Gambling Addiction Resources:

As I researched the personal stories behind gambling addiction, I discovered that gambling is no respector of age, gender, income level, or religion. The seductive trap is wide enough to capture business leaders, professionals, teens, grandparents, single parents, low-income families, college graduates, and church leadership.

Women succumb to gambling nearly three times faster than men (Reuters Health). According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, approximately two to three percent of adults (six to nine million adults) have a gambling problem and between one and two percent of the adult population are compulsive gamblers.

Another study in 1997 (Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions) estimated that not only did 7.5 million American adults have gambling problems, there were even more American adolescents considered to be problem or pathological gamblers (7.9 million). Compulsive gamblers often bottom out faster than other addicts, as they burn all their resources in search of another high. Approximately one in five compulsive gamblers attempts suicide.

If you or someone you love is addicted to gambling, please seek help. Focus on the Family and Tyndale House Publishers have published an excellent resource by Tom Raabe titled House of Cards to give hope to gamblers and their families.

Gamblers Anonymous
A fellowship of men and women who share their experiences and help others recover from a gambling problem.

Gam-Anon
The self-help organization for the spouse, family and close friends of compulsive gamblers.

Gambling Exposed
A ministry that alerts the church to the deceptive, predatory nature of gambling and presents a message of hope to those who are experiencing a gambling problem.

Focus on Social Issues
Focus on the Family's library of gambling research, testimonies, and articles.

The National Council on Problem Gambling
A 24-hour national helpline as well as state resources and counselor information.

The Coalition Against Gambling New York
This site lists the costs of gambling including the loss of jobs, poverty, bankruptcy, increase in crime, suicide, and gambling addiction.

The National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling (NCALG)
Information on the adverse personal, social, economic and public health impacts of gambling and disseminates it to citizens and policy-makers at the local, state and national levels.

Final Report from the National Gambling Impact Study Commission