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Effects Of Gambling On Family
by Jerry "Jet"
Whittaker
Oct 13, 2006
Are you Gambling your family?
Gambling is one such addiction, which is becoming as
dangerous as alcohol addiction; families and friends are
worried about it like never before. The constant craving
for playing any form of gambling
is considered as Problem gambling or
Compulsive gambling in which the gambler cannot
resist the urge to gamble even if he knows the dark side
of losing. Addiction of gambling is
like a vicious circle, because one invents a lie and to
cover up one lie he invents another lie.
The effects of some forms of gambling like
Internet gambling, interactive television, mobile phone,
Slot machine gambling are
more harmful than others. Problem gambling is 2-3% in
the US but it may vary from country to country. As with
any addiction, problem gambling has its terrible effects
on the addicted gambler. The gambler may resort to
criminal activities, drug trafficking, or even in
illegal arms dealing to get money for paying debts.
The effects of having a member in the family addicted to
gambling are quite impoverishing and mentally
disturbing. A gambling addict is in constant debt and
financial difficulties are rampant in the family. The
family has to borrow from friends and relatives, which
hurts the self-respect of its members. Since the addict
is used to lying the mutual trust between the partners
is at great risk.
The family losses are time and money. As gamblers spend
more and more time gambling, children feel abandoned,
and relationships between spouses get stressed.
Gambler has the family's economic future at stake.
The financial problems result in lack of money for basic
necessities, and harassment by lenders. The distrust,
and hopelessness that result destroys families and
relationships. A gambling addict’s family can be
described as one of helplessness
And hopelessness. As the indebtedness grows
families resort to working long hours to pay their
debt, which result in the neglect of children and
their proper schooling and nourishment. Children are
emotionally deprived and feel neglected which marks as a
setback for their future development. Parents cannot pay
for their children’s fees due to the debt the gambling
addict incurs.
The insecurity and lack of self-respect that result can
affect their school performance. Children of problem
gamblers feel abandoned, depressed, and angry. The
family environment of gambling
addict is not healthy it is for the children very lonely
and even scary. The self blame in some families is very
lamentable, however, given this sad and despairing
picture of the effects of an
gambling addict’s
home there is still a glimmer of hope in the form of
professional counseling.
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