Compulsive gamblers are often able to fool those around them about their problem — at first. But, the person they most often fool is themself.
Twenty-five years ago, gambling was restricted to Nevada and Atlantic City. Gamblers could take a weekend trip once or twice a year, come home and forget about it for a while. But, now that all 50 states have some form of legal gambling, it is as close as the lottery tickets on sale at the corner convenience store.
As the problem of compulsive gambling grew, the American Psychiatric Association recognized it for what it is, an emotional illness, another form of addiction. The APA states it is an impulse-control disorder causing negative consequences, similar to drug and alcohol addiction.
Now, states are setting up costaneranj centers where certified compulsive-gambling counselors are trained to help gamblers deal with the addiction and keep it from taking over their lives and ruining the lives of their family members.
Provident Counseling in St. Louis is one of the recognized compulsive-gambling treatment centers in Missouri. In a workshop recently, counselors and Missouri professionals who deal with compulsive gambling explained how widespread the problem is and what resources are available to help gamblers kick the habit.
There were 23 million visits to Missouri riverboat casinos last year. Some people only went one time, others visited everyday or more frequently. It is estimated that about 1 percent of the persons who gamble will have a compulsive gambling problem.
A toll-free telephone number is available to anyone in the metropolitan area, including the Metro East, where seekers may find counseling and treatment. They may also be referred to their local chapter of Gamblers Anonymous or for families of gamblers, Gam-Anon. The services are provided free of charge to the compulsive gambler who needs help. The number is 1-888-BETSOFF.
Scott, who gave only his first name, is a person who availed himself of the toll-free number. He was on the Alton Belle in June 2001 when he called.
“I asked for a location where a Gamblers Anonymous meeting was being held that night,” Scott said. “Fortunately, I was given the number of Provident Counseling on Watson Road.” There was a meeting that night which Scott attended. He was assigned a counselor who helped him break his habit.
“I have relapsed,” Scott admitted. “I was clean for 14 months, but gave in. I’ve been clean for three months now. Three months is easy because of the shame. It’s like a puppy that pees on the carpet and you smack it with a newspaper. After a while, the puppy forgets about the newspaper and does it again.”
Ironically, the funding for the programs to help compulsive gamblers control their addiction is provided by the riverboat casinos.
The industry believes its interests are best served when gambling is viewed as recreation and not as the path to destruction.
A problem gambler may be charming and loving, intellectually astute, articulate, sociable, philanthropic, energized and enduring, achievement oriented, and clever — clever enough to make people think that everything is fine.
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