MYTH: Problem gambling is just a bad habit.

FACT: Compulsive gambling is an addiction. A person with a gambling problem has lost control of their life.

MYTH: Some types of gambling are harmless.

FACT: Gambling is gambling. Playing bingo or buying lottery tickets can lead to problems just as easily as going to the casino. Common forms of gambling include keno, card games, horse and dog races, office pools, sports betting and gambling online.

MYTH: If a person has a gambling problem, it’s obvious to everyone.

FACT: Gambling addiction has been called the invisible disease. Until the gambler’s life starts to fall apart, it’s often impossible to detect a gambling problem.

MYTH: People have to gamble every day to be considered an addict.

FACT: A person can have a gambling problem if they gamble only once a week or even once a month. What counts are the consequences of the person’s gambling, and what they do to keep gambling.