Compulsive gambling is an illness that seriously affects not only the gambler but the gambler’s family and circle of friends.
Compulsive gambling can lead to unmanageable debt, bankruptcy and broken relationships.
Gambling, for the most part, is a legal activity. Horse racing, cards, slots machines, bingo, lottery, football pools, greyhound racing…are all activities that many people enjoy. The ‘excitement’ of the risk…the ‘thrill’ of winning…are the two main factors that make gambling successful.
In controlled amounts, a bet or a gamble here and there is an activity most people will participate in at some point in their life. Gambling becomes worrying when the desire to keep gambling results in the loss of money that is needed for household or family expenses – or your gambling activity keeps you away from spending time with family or friends. Some people may be addicted to one type of gambling, for others it may be a range of gambling activities.
In controlled amounts, a bet or a gamble here and there is an activity most people will participate in at some point in their life. Gambling becomes worrying when the desire to keep gambling results in the loss of money that is needed for household or family expenses – or your gambling activity keeps you away from spending time with family or friends. Some people may be addicted to one type of gambling, for others it may be a range of gambling activities.
