Gambling, often described as a simple form of entertainment, has become uncontrollable behavior to many people. Pathological gamblers, gambling addicts, or compulsive gamblers are terms used to describe a person who considers gambling more than a diversion. One important reason is the rapid expansion of legal gambling. This expansion has led many people who have never before gambled to try this activity. Today, gambling is as socially acceptable as a night out at the movies and as common as baseball. While most people gamble for recreation and suffer no ill effects, the number of problem gamblers has flourished as the industry has grown. Both families and communities feel the economic and societal effect of gambling.
Gambling is a behavior, which causes disruptions in all areas of life: psychological, physical, and social. It has and element of addiction similar to that of drug and alcohol addiction, controlling the impulse. The gambler slowly loses control over the impulse to gamble and becomes
Gambling is not victimless. Besides ruining the gambler, spouses and children suffer also. Divorce, domestic violence, and neglect are common in families with gambling parents or partners. The gambler hides many aspects of gambling addiction and often lies to cover up odd behavior. Losing the caring contact with family members leads gamblers farther and farther into their addiction. The more involved they become with gambling the less time they spend with family. The more time spent gambling, the greater the losses. Gambling losses can lead to depression and often result in verbal and physical abuse of family members. The need to control at least one aspect of their life is usually bought upon their families. Trust is severed and divorce, if the problem is insurmountable, is inevitable. At this point, the gambling may get worse and may lead to suicide. For many gamblers suicide is the only solution to a life so messed up and out of control. Researchers have found that gamblers are for more likely to commit crimes, run up lar
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