What you need to know about gambling addictions

We love poker. And we're committed to helping Canadian online poker players find great places to play cards online and off. While we know that poker is a great game as both a hobby and as a career, we also recognize that for some people, playing poker can become a serious problem.

If you're thinking about playing online poker, it's important to play responsibly and know your limits before you dive in. It's also important note that some people could be susceptible to having a gambling addiction.

It doesn't matter whether you've got a $100 bankroll or a $100,000 bankroll. Gambling addiction affects people of all stripes.

We know what you're thinking. You've seen tons of people win at online poker. And you've witnessed all sorts of people from college kids to doctors to stay-at-home moms turn an online poker hobby into a full-fledged career. How could something so lucrative possibly be dangerous?

Well, the truth is that the people who have made successful careers out of online poker likely don't have a gambling addiction. They keep their playing style under control. They play within their bankroll. They don't overspend. They don't overplay. And they remain focused.

You hear about all of the success stories, but you rarely hear about the guys who lose their shirts - or worse, their house - playing poker in casinos around the world and online. That's because the media rarely reports on the losers. It's the winners who garner the most attention - and the winners are playing responsibly.

How to spot a gambling addiction

Gambling addiction is now considered a mental health issue, and that means that we now have some signs to look for to help us diagnose whether someone has an addiction. If you or someone you know exhibits any of these signs, they may have a gambling addiction or be at risk for one:

• You turn to gambling to feel better about yourself when you're feeling down
• When you lose money playing online poker, your first thought is to bet more to win it back
• You enter a casino with a strict budget, but when you lose, you hit the ATM for more cash
• When you're out of funds at the ATM or when you've reached your limit, you ask friends to lend you money
• As a last resort, you try to steal money or commit fraud as a way to fund your poker lifestyle
• You know that you shouldn't be playing poker or other gambling games, but you can't stop yourself from playing, even when the losses keep piling up
• Instead of socializing with friends, you choose to spend all your time playing online poker

Gambling addiction affects free players too

A lot of Canadian poker players who play cards where no money is at stake assume that gambling addiction won't affect them. If you're not losing money, how is it a problem? But the truth? Even if you're not laying any money down, you could still have a gambling addiction.

Remember, gambling addictions don't just affect your wallet. They affect your social life, your relationships, and your work. If you're playing free online poker and it's getting in the way of your life outside of the felt, you might have a gambling addiction.

Getting help for a gambling addiction

If you think you're got a gambling addiction, you're not alone. There are all sorts of organizations in Canada whose only job is to help you deal with your problem and get better. If you feel you might have a gambling addiction, please visit any of the links for these organizations and get in contact with them.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Problem Gambling Institute of Ontario

Responsible Gaming Resource Centre