The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, along with the National Council on Problem Gambling and the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High Risk Behaviors at McGill University, are joining together to urge parents and loved ones to avoid making gifts of lottery products to children and teenagers over the holidays. To learn more, visit www.ncpgambling.org/holiday
The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL) urges Arkansans to play responsibly.
The games of the ASL should be played for fun and entertainment, like going to the movies or a sporting event. If playing interferes with regular activities, responsibilities, relationships, or physical or mental health, it is problem gambling.
Do You Have a Gambling Problem?
Gamblers Anonymous offers the following questions to anyone who may have a gambling problem. These questions are provided to help an individual determine if he or she is a compulsive gambler and wants to stop gambling.
Do you ever lose time from work because of gambling?
Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
Is gambling affecting your reputation?
Do you ever feel remorse after gambling?
Do you ever gamble to get money to pay debts or solve financial difficulties?
Does gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
After losing, do you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
After winning, do you have a strong urge to return and win more?
Do you often gamble until your last dollar is gone?
Do you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
Are you reluctant to use “gambling money” for normal expenditures?
Has gambling made you careless of your welfare or the welfare of your family?
Do you ever gamble longer than you planned?
Do you ever gamble to escape worry, trouble, boredom or loneliness?
Have you ever committed — or considered committing — an illegal act to finance gambling?
Does gambling cause you to have difficulty sleeping?
Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations make you want to gamble?
Do you ever have an urge to celebrate good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
Have you ever considered self-destruction because of your gambling?
According to Gamblers Anonymous, most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of the questions
Help is available. Call the 24-hour confidential National Council on Problem Gambling Hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit www.ncpgambling.org or Gamblers Anonymous at www.gamblersanonymous.org.
