Gambling - Expensive Pass Time or Guilty Pleasure

Internet gambling and Native American casinosAmericans are addicted to gambling, 60 percent
bring more opportunities for gamblers to take aof whom have yearly incomes under
guilty pleasure to a serious problem status for$25,000.Gamblers Anonymous suggests answering
many teens and adults.Internet gambling is popularthe following twenty questions.1. Did you ever lose
among several age groups, however, teenagerstime from work or school due to gambling?2. Has
have shown a special interest in the sites.gambling ever made your home life unhappy?3.
"Statistics prove that teen-age Internet gamblingDid gambling affect your reputation?4. Have you
is the fastest growing addiction of the day, akinever felt remorse after gambling?5. Did you ever
to drug and alcohol abuse in the 1930s," said Davidgamble to get money with which to pay debts or
Robertson, former chairman of the Nationalotherwise solve financial difficulties?6. Did gambling
Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, on the Webcause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?7.
site "It's pernicious, it's evil, it's certainly one thatAfter losing did you feel you must return as soon
feeds on those who are the weakest membersas possible and win back your losses?8. After a
of society -- and that's the young and thewin did you have a strong urge to return and win
poor.""Internet gambling has increased from onemore?9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar
site to 1,400 in the past six years," said Kevinwas gone?10. Did you ever borrow to finance
O'Neill, deputy director of the Council onyour gambling?11. Have you ever sold anything to
Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc., on thefinance gambling?12. Were you reluctant to use
council's Web site. "Easy availability and opportunity"gambling money" for normal expenditures?13. Did
to make bets are the key essentials for younggambling make you careless of the welfare of
people to move into problem and compulsiveyourself or your family?14. Did you ever gamble
gambling.""Sports betting is a major problem, andlonger than you had planned?15. Have you ever
it is getting worse," said Ed Looney, executivegambled to escape worry or trouble?16. Have you
director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling ofever committed, or considered committing, an
New Jersey Inc., on the council's Web site,illegal act to finance gambling?17. Did gambling
"Betting pools available in high schools, collegescause you to have difficulty in sleeping?18. Do
and offices throughout America will nearly matcharguments, disappointments or frustrations create
the amount of money generated on Super Bowlwithin you an urge to gamble?19. Did you ever
Sunday.""Seemingly innocent office pools manyhave an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a
times are catalysts for some people to getfew hours of gambling?20. Have you ever
involved in sports betting," Looney said. "Many ofconsidered self destruction or suicide as a result
these pools are illegal."A study by the Nationalof your gambling?
Institute of Mental Health concluded 4.2 million