I have seen someone that is not a gambling addict, but was at work when games was about to start, so he left his working environment with the excuse that he wanted to get water to drink, while in reality he wanted to get to the nearest betting shop fast to play his bet before the start of the games.
If this isn’t a clear sign of gambling addiction then I don’t know what to call it, to be honest.
Making up excuses or even lying to leave work or not attend family meeting just because you can’t resist the urge to gamble or because you don’t won’t to miss the chance to place some bets is a clear sign that you are a gambling addict.
Looking for excuses or saying that doing such thing is normal means that you are not only an addict but also that you are in a state of denial.
Putting gambling first and ignoring other important things that have to do with work and career is a sign of gambling addiction, but some gamblers don’t see it as a sign of addiction because they have failed to examine themselves to see how they are approaching gambling, whether it is the right way or not. Gambling is something you need to do in your free time and not abandon important things. Most people are not even aware when they are slowly becoming addicted to gambling.
