Northwest Louisiana Human SERVICES District Offers Services for People Suffering from a Gambling Addiction

As vaccines continue to be distributed around the country, the idea of staying inside is wiped away with the sounds of concerts, slot machines, and crowded bars. However, while you’ve been sitting at home, the Northwest Louisiana Human Services District wants to remind you someone you know might have found other outlets to these missing social aspects. With the ability to bet on sports in Louisiana, someone you know might have still been spending their earnings betting their savings away. With casinos open, someone who might not have a whole lot of savings right now may also be trying to increase their payout from the latest round of stimulus money.

When someone gambles, the money they use would otherwise be used to pay the rent, buy food, clothes for their children, or pay other bills. If they don’t stop gambling, it could become an addiction, which will cause a problem that goes beyond financial loss. The person could lose their employment, relationships with their family, social circle, and become emotional due to the feeling of loss. That’s where the Northwest Louisiana Human Services District can help someone out.

If someone comes to mind when you think of gambling, the Northwest Louisiana Human Services District suggests answering these ten questions to determine whether or not someone may need help with a gambling problem:

• Are you puzzled because you/they are always short of money?
• Does this person sometimes borrow money to pay ordinary monthly bills even though there has been no known change of income or specific increased expense?
• Has anything of personal or property value disappeared?
• Is this person secretive about money?
• Does this person seem to be more reckless about money than other people?
• Have you discovered secret loans/credit cards?
• Has there been a change in the way this person handles money?
• Do you have to resort to dishonesty to get money you need from this person?
• Is this person seeking new ways to earn extra money, have a second job, or work overtime?
• Is this person gambling with greater frequency?

If you answered yes to some of these questions, it might be time to sit down and have a conversation with your friend or family member. If you answered no to them, there may be other questions to answer to consider if someone has a gambling problem. You can find a longer list of questions by visiting the Louisiana Association of Compulsive Gambling's website.

Remember - an addiction to gambling is not the same as drugs and alcohol, so be sure to educate yourself first. You can read more about gambling support groups, helplines, and how to have a conversation about gambling with someone you know by visiting nlhsd.org.