Poker is a wonderful activity for players who know their own limits and know how to stop when it is time.
Unfortunately, a small fraction of players has trouble controlling its relationship to gambling, and poker can therefore occasionally become an addiction and cause suffering. This suffering can be costly and lead to family problems, among other consequences.
If you no longer take pleasure in playing, if you hide your playing from those close to you, or if you downplay your losses, it is time for you to stop, and start asking yourself questions.
First of all, we suggest you take a test that you will find at the following Web address: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/20questions.html
It will allow you to measure your degree of dependence on gambling. If you answer 'yes' to more than 7 of the 20 questions, you are an excessive player.
You can find sites on the Internet that are ready to help players suffering from difficulty controlling their gambling habits.
Examples of an organization dedicated to compulsive gamblers:
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/
http://www.ncpgambling.org/
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/
http://www.gamcare.org.uk/
http://www.ganorge.no/
And you can call the following numbers for free:
(0) 870 334 8706 (International)
(213) 386-8789 (US)
020 7384 3040 (UK)
(040) 209-9009 (Germany)
0039 - 33 8127 1215 (Italy)
0739 70 76 42 (Sweden)
95 81 09 34 (Norway)
351 91 991 6611 (Portugal)
to speak to professionals who are available to listen without making any judgments.
