Pathological Gambling

• Treatment Profiles of Pathological Gamblers
• Effects of Pathological Gambling in the Workplace

Treatment Profiles of Pathological Gamblers

Gender of pathological gamblers in treatment:

Pathological Gambling and Substance Dependence:

Pathological Gambling and Mental Health Diagnosis:

Ethnic background of pathological gamblers in treatment:

Gambling has a dual impact on the workplace. First it creates a need to exploit time. Second, there is the exploitation of resources to feed the gambling compulsion. The degree to which this dual exploitation of resources will occur is highly dependent on the extent of supervision exerted on the gambler at the job site. The greater the supervision, the fewer the opportunities to use time or employers money for gambling purposes.

Effects of Pathological Gambling in the Workplace

Time signs

• Chronically late to work
• Unexplained absences or disappearances from work
• Leaves work early to gamble or meet bookie
• Reads gambling related material openly
• Excessive use of sick days
• Vacation time centered around gambling activity
• Does not take vacation time in a large block
• Takes long lunch hours/breaks to gamble
• Frequently requests to use phone

Financial Signs of Pathological Gambling

• Borrows money from co-workers
• Argues with co-workers about money owed to them
• Frequently requests advances in salary
• Numerous company credit union loans
• Credit card or loan billings mailed to work
• Family inquiries about salary
• Requests pay instead of vacation time
• Theft of company owned merchandise or property
• Use of petty cash to float an overnight loan
• Falsifies expense accounts

Signs of Gambling Activity at Work

• Listening to or watching sports events at work
• Making book for other employees, including the employer
• Receiving phone calls or visits from bookie, creditors, etc.
• Arranging card games for money during lunch or breaks
• Organizing office pools and/or sports pools

Performance Signs of Gambling at Work

• Decline of grooming habits, appears sleepy, eyes bloodshot
• Appears depressed or anxious
• Decreases in capability and efficiency
• Preoccupied, lack of concentration
• Assignments frequently not completed
• Absent from meetings, late for appointments
• Reluctant to take time off
• Complains about family or other personal problems

Speakers Bureau

Our staff of certified addiction counselors, psychologists, nurses, chaplains and physicians is available free of charge to businesses. Professional staff members provide informational presentations on the problems of chemical dependency and compulsive addictions. These programs are an outstanding supplement to employee health evaluation and maintenance efforts. To set up a presentation for your organization, please e-mail our Vice President of Addiction and Behavioral Sciences, Rick Zehr, at eric.zehr@proctor.org or call 1-800-522-3784.

To comment on this site or inquire about IIAR programs and services, or to receive additional information on any of the subjects discussed in this Web site, please e-mail our Vice President of Addiction and Behavioral Sciences, Rick Zehr (eric.zehr@proctor.org) or call 1-800-522-3784.

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This information is provided as a community education service about professional issues and is not a substitute for individual consultation. Advice on individual problems should be obtained through a professional. All personal and medical information provided to IIAR and its staff is held in strict confidence. This information will not be disclosed to any person or organization without the written consent of the patient or guardian.

The Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery has centers at the following three locations:
Proctor Hospital, 5409 N. Knoxville Avenue, Peoria, IL 61614, phone: 1-800-522-3784
BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Virginia at Franklin, Normal, IL 61761, phone: 309-888-0993
IIAR at Springfield, 3050 Montvale Drive, Springfield, IL 62704, phone: 217-726-6611

E-mail comments or requests for additional information to Rick Zehr (eric.zehr@proctor.org)

You may also contact: Randee McGraw, Administrative Director
Pam Hillyard, Manager
Coleen Moore, Coordinator of Resource Development
Patricia Erickson, Nursing Coordinator

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