A reasonably good self-test for Pathological Gambling

[BigBaitsim (milo)]

Rhis test is not perfect and should not substitute for a consultation with a psychologist, but I think it would be very hard to score a 7 without having a problem controlling your gambling. A score of 7 certainly indicates the need for a meeting with a psychologist.

Please reach out for help. If you do not have a problem, you've lost nothing but an hour or so of your time. This is a small price to pay when compared to the risks involved in pathological gambling.

[BigBaitsim (milo)]

[ QUOTE ]
To me, the first question is, do I consider playing poker (over the long term) gambling?

As for question 2, I thought the important idea in it was increasing stakes to get the same excitement . I don't play poker for excitement to begin with (I enjoy reading about it, studying it, but actually playing is pretty boring). Moving up in stakes as a natural progression in a poker "career" is not relevent to this question, in my opinion.

[/ QUOTE ]

A fairly valid argument, but I find that after moving up to 3/6, I can no longer get my interest up when playing $0.50/1 or $1/2. I checked off #2. Despite moving up being a normal progression, it also is a risk factor.

[Cerril]

I dropped an email to their 'contact' address mentioning a good number of those things and suggesting some rewordings. I also linked to this forum for further suggestions.

However, anyone seriously taking the test is probably more likely to not be a +EV gambler to begin with, and if you're -EV then the 'no problem' questions become 'big problem' ones.

[Rooster71]

I scored a 3.

I can see some of these issues being MAJOR problems when dealing with games of pure chance, like slots.

[Sundevils21]

2
yes to numbers 1 and 6

[SmileyEH]

4...i got the one for harming my work/school. That's only because being so bored with college right now makes the idea of taking a year off and playing poker for a living so appealing.

-SmileyEH

[CrisBrown]

Hi milo,

I scored a 1, answering "yes" to #1.

As to #2, I move up when it's +EV, but not because I'm tired of "playing for peanuts." I enjoy poker just as much when I'm playing with the family for playchips (winner gets to pick the night's movie; loser does the dishes). *shrugs*

As for the other questions, all clear "No."

Cris

[JTrout]

I scored a 0.

[mostsmooth]

why is the link not working for me?

[pokerstudAA]

I scored a 4 - but I think that thinking about poker for weeks on end = +EV. My girlfriend sometimes gets pissed for my playing so often....