Many people find it difficult to accept who they are and the bad habits that they have, accepting a habit is the first step that will determine if any help offered to you will work. As a gambler, will you find it offensive if you are referred to as a gambling addict? will you easily accept it or try to give excuses like some other people do, saying that they are not addicted to gambling when the signs are clearly there. Do you think identifying as an addicted gambler will make people stereotype you. The answer is different for every gambler here.
If I know deep inside that I'm addicted to gambling, I won't deny it if I'm referred by friends or family, I'll just accept it and I won't lie to them or myself about the habit. I'll work on getting myself out of this addiction slowly by seeking help and doing my best.
I feel that people who deny their gambling addiction will continue to deceive themselves and I'm certain that their behavior will worsen over time. It's not difficult to identify whether a gambler is addicted or not, but it's truly challenging and really hard to get out of it.