There’s a Gamblers Anonymous for a reason. Addiction to gambling is very real and can be quite serious. Whenever you play poker, you need to decide how to bankroll your poker games. It needs to be considered entertainment. Play with only what you can afford to lose. So whether it’s putting a specific amount aside every month to play with or using money you’ve got saved up, it has to be an amount that you are willing to lose. After all, that’s why they call it gambling – there is no sure way that you’ll be able to profit from poker, no matter how good you are.

Top 5 Ways to Know if You’re Addicted:

5. You wear sunglasses at your computer…even when you’re not playing poker.

4. When you pay for anything, you think in terms of blinds

3. Someone says cards and you immediately ask how to get in, assuming they’re talking about a poker game

2. A co-worker talks about the river and you think about the hand you lost last night

1. You find yourself going from site to site, casino to casino looking for the next tournament

If you can relate to all of the above, then you’re a poker addict. And that’s not a good thing. You should turn off the computer or walk out of the casino. If you can only relate to a few of the above, there’s still time to react. In all seriousness, if you find yourself gambling with money that you can’t afford, you need to tell a friend or family member for support and get help. There are plenty of programs that can help you with a gambling issue.