Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
Has gambling affected your reputation?
Do you often gamble until your last dollar is gone?
Do you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
After a win do you have a strong urge to return and win more?
A compulsive gambler will often reply yes to most of these questions, but many
simply wont admit the fact that they have a problem. Admitting that their
behaviour is compulsive is like accepting defeat. Gamblers spend most of their
time trying to win, so giving in doesn¡t come easy. Gambling has been seen as a
problem in society, ever since it was made legal in Nevada and Atlantic City in
1976. Since then, pro-gambling lobbyists have fought to get a form of legalized
gambling in every state, but the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling
has prevailed. In 1987 however, the Supreme Court ruled that Native Americans,
who are without state regulation, could offer legal gambling far outside Indian
reservations. This decision has contributed to the rising numbers of compulsive
gamblers in many states. More than 6% of adult gamblers are now considered to be
addicted, and the numbers are continuing to grow. At present, Americans will
wager over 550 billion dollars a year, a!
3,200% increase since 1976. Solutions to this problem are beginning to come
forward, much to the gambling industry¡s dislike, as the four percent of
pathological gamblers may account for as much as 52% of an average casino¡s
The causes of compulsive gambling are similar to those which alcoholics and drug
addicts encounter. Compulsive gamblers are preoccupied with seeking out gambling
and gamble longer than intended, and with more money than intended. There is
also the equivalent of ¡§tolerance¡ when gamblers have to increase the size of
their bets or the odds against them in order to create the desired amount of
excitement. (Lesieur 2) ¡§The cause of the addicti...