most people get the addiction is because of the fact that gambling has become more and more legalized. The effects of the addiction are many, but can be categorized into three areas; psychological effects, social effects, and the impact it has on society. Lastly, there are three ways one can use to treat a compulsive gambler. These ways are making gambling illegal, choosing a secondary means of creating that 'high', and going to programs which are designed to help people who have gambling addictions.
             One reason researchers believe to be a cause of gambling addictions would be if there was a family history or genetic precondition to compulsive gambling. In fact, other addictions, such as smoking and drinking, also are believed to have the same existing cause. Marriot points out that "... studies are being conducted to learn whether there is a genetic precondition to problem gambling, much like it is generally believed to exist for alcoholism" (60). This is a big step in helping to define addictive gambling as a disease which needs psychiatric help like other similar addictions. Rosenthal, however, takes it a step further by mentioning that a possible cause of pathological gambling may be because of "a family history of compulsive gambling. In today's society, as many as one third of compulsive gamblers have a biological relative with the disorder. It is not unusual to find such a history extending through two or three generations" (70). This confirmed fact can help make others see that those who are addicted to gambling are not always the ones at fault. Also it may help potential gamblers to catch the problem before it becomes a problem.
             The surrounding pressures that exist in today's world are a cause in itself. Not to mention the amount of pressure that is put on potential gamblers to take a risk and gamble with his or her hard earned money. For example, Marriot states that "...