For those who view gambling as nothing but an innocuous recreational activity, you have another think coming. According to the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization, pathological gambling is a medical illness ranking with alcoholism and drug addiction. Examine yourself whether you are a pathological gambler and seek medical help as soon as possible.

There are many symptoms of gambling addiction. Ten are internationally accepted as standard criteria, though you only have to exhibit five of these to be considered for a definitive diagnosis:

- You spend plenty of time obsessing about gambling. You reminisce about the past, ponder on the present, and fantasize about the future, but all about gambling, gambling, and more gambling.
- You crave bigger bets and bigger winnings to experience higher adrenaline surges, much like a drug junkie. Regardless how many free bets you can hoard to your bankroll, it is never ever enough.
- You experience withdrawal symptoms even at the thought of staying away from gambling for a few measly hours.
- You gamble to flee from life's realities.
- You overstep your limits vis-a-vis losing. You just use up all the free casino bets and all your bankroll with the vain hope of recovering all your losses.
- You lie about your addiction to everybody who matters in your life. Indeed, you might even be living a double life!
- You steal anything and everything just to make money to sustain your compulsive gambling.
- You loss control of yourself in a very destructive way. It would be better if it is only yourself that is being destroyed; unfortunately, others are taken along for the downward spiral.
- You become a criminal, not only in the moral sense but more importantly, in the legal sense. The next things you will be caressing are not free poker bets, but the cold bars of jail.
- You lose life opportunities, including the chance for meaningful relationships.
- You are in serious debt because of your gambling habits.

Can you be cured of your addiction? Yes, you can be! Pathological gambling might be a disease, but you can turn it into just another bad habit to break, which can be conquered with appropriate medical intervention, plenty of family and friend support, and the passionate determination to succeed on your part.

Usually, professional counseling mixed psychiatric medicines and peer support through Gamblers Anonymous and other related groups form part of medical treatment. Family and friends must also help you, even in something as seemingly insignificant as a pat on the back. Ultimately however, it will all boil down to you and you alone.

But first, acknowledge that you have a gambling problem. All else will progress from there.