In the last few years this country has seen a rise in the popularization of gambling. Poker is seeing unprecedented popularity, with tournaments featuring celebrities and general participants. Even online poker tournaments have become popular, earning regular television spots advertisings websites where regular guys (and men are usually the targets) can sign up and win it big playing pokers. Then there are the old favorites?slot machines, blackjack tables, bets at the track, lotteries.

But beneath all this glamour and the potential for the big win (and those who are able to enjoy legalized gambling in a healthy manner) is a surprisingly large group of compulsive gamblers, people who have little control over their own gambling habits.  Such addicts take gambling to dangerous levels, going to extreme ends in order to obtain the money they need to gamble and often ruining the lives of those closest to them.

Gambling may start with that desire to win it big, but as the disease progresses, it becomes less about winning and all about the high that comes simply from playing. And because hitting a significant jackpot is so rare?and with games such as roulette and craps, one is bound to lose regardless of strategy. This is where the problems begin in earnest, as compulsive gamblers begin to put themselves progressively further into debt in order to continue to get their ?fix? by playing the game.

Compulsive gamblers can seek addiction treatment through groups such as Gambler?s Anonymous (GA), which hold regular meetings for gamblers to attend thereby creating a support network to help gamblers through the day to day challenges of avoiding their addiction. Much like alcoholism, gambling addiction requires the gambler to first admit he or she has a problem, and second to a desire to stop and to seek treatment for their problem.

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