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Gambling? In Debt?

Come on big money! Most would agree ‘in order to win big you’ve got to spend big’. However, that notorious tag line doesn’t mention about spending big and losing even more. When you are a problem gambler not only do you lose money, in extreme cases you can lose your family, friends, and possibly your job. As you plunge yourself into debt, the problems you face become more intense and stressful. The rare simplicities in life become more complex and you find yourself hitting rock bottom.
         Statistics show that 70% of Americans admitted to gambling at least once last year. With the explosion of the Internet, gambling has increased significantly. No longer do you need to hop a plane to Las Vegas or round up a game of ‘friendly’ poker. Originally, American’s outlawed gambling and isolated it to Native American Reservations. Now you don’t even have to step foot into a casino to lose big or win big. The Internet has made gambling more convenient and accessible. As a result of the surplus of gaming time, problem gamblers are more prone to drinking, drugs, and to suffer from depression.
         Slots and tables are not the only form of gambling.  There are website that cater to sports gambling, no bookies needed. And we can’t exclude the infamous lottery drawings. You place your money down and bet against the odds that you will become an instant millionaire. Only to find out, you and 27 other people had the same number combinations and you get a mere fraction of the total amount.

            Life in general is a gamble. Everyday you wake up you are faced with decisions, and each decision you weigh the pros and cons. And you hope you choose the right one. But in problem gambling, you risk more than just one bad decision you risk it all. Bottom line is gambling doesn’t pay, even if you beat the odds and win, you’ve lost more along the way.

If you can't call it a day before your luck turns, read on...

Inside Tip:

• People gamble on almost any kind of outcome, from football to horse and greyhound racing, even the chances of Steps headlining next year's Ozzfest (2 gazillion to 1).


• Lottery scratch cards and slot machines are a big draw among 18-24 year olds, though online casinos are proving very popular.


• The appeal is in thinking you might win, though ultimately it's the gambling industry that cleans up.
  Check out the odds:
  
  1. Winning eight quid on a fruit machine: 600 to 1
  2. 50,000 scratch card jackpot: 2.57 million to 1
  3. Lottery jackpot: 14.5 million to 1
  4. Football pools win: 7.5 million to 1

Losing Streak

• Gambling raises blood pressure, heart rate and adrenalin levels - creating a buzz that can get some people coming back for more.


• This is known as "compulsive" gambling - a progressive mental disorder that leaves sufferers unable to resist the impulse to gamble - often as a means of escaping from problems such as stress, anxiety or depression.


• People with gambling dependency difficulties believe that money will solve their problems - a belief that is reinforced as the debts begin to mount.


• The disruption to their lives isn't just financial, and can affect relationships and careers.