Persuasive Essay: The Dangers Of Gambling Addiction

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How can someone become so addicted to throwing their money away when they are already broke? This seems like an unreasonable question that is asked too often. Gambling becomes an addiction when it interferes with the regular lifestyle of someone or those close to him or her. Jeanne Seaga, Ph.D., Melinda Smith, M.A., and Lawrence Robinson say a gambler will withdraw from loved ones, sneak around, lie, and borrow or even steal money. Many people know of someone who gambles at a casino that does not know when to quit. It is easy to keep putting money into a slot machine to try and make back the difference lost. Gambling can potentially become dangerous, leading to family issues and financial breakdowns. Luckily, there are solutions to gambling that can mend broken relationships and bring a balanced income back into the picture for recovering addicts. Maxi Chambers, a former gambling addict, recalled a personal life story about winning five hundred dollars her first time gambling in her article “What I Lost Gambling.” She stated this event led to an uncontrollable need to gamble more frequently every week. In a compulsive gambler, the high from winning overpowers the disappointment from losing. This causes him or her to forget how much money has been lost and focus on trying to win …show more content…

6). Depression can lead to suicidal thoughts or actions, especially after losing an excessive amount of money at a casino. According to Hjelmeland, a middle-aged mother overdosed on antidepressants after a big financial loss. He states, “ . . . the number of problem gamblers range from only one to three percent of all adult Americans, but for the people affected and their families compulsive gambling is unquestionably a serious problem.” (78) Not only does it cause internal personal issues, it affects those around the gambler as

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