Obsessive gambling is an addiction, not a compulsion. Gambling gives pleasure to the gambler, whereas a need for pleasure is usually not an important element in most compulsive activities. Obsessive gamblers are people who cannot resist the pleasurable excitement of a card game, the craps table, betting on horse races or other kinds of sports events, and similar games of chance. Unlike many people who enjoy an occasional fling, addicts no longer play primarily in order to win. Their gambling is an addiction because they cannot resist the constant repetition of periods of exciting tension that gambling provides, whether or not they are likely to gain anything from taking the risk. As a result, many obsessive gamblers gamble so recklessly that they gamble away all their own and their families’ resources.This addiction is more common than is generally recognized. It may affect more than a million people in the United States, and some estimates are as high as three mulion. It seems to affect about five times as many men as women.

What should be done?

If you have an obsessive gambler in your family, try to get him or her to seek help from a physician or Gamblers Anonymous. If your addicted relative refuses to get help. you should consult your physician for advice.