What do you think a gambling addict looks like? Someone who comes home from the racetrack with his pockets turned out? Someone who loses it all at a back-room poker game? Someone who jets off to Las Vegas or Atlantic City every chance he gets and consistently comes home a loser? The media image of gambling addiction hasn’t entirely caught up with the reality of this growing concern, and this article from Ontario, Canada’s “Windsor Star” points out some of the trends contributing to the rise in gambling addiction. Please read this excerpt, and click through if you’d like to read the full story. The Center for Effective Living is committed to helping people in the Cleveland area overcome gambling addiction, so please reach out to us if you recognize yourself or a loved one in this piece:
“We are also seeing more females that used to come exclusively for slots and bingo, now coming to us related to high-action gaming tables.”
There also continue to be troubles related to scratch tickets and lotteries.
“You can gamble at variety stores, online, on your smart phones,” Bartosek said. “That has made it so you can gamble on anything, anywhere around the world — not just your local track or casino.”
Some of the warning signs of trouble include those who spend more time on gambling than with family, hiding bills, seeing several past due notices, neglect of employment or their personal needs in order to gamble, said Heather Ly, project co-ordinator for the Responsible Gambling Council.
“You see increased tension and stress at home as it relates to money,” she said. “With gambling addiction, it can be hard for family or friends to bring up the issue. We have some tips on how they can do that.”