How do you help someone that has a gambling problem?

Love: How do you help someone that has a gambling problem?
My friend has a gambling problem real bad. He gets paid and goes directly on the boat and spends his entire check in one day. He never wins, but week after week continues to go. He says he needs help, he says he wants help, but everything I suggest he doesnt want to do. Please help me help him.

Answers and Views:

Answer by paul m
if he wants help, send him to rehab, or lock him up somewhere for a few days

Answer by wanninonni
Gamblers Anonymous. They have the phone number listed at the casinos. You can check it out online. Good Luck to you both! You are a great friend to have.

Answer by woosamonsa
tell him that the odd of him quitting are a thousand to one.

Answer by Pinball
he has to realize that he has a problem. that is the first step!

Answer by .
No one can help anyone with an addiction unless the addicted person wants help. It is the gambler’s responsibility to understand that he has a problem. It is also his responsibility to do something about it. There is absolutely nothing you can do short of strapping him to a chair and not allowing him to get to the gambling casino, and that is illegal.

Answer by blqkost
I’d like to know that answer too 🙁 My father spends everything he gets on Eurofootball betting. The only that has been existing for him for 5 years is the TV chart with the footbsll results. He even started steaing money from my mother and has debts:( And he doesn’t admit he has a problem, unlike your friend.

I hope people will answer here. Good luck, wish you all the best.

Answer by .
Take him to Gamblers Anonymous.
YOU phone the local chapter of Gambler’s anonymous and ask them how you can get your friend to help.
NATIONAL HOTLINE 888-GA-HELPS (888-424-3577)

Here’s the link:
https://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/index.php
Look online for the local chapter in your neighborhood, print out the information and hand him the information.

He has to want help and maybe he needs that extra push but–you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink…

Here’s the quiz to see if he’s addicted:
TWENTY QUESTIONS
Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
Did gambling affect your reputation?
Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
Were you reluctant to use “gambling money” for normal expenditures?
Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
Have you ever gambled to escape worry, trouble, boredom or loneliness?
Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?
Most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of these questions.
==============
Here’s the international anonymous meeting directory–you can find your local chapter here:
https://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/

Answer by happygirl
With out economy in the dumps, he needs to get a handle on his spending.

He needs to call 1-800-BETS OFF. You can also call this number to get information to help him as well.

Answer by nas88caror 300
first he has to want to be helped and from the sounds of it he really doesn’t want the help.. what you should do is call the casino or boat and ask for the help hot line.. and also try to get him banned from going there.
Good Luck

Answer by Jesse
Work on goals…

Tiny goals…

If he wastes the whole check have him keep the last dollar
if he keeps the last dollar have him keep the last ten
if he can’t keep the last ten then have him keep the last five.

Try to get it into a habit and don’t make it a miracle