Women Who Gamble
WHY DO WOMEN GAMBLE?
WHY DO WOMEN GAMBLE?
✓ Escape unhappy relationships
✓ Avoid family or personal demands
✓ Avoid conflict or abuse at home
✓ Escape financial or professional problems
✓ Numb pain or chronic health issues
✓ Avoid facing difficult situations or decisions
✓ Escape boredom or loneliness
✓ Escape lifestyle changes such as loss of spouse, divorce, or retirement
✓ For excitement
✓ A form of entertainment and socializing
✓ For the feeling of personal power and self-esteem
WARNING SIGNS
WARNING SIGNS:
✓ Preoccupation
✓ Borrowing Money
✓ Selling personal items
✓ Irritability, Restlessness, Withdrawal, Defensive attitude
✓ Delay payment of bills
✓ Neglecting household duties
✓ Competitive personality
✓ Alienation from family and friend
✓ Inability to cut back or stop gambling
✓ Lying to friends and family about gambling
✓ Extreme guilt or shame
✓ Disappear for extended periods of time
✓ Suicidal thoughts
QUICK FACTS
QUICK FACTS
✓ Over 90% of women who gamble are "escape" gamblers
✓ 67% of women who seek help are between age 40 and 60 (NCPG - North America)
✓ The gap between male and female gamblers is narrowing (NCPG - North America)
✓ I in 5 women who are problem gamblers consider suicide (Wisconsin CCG)
BARRIERS TO TREATMENT
BARRIERS TO TREATMENT
✓ Less accepted by society as having gambling issues
✓ Roles and Expectations
✓ Shame and Guilt
✓ Autonomy
✓ Fear of being judged by others
✓ Lack of information and resources