The Pros And Cons Of Gambling

How can someone become so addicted to throwing away their money 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 Segal, Ph.D., Melinda Smith, M.A., and Lawrence Robinson say a gambler will withdraw from loved ones, sneak around, deny it by lying, try to hide it from others, and borrow or steal money (par. 2,5). Many people know 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. Gambling can become an addiction and often times lead to family issues and financial breakdowns.

Gambler anonymous is a twelve-step process where the addict chooses who sponsors them. The sponsor of choice is a past gambler addict who has overcame their problem and is willing to help current compulsive gamblers (par. 10). They help overcome impulses to gamble and attend to emotions inside. Author Andy Hjelmeland tells Nick’s story in the article “7: Compulsive Gambling.” After six months of attending Gambler’s Anonymous, Nick made a change in his life; he earned love from his wife again and had her attend meetings for family members of addicted gamblers (par.

Another great tip in the financial department is to “have the bank make automatic payments” for them (par. 15). This will help keep up with the current payments. It is also very important to stay occupied. Beneficial hobbies for him or her would be to exercise, meditate, hang out with friends, undertake a hobby, and use relaxation techniques (par 5). As earlier stated, gambling destroys family relationships and being alone creates boredom. Help them plan an agenda to stay busy. Make sure to schedule in plenty of time with family and friends who will support their decision to quit gambling (par.