gambling
• Jeopardizing your studies, work or personal relationships
• Relying on others to get out of difficult financial situations caused by gambling

You know, you can get help and information by consulting the following resources:

• Your territorial establishment;
• Gambling – Help and Referral: 1‑800‑461‑0140

To find other resources available near you, consult the Répertoire des ressources en dépendances (in French only).