Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling

Md. Center on Problem Gambling ~ Waterloo Crossing, 5900 Waterloo Road, Suite 200, Columbia MD 21045-2630 ~ Phone: 410-328-4710 HELPLINE: 800-522-4700 ~ www.mdproblemgambling.com

Brief Problem Gambling Screens NODS-CLiP

– Loss of Control: Have you ever tried to stop, cut down, or control your gambling? – Lying: Have you ever lied to family members, friends or others about how much

you gamble or how much money you lost on gambling? – Preoccupation: Have there been periods lasting 2 weeks or longer when you

spent a lot of time thinking about your gambling experiences, or planning out future gambling ventures or bets?

NODS-PERC

- Have there ever been periods lasting 2 weeks or longer when you spent a lot of time thinking about your gambling experiences or planning out future gambling ventures or bets?

- Have you ever gambled as a way to escape from personal problems? - Has there ever been a period when, if you lost money gambling one day, you

would return another day to get even? - Has your gambling ever caused serious or repeated problems in your

relationships with any of your family members or friends? Brief Bio-Social Gambling Screen (BBGS)

– Withdrawal: During the past 12 months, have you become restless, irritable or anxious when trying to stop/cut down on gambling?

– Deceive: During the past 12 months, have you tried to keep y our family or friends from knowing how much you gambled?

– Bailout/Need Money: During the past 12 months, did you have such financial trouble that you had to get help with living expenses from family, friends or welfare.

Lie-Bet

– Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money – Have you ever had to lie to people important to you about how much you

gambled

1

• The following questions are about gambling. By gambling, we mean when you bet or risk money or something of value on an event whose outcome is uncertain. For example, buying lottery tickets or scratch-offs, gambling at a casino, playing bingo, shooting dice, betting on sports, or playing keno.

NODS – Self Administered

Please answer the following 10 yes/no questions honestly:

• 1. Have there ever been periods lasting two weeks or longer when you spent a lot of time thinking about your gambling experiences, planning out future gambling ventures or bets, or thinking about ways of getting money to gamble with?*

o Yes

o No • 2. Have there ever been periods when you needed to gamble with increasing amounts of

money or with larger bets than before in order to get the same feeling of excitement?*

o Yes

o No • 3. Have you ever felt restless or irritable when trying to stop, cut down, or control your

gambling?*

o Yes

o No • 4. Have you tried and not succeeded in stopping, cutting down, or controlling your

gambling three or more times in your life?*

o Yes

o No • 5. Have you ever gambled to escape from personal problems, or to relieve uncomfortable

feelings such as guilt, anxiety, helplessness, or depression?*

o Yes

o No • 6. Has there ever been a period when, if you lost money gambling one day, you would

often return another day to get even?*

o Yes

o No • 7. Have you lied to family members, friends, or others about how much you gamble,

and/or about how much money you lost on gambling, on at least three occasions?*

o Yes

o No • 8. Have you ever written a bad cheque or taken money that didn’t belong to you from

family members, friends, or anyone else in order to pay for your gambling?*

o Yes

o No

• 9. Has your gambling ever caused serious or repeated problems in your relationships with any of your family members or friends? Or, has your gambling ever caused you problems at work or your studies?*

o Yes

o No • 10. Have you ever needed to ask family members, friends, a lending institution, or

anyone else to loan you money or otherwise bail you out of a desperate money situation that was largely caused by your gambling?*

o Yes

o No

REMINDER: this self-assessment will help you figure out if there is a problem, but only a professional can diagnose if it is a gambling problem, a different problem, or both.

If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, you should seek help.

HealthHealthANDYOUR

Gambling

GamblingGambling

HealthANDYOUR

Are You Sufferingfrom Problem Gambling?

24/7 Confiden al HelplineHelpMyGamblingProblem.org

1-800-GAMBLER

We Can Help

1-800-GAMBLER

Gambling?What is

When you bet or risk money or something of value, to win money or something of value. This can include, but is not limited to, casino games, keno, slot machines, sports, horse racing, lo ery ckets and even bingo.

Gambling can be fun. But for some, gambling can get out of control. Problem gambling can result in:

Financial ProblemsLegal ProblemsFamily Conflicts

StressProblems at WorkEmo onal Problems

ConsiderHealthWITH

YOUR

GambleDON’T

Gambling problems may lead to emo onal problems, such as anxiety or depression.

Did you know that adults with a gambling problem are 2-3 mes

more likely to develop a major depressive disorder?

Gambling problems may also worsen physical health problems, such as: high blood pressure, stomach problems, headaches, heart problems, sleep problems.

Don’t gamble with your health and

MAKE A CHANGE to your gambling habits

TODAY!

I feel moody when I try to cut down or stop gambling. I tried to stop gambling and could not. I used gambling to escape bad feelings. I went back to gamble to win back money I lost the day before. I lost or risked losing a job, rela onship or schooling op on. I felt the need to spend more money than usual. I spent a lot of me thinking about gambling. I had money problems because of gambling. I needed others to give me money to help me pay my gambling debts.

Did you say “yes” to any of the above? You may be more at risk for a gambling

problem than others.

your own gambling. Can you relate to any of these experiences in the past 12 months?Low Risk

Medium Risk

High Risk

Risk?Who’s at

“I buy lo ery ckets every me I get gas or stop by the

corner store. I spend at least $50 a week on ckets. We have money problems and my wife gets upset about the number of ckets I buy, so I hide them from her.”

“I go to the casino once a month. I can afford to spend $100, some mes a bit more. I look forward to casino night all month and get kind of mad when I miss it.”

“I only buy ckets a few mes a year when the

jackpot is over $500 million.”

UnderstandingYour Gambling

Gambling problems may also worsen physical health problems, such as: high blood pressure, stomach problems, headaches, heart problems, sleep problems.

Adults with a gambling problem are 2-3 times more likely to develop a major depressive disorder.

Should you think about changing your gambling habits?

Gambling can be fun. But for some, gambling can get out of control. Problem gambling can result in financial problems, legal problems, family conflicts, problems at work and stress. Gambling may also lead to emotional problems, such as anxiety or depression.

On a scale of 1-10, how ready are you to make a change to your gambling habits?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0

If you are ready to your gamblingCHANGE HABITS

DID YOUKNOW?

complete the back of the worksheet to make a plan.

NOT MOTIVATED

READYTO MAKE A CHANGE

TODAY

Gambling Change PlanI would like to

my gambling

in the following ways:

CHANGEHABITS

Gamble Only Days Per Week/Month

I would like to call the help line to talk to someone about my gambling.

If you would like additional help, please call:1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.helpmygamblingproblem.com

Gamble Only Dollars Per Week/Month

Yes No

I would like to talk to a counselor to help me change my gambling. Yes No

I would like a referral to a counselor trained to understand problem gambling.

Yes No

I would like to a�end a Gambler’s Anonymous meeting.

family members | friends | spiritual advisors | others

Others who can help me change my gambling are:

My follow-up plan is:

Yes No

1

2

3

Ferris, J., & Wynne, H. (2001). The Canadian problem gambling index: Final report. Submitted for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.

Problem Gambling Severity Index This self-assessment is based on the Canadian Problem Gambling Index. It will give you a good idea of whether you need to take corrective action. Thinking about the last 12 months… Have you bet more than you could really afford to lose?

0 Never. 1 Sometimes. 2 Most of the time. 3 Almost always. Still thinking about the last 12 months, have you needed to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling of excitement?

0 Never. 1 Sometimes. 2 Most of the time. 3 Almost always. When you gambled, did you go back another day to try to win back the money you lost?

0 Never. 1 Sometimes. 2 Most of the time. 3 Almost always. Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?

0 Never. 1 Sometimes. 2 Most of the time. 3 Almost always. Have you felt that you might have a problem with gambling?

0 Never. 1 Sometimes. 2 Most of the time. 3 Almost always. Has gambling caused you any health problems, including stress or anxiety?

0 Never. 1 Sometimes. 2 Most of the time. 3 Almost always. Have people criticized your betting or told you that you had a gambling problem, regardless of whether or not you thought it was true?

0 Never. 1 Sometimes. 2 Most of the time. 3 Almost always. Has your gambling caused any financial problems for you or your household?

0 Never. 1 Sometimes. 2 Most of the time. 3 Almost always. Have you felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?

0 Never. 1 Sometimes. 2 Most of the time. 3 Almost always. TOTAL SCORE Total your score. The higher your score, the greater the risk that your gambling is a problem. Score of 0 = Non-problem gambling.

Score of 1 or 2 = Low level of problems with few or no identified negative consequences.

Score of 3 to 7 = Moderate level of problems leading to some negative consequences.

Score of 8 or more = Problem gambling with negative consequences and a possible loss of control.